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There
are as many reasons for wanting a breast
augmentation as there are women who want them
- it's personal. Maybe your genes gave you small
breasts, maybe they are smaller after childbirth or
maybe, like your best friend, weight loss turned
your C cup into a dismal A. Whatever the reason,
it's yours, it's personal and it's okay.
So let's imagine you are now sitting in my office
after a very thorough breast examination ... |
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The first thing you will want
to know is what kind of implants are available and
what are the pros and cons for each.
1. SALINE: It is an implant that consists of a silicone shell filled with sterile salt
water. Saline implants have been around for decades, and are the most common
choice because people view them as extremely safe. As well, the shell is only
filled with the saline solution after the implant is placed inside the breast, so there
is some flexibility as to size and shape.
Some women however, do complain that saline implants do not feel natural and
sometimes ripple on the sides. On the very rare occasion that the implant leaks,
even though the saline solution is absolutely safe, the implant has to be replaced.
2. GEL: The medical term for these implants is cohesive silicone gel. They have
just become available in Canada within the past few years though they have been
used safely in Europe for quite some time. The implant consists of a silicone
shell filled with silicone gel. Unlike earlier versions where the gel was liquid, this
version is solid, hence the term cohesive. It has the consistency of let's say a
gummy bear so if the shell were to break, there is no leakage nor does the
implant move. The big plus for cohesive gel implants is that many women say
they feel absolutely natural, and the risk of rippling is minimal. However since the
gel cannot leak and does not move, it is very difficult to determine if and when the
outer shell is damaged.
The next thing we need to decide is where the incision will be, because that is
where your scar will be. We also need to decide whether the implant goes
underneath or above your chest muscle, which may affect the appearance of your
breast. Achieving the look you desire is important. So it is essential to fit you
with the right size and shape of implant that is right for you.
The operation will typically take 1 to 2 hours and is done under a general
anaesthetic. You can expect to be wearing a sports bra for a few weeks, but
other than that, with a little pain medication you will be up and about in a day or
two. You will be sore, so I wouldn't count on resuming gentle physical activities
until after one week.
Unfortunately, nothing in life is perfect, and no matter how talented the surgeon or
which implant you choose, everybody reacts somewhat differently. Sometimes
women loose some sensitivity in their nipples. Sometimes the body builds it's
own shell around the implant making it feel harder and more tender, this is what
we call capsular contracture. Fortunately, this does not happen often and is
treatable by surgically removing the scar tissue.
Just in case you were wondering, implants generally last anywhere from 10 to 20
years. Somewhere in that time frame you may have to replace them, but then
again somewhere in that time frame you may decide a B-cup just isn't enough
anyway.
View some of Dr Zorn's clients Before & After results here..
From Wikipedia
A breast implant is a prosthesis used to enlarge the size of a woman's breasts (known as breast augmentation) for cosmetic reasons, to reconstruct the breast (e.g. after a mastectomy or to correct genetic deformities), or as an aspect of male-to-female sex reassignment surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the third most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States. In 2005, 291,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed.[1]
There are two primary types of breast implants: saline filled and silicone gel filled implants. Saline implants have a silicone elastomer shell filled with sterile saline liquid. Silicone gel implants have a silicone shell filled with a viscous silicone gel.
Dr. Marietta Zorn - Toronto Plastic Surgeon
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