Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty) is the preferred option for many women who want to enhance their appearance and boost their self-confidence. By surgically placing implants behind the breasts, cosmetic surgeons can provide many women with the figure they have always wanted.

In 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 291,350 women had a breast augmentation procedure. It was the most popular cosmetic surgery, even more popular than liposuction. Statistics are not available yet for 2006.

Silicone Gel Implants Now Approved

In November, 2006, the FDA issued some long-awaited good news for women. It announced that it had approved silicone gel implants for all women over the age of 18. Specifically, it approved the implants made by two California corporations, Mentor and Allergan, who have invested huge amounts of time and money in testing and research since 1992.

What is Silicone?

Silicone (spelt with an e at the end) is made from silicon (spelt with no e). Silicon is the second-most common element on the planet, after oxygen. It is found in sand, rocks, crystals and many other natural substances. Silicone is used in a huge variety of common household products, such as soap, hairspray, hand lotion, and processed foods. So all of us almost certainly have some in our bodies, where it does no harm.

The New Silicone Gel Implants

Improvements have been made in the silicone gel, making it thicker. It’s known as cohesive gel, and has the property of sticking to itself strongly, making leaks virtually impossible. The implant shells are also slightly thicker, making ruptures very unlikely.

These new silicone implants come in differing sizes, from low-profile, to moderate, to high-profile. We can choose to have a textured surface or a smooth one, and an anatomical (teardrop) shape, or a round shape. Most people consider them to look and feel more natural than saline implants.

Incision Choices

The FDA did not approve silicone breast implants for a TUBA incision site (at the belly button), because silicone gel implants come pre-filled, unlike saline implants, which are empty when inserted, and folded up small. But we can choose from three other incision sites:

• In the armpit
• In the crease below the breast
• Around the lower edge of the areola

In all these locations, the scar will be hardly visible at all. Saline implants, being empty and folded up, can be inserted from the TUBA incision (Trans-Umbilical Breast Augmentation), where again, the scar will be hardly visible.

Procedures which use the TUBA and armpit incisions are known as endoscopic surgery procedures, as the surgeon uses an endoscope, a long tube with a bright light and a tiny camera that feeds to a monitor, so the doctor can see the area where the breast implant will be placed. This allows for more precise placement of the implant and helps the breast surgeon to more clearly see the pocket he creates for the implant.

Implant Placement

Both saline and silicone gel implants can be placed either below the breast tissue and above the pectoral muscle (subglandular), or below both (submuscular).

Breast Implant Manufacturers

In researching a cosmetic surgeon, make sure you find out whether your surgeon offers implants by both major US manufacturers, Allergan and Mentor.  Not only do the manufacturers offer different product lines, most notably in their proprietary silicone gel formulae and in their anamorphic (shaped) implants, but the manufacturers have different warranty periods and policies, which could make a big difference in the necessity and cost of reoperation on your implants.

Reasons for Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation can correct many different problems including:

• A noticeable difference in size between the two breasts
• Reduction in breast size after pregnancy
• Reduction in size after weight loss
• Change in breast size after breast surgery
• Breasts that have never developed as much as desired

When deciding whether to have a breast augmentation procedure, it’s important to remember that it will have a limited effect in your life. Even though it can enhance your looks and probably boost your self-confidence, it cannot necessarily change how people treat you or alter your looks to match an ideal mental image.

The best candidate for breast augmentation is a woman who is looking to improve her body, but is not looking for perfection. Also, a good candidate should be physically healthy and realistic in her expectations.

To determine if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation, schedule an initial consultation with a cosmetic surgeon in your area. Your breast surgeon will discuss incision and placement options with you to determine what you want. He or she will also discuss with you the results you would like, and what you can expect from a breast augmentation procedure.

For your breast augmentation consultation with your cosmetic surgeon, we have provided this Breast Implant Surgery Consultation Worksheet to help you find and undergo the best breast enlargement procedure possible. Also available in PDF format!

For more information on breast augmentation, feel free to look in the Breast Augmentation Articles.