Archive for the ‘Breast augmentation’ Category

All you need to know about Breast Augmentation

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Breast augmentation, or augmentation mammoplasty, is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed today. Over time, factors such as age, genetics, pregnancy, weight changes, sun exposure, and gravity can cause the size and shape of the breast to change. Women who are dissatisfied with the size of their breasts, or have experienced changes in breast appearance can achieve a fuller, shapelier breast with breast augmentation. During breast augmentation, a breast implant is placed inside a pocket formed in the breast tissue. This can help to increase or balance the size of the breast, restore breast volume, or restore the shape of the breast after partial or total loss. It is important to realize that breast augmentation cannot correct significantly sagging or drooping breasts. In these instances, a breast lift is often necessary, which may be performed in conjunction with this procedure. Breast augmentation procedures typically last approximately one to two hours. Prior to the start of your procedure the treatment area will be thoroughly cleansed and an anesthetic will be administered. Depending on the surgeon’s preferences and the nature of the procedure, a local anesthetic in combination with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia will be used. Your doctor can discuss with you the most appropriate choice of anesthesia for you. The breast implant procedure consists of your plastic surgeon making an incision and creating a “pocket,” or space within your breast tissues, for the breast implant. The breast implant is placed in the pocket and positioned. The incision will be closed using sutures in the breast tissue. Sutures, skin adhesive or surgical tape may be used to close the skin. Your surgeon may choose to use non-dissolving sutures, which will be removed in seven to ten days. The scars from the incisions will fade slowly over several months, but it may take up to a year for them to refine completely. As with any surgery, you will most likely experience some pain and swelling after surgery. The majority of the swelling will likely subside within a few days. However, some swelling may persist for several weeks. Your physician may place you in a special bra or compression garment to aid in the healing process. Compression garments provide support and comfort, minimize swelling, and help to maintain the position of the implants. This is why it is important that you wear the compression garment as recommended by your physician.

What are the differences between incision site options?

There are three common incision sites used for breast augmentation: under the arm (transaxillary), around the nipple (periareolar), or within the breast fold (inframammary). Although the incision will be made as inconspicuously as possible, its length and appearance may vary depending on the type and size of implant, your body contours, and the surgeon’s preference.

Periareolar Incision

The periareolar incision is one of the most common incisions used in breast augmentation. A single small incision is usually placed along the perimeter of the areola. This incision is the most concealed, but is associated with a higher likelihood of inability to successfully breast feed, as compared to the other incision sites.

Inframammary

The inframammary incision is placed along the crease of the lower portion of the breast. A single, small incision is made along each breast. While this incision is less concealed than the periareolar, it is associated with less difficulty when breast-feeding.

Transaxillary

The transaxillary incision is placed in the natural fold of the armpit; therefore there will be no scar on the breast. A small incision is made inside each armpit. The surgeon may use a probe fitted with a miniature camera, along with minimally invasive (very small) instruments, to create a pocket for the breast implant. While this incision is less concealed than the periareolar, it is associated with less difficulty than the periareolar incision site when breast feeding.

Sub-glandular vs Sub-muscular Breast Implant Placement

SUBGLANDULAR SUBMUSCULAR

Breast implants can be placed in two general locations, known as submuscular and subglandular placement. Submuscular placement refers to an implant that is placed partially or completely beneath the pectoralis muscle, against the chest wall. In contrast, subglandular placement refers to an implant that is placed beneath the breast tissue, but above the pectoralis muscle. Your surgeon will help determine the implant placement that is best for you. Sub-glandular placement may make your surgery and recovery time shorter. It may be less painful and it may make the implant easier to access if re-operation is necessary. This placement also may make it easier to see and feel your implants through your skin after your surgery. Capsular contracture is more likely with sub-glandular placement, and imaging of the breast with mammography may be more difficult. Sub-muscular placement may make surgery last longer, may make recovery longer, may be more painful, and may make it more difficult to have some re-operation procedures than the sub-glandular placement. The possible benefits of this placement are that it may result in less palpable implants, less capsular contracture, and easier imaging of the breast with mammography.

What Size Breast Implants Should I Get?

Choosing the right size implant is generally the most important decision a woman and her plastic surgeon will make. Being realistic and following your doctor’s recommendations is very essential for the best result possible. Your cosmetic surgeon will have several different sizes from which to choose.

Let’s start with the basics. Breast implants are measured in cubic centimeters (cc’s), not cup sizes. This is because the size of the breast implant you select will depend on the shape and size of your chest. Here’s a little more helpful information about breast implant size. The average 375cc breast implant is equal to a little over 1.5 cups of gel or saline filling. Now, you may also ask, “How much do breast implants weigh?” Well, each cc of saline or gel weighs about one gram. So a pair of 375cc breast implants is going to weigh just about 1.5 pounds.

The most important thing you need to know about choosing a breast implant size is that you have to be realistic. In fact, your plastic surgeon will examine the amount of breast and skin tissue you already have in your chest. This will help him/her determine if you have enough of both to cover the breast implant size you are considering. If you want a breast implant size that is too large for your existing breast tissue and chest size, your cosmetic surgeon may warn you that your breast implant edges may be visible or palpable following your surgery. Also, if you get excessively large breast implants, there is a chance your breasts could droop or sag more than you would desire. So, again, it’s important to be realistic about breast implant size. Ultimately, you’ll have to choose a breast implant that “fits” your body for the long term.

So when it comes to breast implant size, you have many options. Just tell your surgeon what your desires and expectations are, and she’ll give you more information about different breast implant options that are realistic for you.

Use this 3D Breast Augmentation Body Model to visualize your body type with different breast implant sizes. Also visit this Before and After Breast Augmentation Photo Gallery to get a better idea of what breast implant size will provide you with the shape you desire.

Saline vs. Silicone Breast Implants

Choosing the best breast implant type for you depends upon your desired results. There are differences between silicone gel breast implants and saline-filled breast implants, but one isn’t always better than the other.

Silicone Gel Breast Implants
If it is important to you that your breast implants feel natural, then you will want to consider gel breast implants. What many women really appreciate about MemoryGel breast implants is that they feature a highly unique “cohesive” gel filling. The gel us neither a liquid nor even a semi-liquid like gel implants of the past. Instead, Mentor’s cohesive gel holds together in a uniform manner so it doesn’t leak even if the shell ruptures, and it retains a natural give that resembles your own breast tissue.

Saline Breast Implants
Saline-filled breast implants are filled with saltwater solution that is similar to the fluid that makes up most of the human body. They have a firmer feel than gel, and their fill volume can be adjusted by your surgeon during your procedure. Since saline implants are inserted empty before they are filled, they can be placed in your chest through a slightly smaller incision.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PRESS THE BUTTON BELOW:

"The natural beauty of the Gel Implants"

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Breast augmentation

43 year old female, 5′ 2” tall and 130 lbs underwent breast augmentation with silicone gel implants smooth round high profile.

Natrelle® Gel

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Lookingyourbest.com

With the recent approval of silicone gel-filled breast implants for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction, physicians and patients can be assured of the safety of silicone. This confirmation is based on extensive preclinical testing, four years of data on 715 women from Allergan’s Core Clinical Study and a European study that evaluated implant rupture prevalence rates beyond 10 years. In addition, countless published, peer-reviewed studies and research support the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants.

A study by the US Government looks at silicone gel-filled breast implants and confirms findings.

In 1997, the Department of Health and Human Services began one of the most extensive research studies in medical history by appointing the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science (IOM) to examine potential complications during or after surgery.

The IOM consisted of a 13-member volunteer committee, including six women. The committee was composed of members of the medical, scientific and educational communities with experience in radiology, women’s health, neurology, oncology, silicone chemistry, rheumatology, immunology, epidemiology, internal medicine and plastic surgery. No IOM members had on-going relationships or conflicts of interest related to any implant lawsuits.

The result: After reviewing years of evidence and research concerning silicone gel-filled breast implants, the IOM found that “Evidence suggests diseases or conditions such as connective tissue diseases, cancer, neurological diseases or other systemic complaints or conditions are no more common in women with breast implants than in women without implants.”

Furthermore, a review of research and medical studies shows:

- Extensive studies, including a report by the Institute of Medicine, conclude that breast cancer is no more common in women with implants than in those without implants

- The American Academy of Pediatrics concluded in September 2001 “The Committee on Drugs does not feel that the evidence currently justifies classifying silicone implants as a contraindication to breastfeeding.”

- Epidemiological investigations have not found any increased risk of adverse health outcomes… in children born to women with breast implants

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are arguably the most studied medical devices and decades of research have evaluated their safety and effectiveness.

The Allergan Core Clinical Study

Allergan’s Core Clinical Study is an ongoing 10-year study of 940 women who had breast augmentation, reconstruction or revision of a previous surgery between 1999 and 2000. Safety and effectiveness is evaluated through patient follow-up at zero to four weeks, six months, 12 months, 24 months, and annually through 10 years. Safety is assessed by complications, such as implant rupture, capsular contracture and re-operation. Benefit (effectiveness) is assessed by patient satisfaction and measures of body image/esteem and self-esteem.

The result: The FDA has evaluated Allergan’s Core Clinical Study data at four years and determined that INAMED® Silicone-Filled Breast Implants are safe and effective for use in breast augmentation and breast reconstruction.

The Allergan Adjunct Clinical Study

The Allergan Adjunct Clinical Study enrollment was limited to reconstruction and revision surgery patients who met certain inclusion criteria. Between the years of 1998 and 2006, when enrollment in this study was terminated, over 80,000 silicone gel-filled breast implants were implanted in more than 50,000 women. Safety data is collected at one, three and five years and is used as supplemental data to support the safety of INAMED® Silicone-Filled Breast Implants.

Studies show silicone gel-filled breast implants are safe, but that doesn’t make them right for everybody.

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are not lifetime devices. It is possible at some point in your lifetime that the implant(s) would need to be removed or replaced. To ensure that you achieve your optimal results safely, patients should be aware that you should not have breast implant surgery if you:

- Have existing malignant or pre-malignant cancer of the breast and have not been successfully treated

- Have an active infection anywhere in the body

- Are currently pregnant or nursing

You should also know that silicone gel-filled breast implants have not been clinically tested in women with:

- Autoimmune diseases like lupus or scleroderma
- Conditions that could interfere with wound healing and blood clotting
- A weakened immune system (such as women receiving immunosuppressive therapy)
- Reduced blood supply to the breast tissue
- Radiation to the breast following implantation
- Clinical diagnosis of depression or other mental health disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders. Please discuss any history of mental health disorders prior to surgery