Breast Implants - Why Do Patients Undergo Treatment?

Many women receive breast implants to get breasts that are bigger and fuller in size. There are quite a variety of different textures, shapes, and sizes for women to choose from when deciding how they wish to improve their appearance. Women also undergo surgery for different reasons. Learn more about the reasons for breast augmentation surgery, as well as the different options that are available to meet these needs.

Reasons for Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation, also known as mammoplasties, is implemented for three main reasons:
1. To replace and improve areas damaged by trauma in the breast tissues. Reasons for replacement also stem from anomalies from irregular or unconventional growth anatomically or through disease, such as breast cancer.
2. To augment and improve the form, feel, and size of the breasts.
3. To correct and fix the outcome of previous breast surgeries with breast implant revision.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation

After the operation, many patients have reported an improved social life, self-esteem, physical appearance and health, as well as a long-term satisfaction with their outcome. According to Effect of Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty on Self-Esteem and Sexuality: A Quantitative Analysis (2007), women perceive a much higher self-image and esteem than before. However, pre-operation, plastic surgeons should interview and evaluate the mental health of each patient. This is to see if the implants will be effective in boosting her self-esteem.

Breast Implant Filler Types

There are three types of breast implants. They are defined by what the breast implants are filled with.
1. Saline solution
2. Silicone gel
3. Composite filler (these are no longer manufactured, but could be filled with soy oil and other properties to increase benefits. Studies found these were not as successful or safe as saline and silicone gel implants.)

Women must be at least 18 to receive saline-filled implants and 22 to receive silicone gel implants. Most surgeries range from $5,000 to $10,000 dollars. This varies according to the type of implant, surgeon, and difficulty of surgery.

Which Implant Type Is Best?

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. Silicone-filled implants are filled with a silicone gel. Many choose silicone because they feel more “real” than saline.

Saline implants are a good choice because the scars from the incisions are smaller and shorter. They produce great results, with realistic texture and bigger breasts. In the worst cases, saline implants can cause cosmetic problems later compared to the silicone gel. Examples of this would be rippling and wrinkling of the skin or the implant shell becoming noticeable under the skin. These are all completely fixable by surgeons later on if complications do arise.

The recovery process is simple. A surgical bra might be necessary and the breasts will be covered in gauze during the healing process. Doctors may provide pain medication and simple tylenol or acetaminophen will help relieve pain. Any swelling and scars will fade and ease with time.

Before the procedure, it is important for patients to discuss with the surgeon what result they are looking for. They are more than happy to provide information, suggestions, and advice. Contact Crawford Plastic Surgery to schedule a breast augmentation consultation.