Cosmetic Procedures: Understanding Breast Augmentation and Breast Implants

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Breast Augmentation or augmentation mammoplasty is a surgical procedure that aims to increase the size, change the shape or fullness, and alter the texture of a woman's breast. The plastic surgeon places a breast implant such as saline, silicone or alternative composite breast implants under the breast tissue or chest muscles. People seek this cosmetic procedure in order to enlarge naturally small breasts, restore the size and shape of the breast after weight loss, pregnancy or breastfeeding, restoration of symmetry for asymmetrical breasts, or restoration of the breasts after surgical treatment of breast cancer or any other condition affecting the shape and size of the breast. Women undergoing breast augmentation boosts self-esteem, increasing positive feelings about their sexuality most especially after the surgery. It brings a feeling of self-worth and sexual attractiveness, giving the woman great self-confidence like botox cosmetic, along with the improvement of the quality of life after te procedure. 

 

A breast implant refers to a medical prosthesis placed underneath the breast tissue to enlarge, reconstruct or build the physical form of the breast. Most breast implants have firm silicone making up the outer layer, filled with either silicone gel, salt water, or an alternative composite substance inside the silicone shell. Saline implants are filled with saline solution held within a shell of elastomer silicone. The amount of saline solution affects the firmness, feel and shape of the breast. If saline implants leak, the saline solution is absorbed by the body and expelled naturally by the body. Silicone implants that leak will not be expelled by the body so patients with this type of implant should regularly see the doctor to determine if the silicone-filled implant leaked by performing ultrasound or MRI. Silicone implants have five generations, and the latest one is a semi-solid gel which eliminates silicone gel leakage and silicone migration from the breast tissue to other parts of the body. 

 

During a breast augmentation procedure, the patient may choose to have either a local anesthesia or a general anesthesia. There are several types of incision options which are under the breast or inframammary incision, in the armpit or trans axillary incision, or around the nipple or periareolar incision. The type of implant, the degree of augmentation, and the patient's preference affects the choice of incision. Breast implants are placed either through a submuscular placement (under the pectoral muscle) or submammary placement (behind the breast tissue and over the pectoral muscle). Incisions are closed using surgical sutures, skin adhesives and surgical tape. Incision lines are evident after the procedure but will fade with time.