Breast Implant

One of the most popular cosmetic surgeries available, there are a variety of reasons people consider breast implants or mammoplasty. Body image, asymmetrical breasts, or following breast removal are common reasons and regardless of why you're considering breast implants, you should understand what's involved.

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Breast Implant - Info
Breast implants, also known as mammoplasty, are a major surgical procedure that is performed when a patient desires to change the appearance of their breasts. Some individuals have breast implant surgery conducted because they want larger breasts, while other individuals may have breast implant surgery to improve the appearance of their breasts. Meanwhile, there are some individuals that have breast implant surgery because they require reconstructive surgery after a disease like breast cancer. Although the possibility for complications exists, the risks associated with breast implants today is far less than the risk in earlier years. The breast implants made today are made of a safer material and there are fewer complaints made by patients after having breast implants. In fact, a breast implant procedure is becoming one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed.

The purpose of having a breast implant procedure varies from one patient to the next. Some women get a breast implant procedure to improve the appearance of their breasts and subsequently improve their body image. Further, some women, after giving birth find that their breasts are not the same after pregnancy and have a breast implant procedure to restore them to their former state. Plus, some women have a problem with asymmetrical breasts, and a breast implant procedure can repair such an issue. Finally, some women, after having breast cancer get a breast implant procedure to replace the breasts they had removed.

In most cases a breast implant procedure is not covered by health insurance. If a breast implant procedure is done solely for cosmetic reasons or to simply augment one’s breasts, there is a strong likelihood that the patient will be required to pay all fees associated with the breast implant procedure. There are financing options available, in some instances, for those individuals looking to have a breast implant procedure performed. Meanwhile, in certain cases, if the woman has had breast cancer and seeks to have a breast implant procedure for the purpose of reconstruction, health insurance may cover the breast implant procedure. The patient will need to review their health insurance policy to determine what aspects of a breast implant procedure are covered and what costs they will be responsible for. Breast implants can cost a patient anywhere from 4000 to 6000 dollars, depending upon what is necessary.

Breast Implant Candidates
Women that are over 18 years of age can get a breast implant procedure. Females under the age of 18 are not considered good candidates for breast implant surgery because their body is still developing. Candidates for a breast implant procedure include any women that are looking to improve the appearance of sagging breasts, or to increase the size of their breasts. Women that want to reconstruct the breasts after a major procedure like a partial or full mammectomy are also candidates for the procedure. No matter what the reason, a breast implant procedure is conducted to help one feel better about the way they look and to improve one’s body image.

Women that are less than eighteen years of age should not have breast implants put in place. A breast implant procedure is inappropriate in women that are still developing physically. Since a breast implant procedure is a surgical procedure it is not one that should be entered into lightly. A doctor will be able to advise a patient if a breast implant procedure is appropriate for an individual. Nevertheless, the physician will typically require that the patient is at least eighteen years of age, and in some cases, the doctor will require the patient is 22 years of age or older. Basically, cosmetic surgeons feel that it is imperative that a woman seeking a breast implant procedure is of the age where she is capable of making a knowledgeable decision and that her body is fully developed before undergoing a breast implant procedure.

Candidates for a breast implant procedure will have to be healthy before they undergo the breast implant procedure. An initial consultation will be required where the doctor will discuss the breast implant procedure with the patient. At that time the doctor will assess what steps need to be taken and they will either perform a full physical or they will refer the patient to their general physician for a complete physical.

Different Types of Breast Implants
The breast implants that cosmetic surgeons currently use possess an outer shell made of silicone. In the early 90s the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put certain regulations in place regarding breast implant procedures—after finding that a silicone-filled breast implant prosthesis, if ruptured can cause significant health issues, that saline breast implants should be used instead, particularly in women that are receiving their first breast augmentation.

The breast implant prosthesis varies—women can select between a textured prosthesis and a smooth prosthesis. The patient will have to discuss which of the breast implants are best for them. Essentially, the breast implants on the market today have two shapes, round or tear drop. While some doctors believe that the tear drop implant is more natural in appearance, once implanted the round and the tear drop breast implants appear the same.

Saline has been determined a safer material, although the silicone breast implants were appreciated for their “more natural” feel. Whether the breast implant is made of saline or silicone the risk that it could rupture exists. If the breast implant ruptures it will have to be removed and replaced. With saline breast implants, a rupture is obvious because the breast implant no longer looks as it should, but with a silicone breast implant the patient may not know that the breast implant has ruptured until they experience side effects from the ruptured breast implant. The side effects from a ruptured silicone breast implant essentially include systemic issues where the patient’s immune system is compromised. Essentially, whether saline or silicone, breast implant ruptures are one of the biggest risks associated with breast augmentation.

Risks
There are a number of other risks that are associated with having a breast implant procedure. All risks should be discussed with a surgeon before the breast implant procedure takes place. Essentially, the patient has a right to be informed about any risks they face and in knowing the risks serious health issues can be minimized.

Since getting breast implants is a form of major surgery, the patient runs the risk of getting an infection after the breast implant procedure. Due to the fact that breasts have bacteria within the tissue, a cosmetic surgeon will most likely put a patient on a course of antibiotics to avoid issues with infection. With preventive measures in place the likelihood of getting an infection are minimized, but not completely erased: there is still a one percent chance that the patient will get an infection after a breast implant procedure.

Some women worry about the loss of sensation after a breast implant procedure. It is possible that women will lose sensation or the amount of sensation that they have before the breast implant surgery will be altered after the breast implant procedure is complete. Some women experience increased sensation while others experience a decreased sensation level, particularly in the region of the nipple. Patients experiencing a change in sensation find that it is a temporary side effect of the breast implant procedure and permanent changes in sensation are uncommon.

While a breast implant procedure is a relatively simple procedure for a skilled surgeon, there is no guarantee that the breast implant procedure will go perfectly the first time round. On occasion, a breast implant procedure can result in a malpositioning and the breast implant procedure will have to be repeated. The second procedure will be performed to position the breast implants correctly. Patients should bear in mind that malpositioning is not a common occurrence.

Unusual bleeding within the breast is a risk that is sometimes associated with a breast implant procedure. If bleeding should result the patient will have to endure another procedure to remove the blood that surrounds the breast implant. The second procedure will be required in an effort to keep the breast implant looking the way they should and to thwart any hardening of the breast region.

Breast Implants and Other Considerations
Patients need to realize that having breast implants, while certainly a popular procedure among women, is no light matter. After recovering from the breast implant procedure patients face a number of other risks. Risks include hardening, mammography interference, rupture and deflation, unsightly rippling, and in some instances, breast augmentation can impede one’s ability to breast feeding. Understanding such risks is imperative before a patient even consider having breast implant surgery.

Since a breast implant is foreign to the body, the immune system will cause scar tissue to build up around the breast implant. Scarring can get out of control in some patients and result in hardening. Hardening can be painful and can even make the breasts look asymmetrical.

Sometimes breast implants can make it difficult when it comes time for a mammogram. The patient will need to discuss this possibility with the doctor before hand. In some cases, the issue can be minimized with the appropriate placement of the breast implant.

If the breast implant develops a leak, the breast implant may deflate. The breast implant will then have to be removed and replaced. Although uncommon, breast implants can also rupture; again requiring replacement.

Difficulty may result with breast implants in terms of rippling—rippling is when the breast implant can become visible through the skin. The doctor can implant smooth implants that help to minimize the rippling effect, but it can in no way minimize the effect entirely.

Breast feeding may be hindered by breast implants. While this is not normally the case it is certainly something that should be discussed with the doctor before hand, especially if the woman plans to get pregnant in the future.

Finally, women that receive breast implants may find that they have to purchase new clothes so that they fit appropriately. It can be costly to purchase a new wardrobe so the patient should plan accordingly. The patient may find that shirts, blouses, t-shirts, bras, dresses, vests, coats and the like no longer fit the way they did before the breast augmentation. A new wardrobe should be calculated into the final price of the augmentation.

The Initial Consultation for Breast Implants
The initial consultation with a cosmetic surgeon proves to be an educational experience for the patient seeking to have a breast implant procedure. The cosmetic surgeon will take every measure to ensure that the patient remains healthy and safe and will begin an evaluation of the patient’s current health status. The patient will probably need to have a mammogram performed to rule out any pre-existing health issues with the breast tissue. Further, the patient will be required to provide a complete medical history and the doctor will give the patient a physical.

A cosmetic surgeon will then evaluate the patient’s breasts to determine the extent of work needed. Some patients can simply have implants put in while other patients will require further enhancement. The doctor will advise the patient if they require a breast lift in addition to the implant—a lift raises the position to the nipple region so that it is positioned correctly after augmentation. Further, a patient may actually need to have two different breast implants—asymmetry in breast tissue occurs in many women and the different sized implants remedy the situation.

At the initial consultation, the patient may also discuss the size of the implants they want. While the main goal is to give the patient what they desire, the doctor will be able to advise the patient what best suits them. In the end, the initial consultation serves as a question and answer session and that patient should leave the consultation feeling fully informed and confident about their decision to have breast augmentation performed.

The Preoperative Stage
The patient will typically meet with the cosmetic surgeon before the breast implant surgery, to re-discuss the breast implant procedure and to have photos taken of the breast region. Photos are taken so that the patient can see the desired changes by viewing before and after photos. Also, the patient will receive yet another exam to make sure they are healthy enough to endure the breast implant procedure.

At the preoperative visit the surgeon may advise the patient to stop taking certain medications that may interfere with their breast implant surgery or the healing process. It is truly important that the patient follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter: to not do so could significantly hinder the augmentation procedure and it could significantly hinder recovery time.

At the preoperative visit the patient will have the entire breast implant procedure explained to them if such an explanation was not provided in the initial consultation. The physician will discuss the types of anaesthesia available and recommend what is best for the patient. Also, the type of incision will be discussed with the patient so that they know what to expect.

The incision that a doctor will make will ultimately depend on where the implant is being placed. Some implants require an incision be made at the base of the breast region, extending to the armpit; while other implants require an incision be made in the region of the areola. A patient can expect to be in surgery for at least two hours if no complications arise.

Procedure
As mentioned above, an incision will be made based on where the implant will be placed. Some patients request that the implant be situated directly beneath the breast tissue and other patients prefer to have the implant put beneath the pectoralis muscle—the latter case results in less discomfort for the patient, the implant comes across as a natural part of the body, scarring is reduced, and rippling becomes far less noticeable. Further, if the implant is situated beneath the pectoralis, a patient can get a more accurate reading when having a mammogram than if they do not have it beneath the muscle. Essentially, the placement will be discussed with the patient before they endure the breast implant procedure and the physician can highlight the pros and cons for the patient in both cases.

After the breast implant procedure is completed, the patient can expect to spend some time in recovery. Once the patient is cleared they will be released to the driver they have chosen: having had a major breast implant procedure and anaesthesia, the patient will not be able to drive. Further, the patient will require the assistance of someone for a day or two, as the patient will more than likely be advised to have a day or two of bed rest. After the breast implant procedure, the patient should take any and all medications as prescribed.

Recovering from a Breast Implant Procedure
The patient will experience discomfort after breast augmentation. The surgeon will give the patient something for the pain, but it can take several hours for the medication to begin working. The patient will also be required to wear a bra until the follow up visit and they will not be able to get the area wet. The patient can expect some natural drainage from the sutured areas, but should watch for an unusual amount of drainage.

Any fever must be reported as it is an indication that an infection may be present. While a degree of swelling is to be expected, uneven or particularly unusual swelling must also be reported. Patients should not be afraid to contact their doctor if they have any major concerns or questions: it is better to be safe and remain healthy.

It will be roughly a week before the patient can get back to normal, everyday activities. The patient will have to wear a bra or a special garment for approximately six weeks to ensure that the implants stay in the appropriate location. Recovery time varies from one patient to the next: some patients heal quickly while other patients heal at a slower rate. The patient should make every effort to take it easy until full healing has occurred and they should avoid strenuous activity.


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