	Article Directory		Article Submission Service		Article Marketing Blog		Publishers		Member Log In

Article Directory :: Health & Fitness Articles

The Facts About Breast Enhancement Surgery

By Andrew Jamaz

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 20Nov2009
Word count: 818
Viewed: 310 time(s)

Get Free Content For Your Site

Even with the advent of new procedures in the area of cosmetic surgery, breast enhancement continues to be one of the most popular cosmetic procedures since the early 1900s. More than 350,000 breast enlargement procedures were conducted in 2008 in the United States alone, as shown by data collected by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, or ASAPS, making it one of the top 5 most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures for women.

Women consider breast augmentation surgery for a wide variety of reasons. This type of surgical procedure is frequently used to correct a difference in the size of the breasts, or to reconstruct one or both breasts in the event of a mastectomy or other surgical procedure; the term "breast reconstruction surgery" is usually used in cases such as these. Surgery is also commonly used to deal with genetic issues involving the breasts such as micromastia, a condition that results in severe underdevelopment of the breasts, or other conditions involving the complete absence of one or both breasts.

Most commonly, though, the majority of women who choose breast enhancement surgery do so for purely cosmetic reasons. Many women are concerned about the appearance of their breasts, and the feelings associated with this are likely to have detrimental social and even effects upon the individual's career. By the same token, by achieving the type of appearance they desire, individuals can improve their lives in a general sense. Thus, it's only natural that breast augmentation is so popular.

There are a number of different approaches and techniques in use for breast enhancement surgery procedures, which differ with regard to their appropriateness for the individual dependent upon various factors including the degree of augmentation desired, body type, prior operation history, and so on. Breast augmentation surgery involves the use of implants, prostheses which are placed underneath either the mammary tissue or the muscle. There are two common types of breast implants: silicone implants and saline implants.

Of these two types, saline implants are the less common one, and are made of a shell made of a silicone elastomer which, after initially being implanted during the surgical procedure, is inflated with a a saline solution, containing water and salt. That saline implants are filled after insertion makes them slightly more adaptable than silicone implants. However, saline implants are considered to be appropriate only for less significant procedures. They are also slightly vulnerable to rippling, wrinkling, and other such issues, and they are thought to be more obvious to the touch compared to silicone implants, although there is some debate on this point.

Conversely, silicone implants have a silicone elastomer shell which is filled with a silicone gel of various properties. Silicone implants, like saline implants, have been around since at least the 1960s, although the nature of silicone implants has changed incrementally in the years since. The silicone implants used today are substantially different from the first generation; the gel used currently is semi-solid, which virtually eliminates the leaking issues that earlier implants, which used a liquid-like gel, were known to experience.

The surgical procedure itself can also make use of different techniques. The most commonly used method for breast enhancement surgery is the inframammary incision method. This method involves the use of an incision made in the area just below the breast, which is known as the inframammary area. The implant is inserted through this incision. The inframammary incision method involves perhaps the least risk of complications of any kind of breast augmentation operation, and the resulting scars are usually well concealed underneath the breast afterward.

An incision is made around the border of the areola in the periareolar incision method. Silicone implants cannot be used for this type of procedure, as the incision used is not big enough to accommodate them. On the other hand, this method does permit the surgeon to change the position of the breast significantly, which may be desired in some cases.

In some cases, the patient may desire the surgeon to to make the incision farther away from the breast; patients who are worried about scarring visible in the area of the breast may also request this type of method. The transaxillary incision is an incision made in the armpit area, while the transumbilical incision is an incision in the area of the belly button, which can be performed alongside a tummy tuck. In both cases, the surgeon may use an endoscope in order to assist in properly placing the implant. Saline implants are usually required for either of these procedures.

Every type of surgical procedure involves some risk, and breast augmentation is no exception. Also, following this kind of procedure, the patient will usually be required to adhere to a recovery schedule of at least six weeks, during which period strenuous exercise and other physical activity is to be avoided in order to ensure that the procedure is successful in the end.

Please visit our website for more cosmetic surgery breast enhancement articles, tips, help and advice.

EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here