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Things Every Woman Should Know about Breast Implants

By Tomer Harel

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 24Apr2009 Word count: 858 Viewed: 747 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

There was a time when breast augmentation, or any cosmetic surgery for that matter, was something that only the rich and famous could fully comprehend and experience. Today, with more affordable rates and various payment plan options, plastic surgery has been embraced by the middle class. Breast enlargement in New York City (NYC) alone has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures among women belonging to various social statuses. In fact, it is such a commonly performed procedure that many women in the Big Apple no longer take the time to gather all the information they need about the procedure and breast implants before they decide to go through with the operation.

This article provides some facts about breast implants that can help any woman make an educated decision regarding her breast enlargement procedure.

Definition:

A breast implant is a prosthesis made of silicone that is filled with either saline or silicone gel. Their purpose is mainly cosmetic: enlarging the breasts in cosmetic breast augmentation, replacing breast tissue after a mastectomy, or creating breasts in sexual reassignment surgery.

Brief History:

Breast implants go as far back as the late 19th century. Many different substances and materials were used in the earlier practices of breast augmentation, but most of them produced unfavorable results. The first silicone breast prosthetic was created in the early 1960's and was widely used for over 30 years until the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that the materials that made up the silicone breast implants leak into the body and form a carcinogen. Due to these findings, cosmetic surgeons in the U.S. turned to saline-filled breast implants.

Types of Implants:

There are two types of breast implants: silicone gel-filled breast implants and saline-filled breast implants. Both types have the same shell, which is made of silicone rubber elastomer. The main difference between the two is the solution used to fill the shell. As their names suggest, silicone gel-filled breast implants are filled with silicone gel while the saline-filled ones are filled with saltwater or saline solution.

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are pre-filled with silicone gel in different volumes before their insertion into the body. The cosmetic surgeon then selects the implants according to the patient's desired breast size and inserts them during surgery.

Saline-filled breast implants, on the other hand, are originally empty and have valves through which the saline solution is added after the implants are inserted into the body. Because of this, smaller incisions are needed for saline-filled breast implants, leaving less noticeable scar tissue.

Types of Incision:

Breast implant incision types also vary. The three common incision types are axillary (under the arm), periareolar (around the nipple) and inframammary (within the breast fold). The fourth incision type, umbilical or endoscopic, is a procedure that has not yet been widely studied and is not recommended by breast cosmetic surgeons.

It is important to note that best option for women who wish to have their breasts enlarged and be able to breastfeed later in their lives is the axillary incision type. Because the incision is made under the arm, the process does not damage the glandular tissue, nerves and blood supply. The breast tissue is not disrupted, which means that the milk flow is also not disrupted.

Health Risks:

There are many women who wish to have their breasts enlarged but are concerned about the health ramifications involved. Some even fear that health problems could directly result from the breast augmentation surgery.

It is important to know that breast implants do not last forever. However, the buzz that breast implants have the tendency to rupture frequently is a myth. In fact, silicone implants can last up to 5 years before they need to be replaced, while saline implants can last up to 7 years before replacement.

As mentioned above, most women who have had a breast augmentation procedure performed are able to breastfeed. It is very important that women who come in for breast enlargement discuss their plans of breastfeeding later in their lives with their cosmetic surgeon so that the surgeon can determine the best incision type for them.

There have also been claims that breast augmentation can cause misread mammograms, therefore hindering early detection of cancer. While it is true that breast implants can obstruct the view of a radiologist during a mammogram, there are certain techniques and a special imaging system that can provide a solution to the problem. Radiologists are trained to take additional views, examine the breasts thoroughly and manipulate the breasts differently to ensure full visibility of the chest area. The best precautionary measure to avoid misread mammograms is to inform the radiologist of the breast enlargement procedure performed.

There has been a surge in the number of breast augmentation patients over the last few decades. This is the reason that the cosmetic surgery industry has constantly searched for new developments that can guarantee safer and more satisfactory results. Breast clinics in New York have lead such developments in breast augmentation surgery over the past few years, and New York breast augmentation clinics are the most popular and trusted by women from all over the country.

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