About Breast Enlargement
Breast enlargement is done to create an aesthetically enhanced alternative to small breasts. Implants, either silicone or saline, can be placed under the breast tissue or chest muscle. In the early 1990s, silicone implants created a scare among women because illness and leakage were linked to the implants. The Food and Drug Administration later banned silicone implants, but after many years of technological advancement, the agency reallowed silicone implants in 2006. Regardless of your decision to receive breast enlargement, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits with your plastic surgeon.
Expectations
Breast implants do not last for life. You might need further surgeries because of leakage or even because you do not like the results. The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you can leave on the day of your operation. You will experience a lot of pain, either because of stretching of tissue or muscle to put in the implant or from incisions.
Silicone
Most women who choose silicone implants prefer them over saline because they provide a more natural look. They also mimic human fat, so they feel more natural, said Dr. Molly Walsh of the Mayo Clinic. Only women 22 or older are approved by the FDA to receive silicone implants, though they are available for breast reconstruction at any age. The reason is because the FDA thinks women at that age can make a well-informed decision on the type of implant they want.
Warnings for Silicone
If a silicone implant ruptures and causes leakage, it can cause serious scarring around the implant. It might also cause symptoms such as breast pain, abnormal lumps and breasts that are odd shaped or become smaller, said Dr. Sandhya Pruthi of the Mayo Clinic. It is important to see your plastic surgeon immediately if you experience these symptoms. On average, most silicone implants last as long as 10 years, Pruthi said.
Saline
Saline implants are generally considered to be safer. If they leak, the saline is absorbed into the body, with no known side effects, according to the FDA. Women who are 18 or older are approved by the FDA to =get saline implants, and if they are needed for breast reconstruction, they can be obtained at any age, Walsh said. Most women who receive saline implants think they are not as natural to the touch and that they create a rippling effect in the breast, Walsh said.
Considerations
After having worn implants for years, the size of your breasts will change. You might require another surgery to alter the size of your breasts again. If you decide to remove your implants, your breasts will not look the same, Walsh said. Sometimes, depending on the placement of your breast implants, you might have difficulty breastfeeding. Mammograms also become difficult because of image obscurity by the implants, Walsh said.
Risks
Breast-enlargement surgery is risky. You might have a reaction to anesthesia, develop capsular contracture--scar tissue that might harden around your breasts, disfiguring it--have constant breast pain, feel nipple sensitivity or nothing when your breasts are touched, and infection, Walsh said.
Tags: silicone implants, Walsh said, your breasts, your plastic surgeon, About Breast
