A Study on Breast Implants

Beauty always increases ones confidence. These days, women are more concerned about their aesthetic beauty, which includes their figures. Hence, breast implants are becoming very popular today. The surgery is generally done to improve the size and shape of woman's breast. They are a medical prosthetic placed under the breast or chest wall to reform the tissue. The reason for breast implants are mainly aesthetic augmentation, after mastectomy or any damage occurred on chest wall. There are two types of breast implants. They are saline filled and silicon gel filled implants. Saline-filled breast implants have a silicone outer shell, which is filled with a sterile saltwater solution. In some, the saline solution is already filled and in others, the solution is filled at the time of surgery. Both come in different sizes and have a smooth outer wall. Saline filled implants are used for women 18 years old and up, while silicon gel implants are used for those over 22 years old. The time taken for the surgery can vary from one hour to more, depending on the procedure. The surgery can be done by general anesthesia or local anesthesia, where only the chest area is numbed. The patients may have to stay in hospital for one day. Patients should go for deep consultation with the doctor where she can discuss about her health and drug allergies if any before the surgery. It is always favorable to take a mammogram or breast X-ray before surgery to check whether there is any abnormality with the breast. Implants do not last for an entire lifetime They have to be removed within 8 - 10 years. There are also some risks involved in the implant surgery. They are generally breast pain, hematoma, inflammation, rupture, skin rash, ptosis. There are chances of Capsular Contracture, which is very painful due to hardening of the tissue around the implant. Also there is a very low chance and risk of developing a type of cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). ALCL is not breast cancer, but affects the tissue surrounding the implant. Anyway, the implant has to be removed due to any of these complications. Removal will lead to a sagging, deflated appearance for natural breasts. It is appropriate to replace implants again or go for a cosmetic surgery. Once the operation is done, monitoring should be done throughout the recovery period. It is advised to undergo MRI screenings after 3 years of completing the implant and every 2 years in the following period.