Breast Augmentation: Enhancing your Aesthetic Appeal

Jun 18
18:48

2011

Andrea Avery

Andrea Avery

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Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure that helps restore tissue in the region, particularly in women genetically predisposed to smaller bosoms or when bosom size and form are altered owing to weight loss or pregnancy. Choosing a competent plastic surgeon is key to successful breast enhancement.

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Breast augmentation,Breast Augmentation: Enhancing your Aesthetic Appeal Articles also known as Augmentation Mammaplasty, is one of the most commonly performed invasive cosmetic procedures among women today. Statistics estimate that over 300,000 women opt for surgical enhancement each year, either for aesthetic reasons or to help restore shape after weight reduction or post-pregnancy.

Breast Augmentation Techniques
There are a few non-surgical approaches to increase bosom size, including hormonal therapy, but clinical outcomes are unsatisfactory in a large proportion of women. In the past, enhancement procedures involved injection of body fat from the individual’s own body, obtained via liposuction, into the breast. This approach was often ineffective and also resulted in undesirable side-effects including tissue hardening in the region, otherwise known as calcification.

In current times, surgical enhancement using implants are proving to be a great solution for individuals lacking in natural tissue around the bosom, either due to genetic or environmental causes. An implant is usually a sac composed of a silicone elastomer that contains fillers such as silicone or even saline. The specifications of the sac implants are based on the individual’s height and weight as well as the outcomes desired.

Until a decade ago, silicone was the prevailing implant option, but the increased risks of leakage and secondary complications including autoimmune conditions led to the use of saline as an implant alternative. Silicone implants, in general, create a softer and more natural feel, while saline implants tend to be firmer. However, given that leaks from a saline implant is easily absorbed, the ideal implant filler is best decided in consultation with a qualified surgeon. Regardless of the implant type, regular mammographic examination is recommended and implants over ten years may need to be replaced.

Choosing the Right Surgeon
Choose the right plastic surgeon is perhaps the most crucial step to success. Some pointers to consider include the following:

-Certified surgeons registered with The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ASPS)
-Experienced surgeons trained in plastic surgery
-Surgeons attached with an accredited medical facility that maintains high standards of patient safety
-Surgeons pursuing private practice based on a strict code of ethics.

Potential Risks
As with most cosmetics surgical procedures, breast augmentation carries a degree of risk, and potential outcomes may range from minor scarring to severe infections in and around the implant area. Implant rejection has also been reported in some cases. As such, complications of surgical enhancement are minimized when certified surgeons handle the procedure.

In the initial post-surgical phase, patients may experience some loss of sensation, but this is usually fully regained with time. Capsular contraction is experienced by some women where the scar tissue around the implant hardens, but this condition is treatable with external medication. A small percentage of subjects report shifting of implants, which can be averted if the surgical team takes adequate precautions to set the implant pockets right.

There is little doubt that implants can help manage sagging and loss of form as a result of pregnancy or even aging, and one must set realistic expectations of what surgery can offer. For most women breast augmentation is a procedure that not only adds to the aesthetic appeal but also boosts confidence and self-esteem.