Breast Augmentation Is An Ever-Evolving Field

Breast augmentation is one of the most common and often-requested forms of cosmetic surgery today. With the help of implants made of silicone or injected with saline, a patient's breasts can be improved with regard to both size and shape. However, in some cases, a breast lift may also be necessary to correct previously-extant sagging in order that the new implants may have a properly formed new home and results may be maximized. Implants may also be utilized if the patient has previously received a mastectomy due to cancer or other illness. In this case, special protocols may be followed, and the procedure is known as "reconstruction."

Augmentation treatment is usually performed under general anesthesia, although in recent years some surgeons are touting an "awake" method of surgery, allowing the patient to more accurately choose the size of her implant before the final sutures are made. In its usual form, the procedure will take several hours, up to three or more when a breast lift is simultaneously performed. It is carried out in either a hospital environment where the surgeon has operating privileges or an outpatient surgical center.

The location the surgeon chooses to insert the implant will be under the breast, through the nipple or under the patient's armpit. Each location offers advantages and disadvantages with regard to implant type and size. For example, the armpit offers a location wherein scars are less obvious, but may require a secondary incision if any additional revision surgery becomes necessary. Likewise, a nipple placement may reduce the risk of bacterial infiltration, but can also alter sensation in the area and may inhibit cancer detection.

Like any surgery, breast augmentation has some risks and should not be undertaken by people in poor health or with conditions that would make it dangerous for them to undergo anesthesia. Smokers should not seek this surgery due to tobacco's harmful effects on the healing process. Other risks include difficulty in detecting later breast cancer (although there has been no direct link discovered between implants and cancer, the presence of the implant itself may make the tumor physically hard to find), as well as a change in nipple sensation or in the ability to produce milk or breastfeed. Although the risks are present, they are reduced when the patient follows the doctor's pre- and post-operative instructions to the letter. Most patients are able to return to work and daily activities within two weeks after the procedure.

A change in volume or shape of the breast after surgery can signal a condition known as implant deflation. While the deflation is irreversible and must be met with the removal or replacement of the implant, MRI technology may be used for the evaluation of patients to ascertain the level of damage. Saline implants will leak solution that can be harmlessly absorbed by the body, but silicone implant ruptures must be treated seriously as quickly as possible.

Breast augmentation surgery is an evolving field, with new techniques being refined on a constant basis. Remember that it is vitally important to choose a board-certified, trustworthy doctor for the best results.