Breast Augmentation: Three Major Decisions

For those considering breast augmentation, there are three major decisions that accompany the operation. A consultation with your doctor is the best way to help decide which type of implant, what size and shape, and what type of incision are the best choices for you.

There has been much controversy in the past decade about the safety of the use of silicone, however, it is now Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the surgery for all patients over the age of twenty-two. Silicone is known for its more natural look and feel, but the previous suspicions that it was linked to health issues sometimes still deters patients from making this choice. If you are hesitant about the option, talk with your doctor for reassurance. It may or may not be the best choice for you, but your surgeon can definitely give you peace of mind about any safety concerns that you may have.

Saline is less expensive and because the shell is put in empty and then filled afterward, the size can be adjusted post operatively as well if a patient is dissatisfied with the outcome. Saline is the only approved choice for prospective patients under the age of twenty-two, perhaps because of its ability to be impermanent. Rupturing is also more obvious with the use of saline because the implant tends to immediately deflate, whereas silicone leaks can be hard to detect.

The size and shape that a patient chooses is a personal issue, though it is suggested that you consider your surgeons expertise on the matter. Your surgeon has done enumerable surgeries and has seen the outcomes. He will be able to help you determine how much of an increase if safe and suitable to your proportions, and it is highly suggested that you do not discredit his professional opinion, though you do have the absolute freedom to make your own decision concerning the matter of size.
The type of incision that you will have is mostly left up to the surgeon, the surgeon’s preferences, you surgical needs, and in certain instances, the type of implant that you have chosen. For those who may be having additional surgeries simultaneously, a minimally invasive incision sight may be chosen that will accommodate both or all of the procedures at one time.

The trans-umbilical incision sight is not approved for silicone implants, though it is a desired entry location for minimal scarring, and, while the transauxillary or under arm location also hides scarring well, it is not a good choice for revision surgery.

The best way to make these decisions is to compile a well researched list of concerns and desires to present to the doctor in your post operative appointment. Together the two of you can make the choices that will best fit your list of needs.