The reasons for having breast augmentation surgery are numerous and varied. Some women feel that their breast size is too small for their body contours, while others may be seeking to turn the clock back on the effects of age and gravity. A lack of symmetry and living with the discomfort of ill-fitting clothing that comes as a result; lost volume due to weight loss or pregnancy; coping with missing or misshapen breasts as a result of trauma or disease (such as cancer); any of these reasons and more may prompt a woman to seek surgical enhancement of her breasts.
Implants vary in size, shape, contour, and filler; can be inserted directly under the breast tissue or even under the chest wall muscle; and can be used for restoration, balance, or increasing size from as little as a cup size to much, much more. This surgery is not for everyone, however, and doctors, such as Dr. Antoine Hallak of San Diego, recommend knowing before-hand about the procedures, risks, and alternatives involved, and what can be expected with each. The best candidates, he says, are those with realistic expectations of improvement, not perfection."
The choice of implants depends on more than just aesthetics. A good plastic surgeon will take a patient's goals, lifestyle, and personal preference into account, and offer his or her own recommendations based on sound surgical judgment.
All surgical procedures come with some measure of risk, and the most common risk in breast augmentation is that of capsular contracture, which occurs when the capsule or scar around the implant begins to tighten. This can cause the breast to feel hard, and can exacerbate difficulties with mammography.
Following breast augmentation surgery, regular mammography screenings should continue, though a special technique is needed to ensure a reliable reading because implants can obscure some of the image. The screening must incorporate additional views of the tissue to ensure coverage. Because of the compression required for mammography, it is important to be frank and open so that an accurate reading can be obtained with minimal risk of rupture. A facility which sees more women with implants can also help, according to mayoclinic.com.
Injury and even normal compression and movement of the breast can cause rupture as well. Saline-filled implants simply drain into the body, where the salt-water is absorbed and expelled naturally. Silicone-filled implants may not deflate, and a rupture may not even be noticeable without ultrasound or MRI. For this reason, Dr. Hallak advises women with silicone implants to schedule annual follow-up visits with their plastic surgeon, fully screening all silicone implants after three years (http://hallakplasticsurgery.com/
These complications do not affect the majority of women who receive breast augmentation surgery. Still it is important to know all the facts before going under the knife.
