Objective
Breasts are part of the feminine language. Today's woman chooses what she wants and what she needs. If the size of her bust seems insufficient to her, she does not hesitate to consider a breast augmentation for a more proportionate figure.
Breast augmentation is a surgery that is intended to correct a lack of development of mammary glands or a loss of volume and shape caused by pregnancy or hormonal changes inherent to each woman. Whatever the motive for her decision, a woman wants to feel more confident and better about herself.
The Procedure
Many decisions are to be made before you proceed to a breast augmentation. The consultation with your surgeon will help guide you through this decision-making process. However, this document will help clarify some subjects that you will discuss with your surgeon during your consultation.
The procedure consists of the introduction of implants, either in front of or behind the pectoral muscle. Placing the implant behind the pectoral muscle can reduce the risk of "rippling", "capsular contracture", and in some patients give a more natural appearance. In some patients, we will choose to place the implant in front of the muscle: bodybuilders or gymnasts for example, whose strong use of the chest muscle can displace the implant.
At the time of your consultation, your surgeon will also tell you about the wide range of implants available, whether silicone cohesive gel implants or saline solution implants. Silicone and saline implants both have very similar safety profiles.The major advantage of silicone over saline implants is that they provide a more natural look and feel, because they are filled with a soft, silicone gel.The advantages of saline implants include a slightly shorter incision and, if they break, they deflate almost immediately, with the body absorbing the salt water. When a silicone implant breaks, it can be trickier to detect, but can be easily confirmed by an ultrasound or an MRI. Your surgeon should discuss with you the pros and cons of silicone vs.saline implants so that you make an informed, comfortable decision.
Silicone and saline breast implants both last about the same amount of time before they "break". Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a breast implant that lasts forever. In fact, we tell all of our younger patients that their implants will likely have to be changed some time in the future. The chance that a breast implant breaks is about ½ percent a year. This means that, ten years after surgery, there is a 90-95 percent chance that the implant is intact.If an implant does break, it should be removed and can replaced through the same incision.
The final choice to be made is the size/volume of the implant.It is particularly important that your surgeon guide you through this process, and provide you with "sizers" during the consultation, as it will help you choose implants that are in proportion with the rest of your body. Your surgeon's most important role at this point is to make sure that the implant you choose fits with the dimensions of your chest/breasts, ensuring a good-looking, long lasting result.
During your consultation your surgeon will also discuss potential complications of a breast augmentation. While complications are relatively rare, these include infection, bleeding, asymmetry, decreased nipple sensation, implant malposition, "rippling", and implant rupture. There is also a risk of capsular contracture, which is when the body produces a tight shell of scar tissue around the implant, causing it to “harden” and possibly shift position.