breast augmentation, Breast Implants, breast surgery
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Breast implant surgery is used to augment the breast or reconstruct this after mastectomy or the removal of tumors to prevent or treat cancer. Nowadays, these devices are available not just in different sizes but also shapes, profiles, shell texture, etc. in order to create the most desired result.
Meanwhile, breast implants come in two shapes: round and teardrop (also called anatomical) both of which have benefits and downsides.
Round implants have a symmetrical dimension which resembles an M&M when they are placed on top of a table. The advantage of the round shape is that the shell can move without distorting the appearance of the breasts.
Another advantage of round implants is that they can create fullness in the upper poles of the breasts, thus resulting to a more noticeable cleavage. And contrary to a myth, this shape does not automatically result to a fake, augmented look especially in the hands of a skilled plastic surgeon.
Compared to the anatomical implants, round implants are less expensive which makes them a more popular choice.
On the other hand, anatomical or teardrop implants appear oval in shape but when viewed from the side, they have more volume at the bottom than the top. For this reason, many surgeons believe that this shape can provide a more natural look as it simulates the sloping appearance of the breasts.
Anatomical implants were first designed to reconstruct the breasts, although doctors have started using these devices in cosmetic breast surgery due to their aesthetic benefits.
But because of the conical shape of these implants, they may flip over while inside the breast pocket, thus leading to a cosmetically displeasing and distorted appearance. As a result, these implants have a textured shell to prevent gross movement and to allow tissue adherence.
However, a textured surface does not provide a 100 percent guaranty that the anatomical implants will not flip. With this consideration, it is very important for a patient to choose a surgeon who is experienced in placing these materials in the breasts.
Regardless of which implant shape is used, most doctors prefer to place this device under the chest muscles, instead behind the tissue, so more amounts of skin and tissue can cover the shell, thus minimizing the risk of rippling and wrinkling. In addition, this implant placement can prevent or at least postpone breast ptosis or sagging which commonly occurs with advancing age or after major weight loss.
September 21, 2011
breast augmentation, Breast Implant Revision, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction, breast surgery, Plastic Surgery
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There are several kinds of cosmetic breast surgery in order to address different aesthetic problems such as sagging bust with nipples pointing downward, large breasts that make a person look top-heavy, and small size which may look unflattering to some women.
These are the types of plastic surgery performed to aesthetically improve the breasts:
Due to pregnancy and natural effects of aging, the breasts may drop due to their own weight and gravity. To treat this problem, plastic surgeons use breast lift which often involves an anchor-shaped incision—the first one is around the areola, the second travels downward from the areola to the breast fold, and the third covers the entire crease of the bust.
While the anchor lift is very effective in removing the excess skin and manipulating the underlying muscles, this approach is relatively extensive for women with small- to medium-sized breasts. With this consideration, plastic surgery specialists have developed modified breast lift techniques which are less invasive than the traditional approach.
In some cases, breast lift is combined with breast implant surgery if a patient wants to have a more prominent cleavage.
Traditionally, this plastic surgery procedure is performed using saline- or silicone-filled implants to increase the bust size and create a good cleavage by making the upper poles appear fuller and rounder.
But for patients who only want to slightly increase their breast size (or less than a cup), fat grafting is usually considered as a better option. In this procedure, plastic surgeons collect fats from the abdomen (or any area where there is a significant amount of fatty deposits) and then transfer these to the bust.
For women with an extremely large bust, they can have breast reduction surgery which uses an anchor-shaped incision, allowing plastic surgeons to remove the extra skin and fats and manipulate the surrounding tissues.
In some cases, breast reduction is not only treated as a cosmetic procedure but also as a way to address the physical symptoms such as back problem, chronic pain in the shoulder and neck, skin irritation in the breast crease, and difficulty to engage in sports and other rigorous activities.
If breast reduction is used to treat the physical symptoms stated above, it is important to note that it may be covered by some insurance providers.
Meanwhile, this procedure may also involve areola reduction to make it appear more natural to the breasts.
September 19, 2011
breast augmentation, Breast Implants, breast surgery, Plastic Surgery, Techniques
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In cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, doctors either use the saline- or silicone-filled implants in conducting breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. While these synthetic materials are relatively safe and have a high tissue compatibility rate, it is important to note that they still involve pros and cons.
When it comes to giving a natural appearance, most plastic surgeons believe that the silicone implant, which is filled with a cohesive gel material, provides a slightly better result compared to the saline version. This is because it uses a filling noted for its ability to replicate the feel and natural movement of a breast tissue.
On the other hand, women with saline implants usually compare the feeling of having a water-balloon inside their breast.
Another advantage of the silicone implant is that patients can maintain their breast volume for many years unless if the shell breaks. According to experts in plastic surgery, this may not be the case for women with saline implants which have a natural deflation rate of about 1 percent every year due to evaporation and other related factors.
Meanwhile, petite women or individuals with a limited amount of breast tissue and skin will most likely benefit from using silicone-filled implants which can lower the risk of rippling—a problem which may happen if the glandular tissue is not thick enough to cover the shell.
Many plastic surgeons also believe that patients who have had tumor removal will more likely benefit with silicone than the saline implants because they are usually left with a small amount of breast tissue.
Despite the notable advantages of silicone implant, plastic surgeons inform their patients that it has still some downsides. For example, having this implant requires a periodic MRI screening—at least every two years—to identify any rupture in the shell which may go undetected for years if women will only rely on the “visible manifestations.”
On the other hand, this test is not a requirement for patients with saline implants because a rupture will immediately provide a manifestation in the form of breast deflation. With this, they can easily seek a revision breast augmentation to correct such problem.
Since the saline implant is filled with a sterile saltwater, a rupture does not expose patients to serious health problems because the filling can be safely absorbed by the surrounding tissue.
Regardless of which type of breast implant is used, the primary purpose of this biocompatible, synthetic material is to increase the bust size, make the cleavage more prominent, and create a more womanly figure.
September 19, 2011
Breast Implants, Breast Lift, breast surgery, Techniques
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After losing a significant amount of weight or several pregnancies, some women develop hanging, pendulous breasts that are cosmetically displeasing. Meanwhile, this aesthetic problem also occurs because of genetic predisposition or natural effects of aging.
To correct the hanging, flat-looking breasts, mastopexy or breast lift surgery is the most recommended long-term solution. In this procedure, surgeons create several incisions to remove the loose skin, tissues, and fats.
But since every patient has a varying degree of breast ptosis (sagging), there are different incision patterns and techniques used in this procedure.
This technique, which is recommended for women with large breasts with severe sagging, involves making an incision around the perimeter of the areola, or the pigmented part of the skin; another one that runs vertically from the nipple to the breast fold; and a third horizontal cut across the breast crease.
The anchor-shaped incision is the oldest breast lift technique and is often used in conjunction with breast reduction surgery.
The incisions used in the anchor lift are also the same with this technique, minus the one that horizontally travels across the breast crease. Consequently, patients can expect shorter recovery and one less scar.
This approach is suitable for patients with a moderate degree of breast ptosis.
Also called as “Benelli” lift (named after the surgeon who pioneered its use), this technique only involves incisions made around the areola. Meanwhile, this is usually ideal for women with minimal breast ptosis, although this can also be used for patients with a moderate sagging as long as it is performed in conjunction with a breast implant surgery.
This breast lift technique, which is not as commonly used as the three incision patterns stated above, involves making a surgical line just along the upper half of the areola. After this, a crescent-shaped segment of skin is excised and the remaining part is tightened and reattached to the areola.
The crescent lift is suitable only for women with a very minimal degree of sagging and is usually complemented with breast implant surgery.
- Breast implant surgery as a standalone procedure
Breast implant surgery is sometimes used as a standalone procedure for creating volume and slightly lifting the breasts to a higher position. But with the weight of the implants, most surgeons do not recommend this surgery for patients who have already developed noticeable sagging.
September 18, 2011
breast augmentation, Breast Implants, breast surgery, Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery Science
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Breast augmentation and breast reconstruction surgery often involve the use of implants which may be filled with saline (or saltwater solution) or silicone gel.
In the US, the only available breast implants for marketing are the saline and silicone type, both of which have benefits and downsides that must be considered by patients.
In terms of giving a natural appearance and shape, the silicone-filled implants are better than the saline type because they use a gel designed to simulate the feel of a breast tissue. However, one downside of using them is that patients are required to undergo a periodic MRI screening to avoid the risks associated with leak.
Fortunately, there is a new type of silicone implants that use a more cohesive, firmer gel compared to the currently available one. With this consideration, the risk of gel “bleeding” and migration is no longer a concern for patients; in fact, the implants can be cut in half but still no gel will leak out from the shell.
Called as the gummy bear breast implants because of their resemblance with the sweet confectionary in terms of cohesiveness, they combine the benefits of the currently available silicone and saline implants.
While these new implants are not yet available for marketing, the US Food and Drug Administration has allowed some plastic surgeons to use these devices as long as they will participate in a clinical study.
It is interesting to note that gummy bear breast implants have already been used in Europe since 1995, just proving that they are relatively safe and effective to a significant number of patients.
When it comes to safety, these new implants are on a par with the saline type while providing women with natural-looking breasts.
Although the saline implants do not predispose patients to risks associated with “gel leak,” their breasts will immediately deflate right after the shell breaks. This is not the case with the gummy bear breast implants which are made of a solid mass of silicone.
Despite the advantages of these new devices over the traditional silicone and saline implants, they require a longer incision along the breast crease due to their firm structure which means that they cannot be folded during a breast augmentation or breast reconstruction surgery. For this reason, patients should expect higher risk of scarring, although at least it is hidden along the natural fold of the skin.
Another consideration is that gummy bear breast implants are more expensive than the traditional silicone and saline implants.
September 18, 2011
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