Breast Augmentation Surgery Overview

Breast augmentation is surgery to enlarge the breasts and enhance their shape. It is one of the most popular and widely performed types of cosmetic surgery in the United States. Millions of women have undergone breast augmentation and enjoyed the benefits of having the figure they have always wanted.

In breast augmentation, a surgeon inserts breast implants either under the natural breast tissue (a positioning that is sometimes called “overs” for over the muscle) or under the breast and some of the muscles of the chest wall(“unders” or under the muscle).

Breast implants are pouches that are filled with either saline (sterile saltwater) or silicone gel. The gel used today is relatively thick and implants with even thicker gel (so-called “gummy bear implants”) are under development. Implants are considered medical devices and their sale is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The shell of either type of breast implant is made of silicone rubber and the surface of the shell may be smooth or textured.

Implants come in two shapes—round or a tear-drop shape similar to the anatomical shape of a human breast—and each type comes in several sizes. Silicone-gel implants are filled by the manufacturer, but saline implants are inserted empty and then filled by the surgeon who can adjust the size of the implant to some extent by adding more saline.

Breast implants are inserted through small incisions, which can be placed either in the crease under the breast, under the arm, or at the edge of the areola of the nipple. Silicone-gel filled implants require incisions up to 2 inches long. Saline implants, because they are filled after they are inserted, can be inserted through incisions as short as 1 inch long. The scars are usually quite small and after they completely heal (which like all scars can take several months) and are usually inconspicuous.

One specialized type of breast augmentation surgery is transumbilical breast augmentation or TUBA. An incision is made in the navel or belly button and empty saline implants are passed through tunnels up to the breast area, where they are filled. The incision is completely hidden within the navel and this technique is sometimes referred to as scarless breast augmentation.

Breast augmentation surgery is usually performed as ambulatory surgery, also called outpatient surgery. This means that you go home a few hours after your surgery. The surgery can be performed in a hospital or in a surgery center, and some plastic surgeons do the procedures in a special surgical suite in their offices. Putting in breast implants usually takes under 2 hours. It can also be combined with other cosmetic surgical procedures, such as liposuction or a tummy tuck, but that will add to the length of surgery.

If you choose to have breast implants, you should expect to have them removed or removed and replaced at some point during your lifetime. Your implants may require removal if they become ruptured, but even if no rupture occurs, they may need to be removed and replaced in 12 to 15 years. However, many women have had implants in place safely for longer than that. The FDA recommends that women who choose silicone-filled implants undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their breasts every few years to check for leakage of silicone.

Disclaimers