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Breast Augmentation: Everything You Must Know About Breast Implants

If you are considering breast augmentation, you are not alone.  Over 300,000 women in the United States alone choose the procedure every year while millions more are considering the possibility.  Is breast augmentation right for you?  It is important to get a wide understanding of the basic facts from choosing a breast implant surgeon, to choosing your breast implant sizes, to how to recover well.  Ready to learn more?

Breast Augmentation: How to Choose a Breast Implant Surgeon

In breast augmentation, it is critical that you find a board certified plastic surgeon in whom you develop a deep sense of trust.  You will be undergoing an invasive medical procedure which has its own set of risks and complications.  Knowing this, you must get to a point in which you feel very comfortable with the sets of skills and experience exhibited by your chosen doctor.

The board certification is important because it demonstrates not only their commitment to the practice but also exhaustive training as it regards your procedure.  The less expensive procedures available today, generally under three thousand dollars, are often offered by cosmetic surgeons who do not have their board certification.  While many of these surgeons are also experts in this area, the board certification can support your relationship of trust.

After meeting with a few surgeons you will want to go beyond comparing price, though breast enhancement costs are important.  Reflect also on your appointment with the doctor to make sure you feel comfortable that they have answered all of your important questions regarding the procedure.  If you left the appointment Less Than fully satisfied with the answers, you should probably move on to another doctor.

Breast Augmentation: Prepare for your Consultation

In your initial meeting with a plastic surgeon you may be filled with anxiety over the discussion.  This is why it is very important that you have prepared yourself with as much basic knowledge as possible.  In your consultation you might have as little as twenty to thirty minutes to meet with the surgeon to discuss the details of the procedure.  After that they will connect you with one of the nurses to try various breast implant sizers to experiment with in the office for another twenty minutes.

In this short time you will want to be mentally prepared to focus on the most important questions.  The areas I have highlighted below will help get you started with an overview as to what you should know about the breast augmentation procedure.  Begin writing a list so that your consultation with the doctor is effective and rewarding.

Breast Augmentation: Breast Implant Types

There are two primary types of implants used in cosmetic breast enhancement, silicone breast implants and saline.  In 2006 the FDA approved the latest generation of cohesive gel silicone breast implants after exhaustive studies.  After the controversy swirling around their use in the 1980s, the FDA had banned their use in the United States from 1992 through 2006.  During this time they allowed doctors with special training to use silicone implants with patients on a trial basis.  After fourteen years and thousands of satisfied patients with no extraordinary complications, silicone implants were approved once again.

The primary advantage to the cohesive gel implant is that they are more natural to the touch and feel while creating a fuller looking breast.  Saline implants offer the patient benefits as well including a smaller incision area and a more expansive set of options in terms of incision methods.  The type of implant you choose for your breast enhancement may also be dependent upon the cost since silicone implants are about one thousand dollars more expensive.

Breast Augmentation: Breast Implant Sizes

One of the first things you will learn about implants is that they do not come in cup sizes.  In other words you cannot simply go in and ask for a C cup implant.  Instead, implants are available in sizes measured in cubic centimeters such as 250cc, 375cc, 450cc and so on.  These differing sizes range from as small as 100cc to as much as 1200cc, with the average size measuring about 350cc.

Since the body of each patient is different, the different implant sizes can look quite different on each body.  This is why it is important for you to focus on the approximate size you would like to be.  For example, if you know that you want to have a breast augmentation to a D cup, you will want to be able to communicate this accurately to the doctor so they can decide upon which breast implant size will achieve your goal.

The subject of breast implant sizes has become a bit controversial over recent years after recent studies have shown that the primary reason for dissatisfication with the procedure is if the patient feels she chose the wrong size.  The primitive methods of choosing breast implants and general inattention to the matter have given rise to this problem.  Thankfully today there are new systems available to help a patient make a wise decision to improve their sense of satisfaction with the breast enhancement procedure.

Breast Augmentation: Use Breast Implant Sizers

In the past decade or so the market has provided patients with the opportunity to use at-home breast implant sizers.  These have been a welcomed addition to plastic surgeons who recognize this decision as one of the most critical in breast enlargement.

The First Generation of sizers were designed to look like an implant.  These worked well if all you needed to do was stand in front of a mirror and get a general idea of your breast size.  Of course, breast implants are designed to go inside your body, not inside a bra!  As a result, the first generation were deficient from the standpoint that they were readily apparent because they would show through your clothing.  While they were helpful visually, they could not help you truly experience various breast implant sizes while wearing them out in public.  

To truly understand how you will feel with a C cup versus a D cup, you will need the latest breast implant sizing system that allows you to look and feel natural while wearing the system.  By trying on various sizes out in public in this way you will begin to understand both psychologically and emotionally how various breast sizes will feel in real life.

Why is it so important to experience various breast sizes in public?  Far too many women fear a great public reaction their new breast size after breast enhancement, and therefore choose a breast implant size that is too small.  After the surgery they find they are so happy about the benefits of the procedure that they wish they had gone with a bigger size.  For example if they conservatively chose a C cup implant but really wanted a D cup implant, they find themselves wishing they had chosen the D cup instead.

Using breast implant sizers they get the chance to try on both sizes amongst family, friends, and even out in public.  Doing so they quickly realize that the difference between a C cup and D cup is less significant than they realize and therefore choose the cup size they truly want.

Breast implant sizers are a step in the right direction towards engaging you in a critical decision.  You can start wearing them even before your consultation to see how you truly feel about your new breast size.

Breast Augmentation: Breast Implant Profiles

While breast implant size is important, another factor that is involved is the profile of the implant.  Profiles are available in either low, moderate, or high.  The decision upon which is right for you is going to be highly dependent upon what your doctor determines is necessary for you to achieve your goal size.

Generally speaking lower profiles are used for women with a wider breast diameter, such as is normally the case for women with a bra band size of 38 inches or greater. Higher profiles might be more appropriate for a woman with a smaller breast width but who wants a larger breast size such as a D cup or DD cup.  The higher profile implant will have a smaller diameter so that it can fit within the dimensions of the breast, but will offer a higher projection so as to achieve the goal size.

Breast Augmentation: Breast Implant Incisions

There are four primary incision methods used to place the implant in breast augmentation.  These methods are:

1) Inframmary (under the breast fold)
2) Periaerolar (through the nipple)
3) Transaxillary (through the armpit)
4) Transumbilical (TUBA, or through the belly button)

Of these, the most common is the inframmary incision.  One benefits to this method is that both silicone implants and saline can be placed through the incision.  Additional benefits include the greater likelihood the procedure will not inhibit breast feeding along with the reduction of possibility for breast assymetry resulting from inaccurate placement.  Some women, however, are not fond of this method in breast enhancement because of the noticeable scar it leaves.

The transaxillary and transumbilical methods are excellent methods to hide the scar because both types are well away from the breast.  Due to the distance away from the breast, however, only saline implants can be placed this way because they are not filled until they are placed.  One possible concern with either of these methods is that the surgeon may have more of a difficult time to place the implant in its ideal location for natural looking results.

Breast Augmentation: Over or Under The Muscle

One of the things your doctor will discuss with you in your consultation will be where you want your implant placed as it relates to the chest muscle.  Your choices will be over the muscle, fully under the muscle or entirely under the muscle.

The trend towards placing under the muscle developed in the early 1990s as saline implants were the only choice for women to use.  Prior to that, silicone implants were placed over the muscle because they would create a fuller looking breast and the implant would not show through the breast tissue.  If placed over the muscle, the saline implant can actually show a rippling effect through the breast tissue creating an unnatural appearance.

Now that silicon implants are back you may find more surgeons recommending placement of the implant either over the muscle or only partially under the muscle.

Breast Augmentation: Recovery Time

How long will it take to recover from the breast augmentation surgery?  This question depends upon a variety of issues, not the least of which is the size of the implant.  The larger the implant the greater your skin tissue and muscles will need to stretch which can increase the intensity and time of your recovery.  Additionally, your health, incision method chosen, and attention to recovery instructions can impact the length of your recovery.

Generally speaking, however, it can take up to about two weeks until you are feeling normal again.  The full healing of scars may take as much as three months.  And it may up to six months for the implant to descend into its natural position for a normal looking breast.

Breast Augmentation: Recovery Bra

One of the most important factors in your breast augmentation recovery is choosing excellent recovery garments.  Special compression bras are available which can help you through the stages of recovery.  These bras will stabilize the implant during the recovery time which is critical to healing well and perhaps as importantly, to long term natural appearance of your breasts.

Your surgeon might recommend up to four bras throughout this process.  The first bra is actually used prior to the surgery and is used with your breast implant sizers.  The next two bras are for the first few weeks after surgery.  The first of these is higher in terms of compression and comes with a stabilizer band to prevent movement of the implant.  The second of these does not have a stabilizer and provides slightly less compression to allow some movement of the breasts.  For the final three to four weeks of recovery your surgeon will recommend that you wear sports bras only.  Under no circumstances during this time are you to wear a bra with an underwire.

Breast Augmentation: What To Expect After

Life after your procedure is interesting to say the least!  It requires some patience to wait for the implants to descend into their appropriate location.  You might be tempted to go out and buy the new bras you have been wanting but you are best off to wait for the healing process to complete.

You might find that for a few weeks the subject of your surgery will be a bit of a hot topic amongst family and friends.  But after this, people will accept your new appearance and generally forget about the topic entirely.

Breast Augmentation: Hospital or Surgical Center

Each surgeon will have a location in which they perform the procedure.  Some will use space at a local hospital while others own a surgical center.  In either case emergency plans are well laid out.  As long as you are dealing with a board certified plastic surgeon you can be assured the medical center used is sterile and safe.

Breast Augmentation: Costs

The costs for your procedure will depend upon the area of the United States you choose for your procedure.  These costs may be from around four thousand dollars to seven thousand or more.  Some patients will consider traveling for the procedure but if you do so, it must be within the United States.  Avoid the offerings from overseas with ridiculously low prices where results can vary widely.  

One trend that I think will develop over time is to travel to the midwest states where there  are highly qualified surgeons who charge a bit less than on the costs due to market conditions.  

Insurance companies generally do not cover the cost for cosmetic breast enhancement as it is an elective procedure.

Breast Augmentation: Financing

There are many finanincing options available including the most common which is credit cards.  Most credit companies make credit lines available sufficient to cover the cost of breast augmentation and almost all doctors accept it as a method of payment.  Additionally there are special medical financing companies that offer attractive terms and payments for medical procedures.

Breast Augmentation Risks and Complications

As much as you may be intrigued and excited about the notion of breast augmentation, you must not forget the potential risks and complications.  As a surgically invasive procedure you will be put under anesthesia which in an of itself has a potential risk, including death.  Additionally there are potential complications involving infection and capsular contracture.  When you meet with your surgeon they will cover these with you thoroughly and make you sign a waiver as to the disclosure of these risks.  Be sure to read it carefully and hold off on signing anything until you are completely comfortable with the implications.

The fact is that breast augmentation is the most popular of all cosmetic enhancement procedures in the United States.  Chances are that you know someone who has had or is thinking about the possibility.  If you are considering the possibility it is critical that you get informed with the wide range of information available on the internet.  Take the time to learn through the resources available and experience the effects of the procedure ahead of time by using breast implant sizers.

About the Author

If you are considering breast augmentation, one of your most critical decision is about your breast implant sizes. Choose the latest innovation in breast implant sizing, The Purlz Breast Sizing System. Unlike all other systems, Purlz are designed to look and feel natural. Choose right the first time with Purlz!

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