A Look at the Breast Implant Procedure

It is an unfortunate fact that many women don’t naturally have an ideal breast size, and that can have a major impact on an individual’s confidence. If you are self-conscious because you feel as if your breasts are undersized or not proportionate to the rest of your body, then breast augmentation surgery might be exactly what you need. With modern implants, a skilled surgeon will be able to sculpt the full and sensual breasts that you have always wanted. Here is a quick look at some of the most popular implant options and what you can expect during the augmentation procedure.

Ideal Candidate for Implants

Even though your surgeon will be able to give you more information during your first consultation, there are a few things to consider before you head to that meeting. In most cases, a patient must be at least 18 years old for saline implants and 21 years old for silicone implants. It is also vital that the patient has fully formed breast tissue. Finally, patients must be ready to remain as healthy as possible in the coming years. Smoking, gaining weight, and other lifestyle changes could impact the results of the procedure and potentially lead to unwanted complications. As long as you are a healthy adult and have realistic expectations, your surgeon will most likely clear you for this procedure.

Popular Implant Types

There are a few different types of breast implants that patients can choose from, and each material has its own benefits. As a general rule, patients who want as realistic results as possible will choose silicone implants. Those devices make the breasts look and feel extremely natural, but they are slightly harder to put in place because they must be fully filled outside of the body. Saline implants, on the other hand, can be filled once they are in the breast cavities. That means the incisions for those implants are typically much smaller.

Over the last few years, fat transfer procedures have become very popular as well. Instead of using foreign devices to increase the size of your breasts, the surgical team can use fat from your own body. That two-stage procedure begins with liposuction, and patients can have the fat removed from the buttocks, hips, thighs, or abdomen. Once the fat has been extracted, it must be refined to remove any impurities. When only the healthy cells remain, the surgeon can inject the tissue into strategic areas throughout the breasts.

What Is the Procedure Like?

Most patients have this operation carried out with a strong oral sedative or a general anesthetic that puts them fully to sleep. After you are asleep, your surgeon can make a small incision near each breast. The incisions can be placed almost anywhere, but they are usually made along the lower curve of the breast so that they can be hidden in the natural contours of the chest. Once the implants have been inserted, the surgeon will conclude the procedure by suturing the incisions shut and placing a bandage over the chest.

You are going to notice immediate changes to your chest as soon as you wake up, but the full results won’t be visible until the swelling and discoloration have subsided. During your recovery, you must do everything in your power to stay healthy and protect your breast tissue. By the fifth or sixth week, the side effects should be nearly gone and your implants will most likely have settled into the correct positions. Every case is different, but modern implants typically last for 10 to 15 years.