Breast augmentation (breast implants)
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Breast augmentation is the surgical procedure whereby breast size can be increased with implants or the patient’s own fat from other areas of their body. Breasts can be reconstructed this way following a mastectomy or simply for aesthetic purposes, for example to alter their shape and size. There are several types of breast implants available for the purpose of augmentation. Each type of implant has its own specific characteristics, so patients can choose the implant that best suits them.
One of the most common types is a saline breast implant, which is filled with special salt water. Saline implants are considered to be the safest type, because if something should happen to them, such as leakage, the body will automatically absorb the saline water, which is harmless to humans. Another common choice is silicone implants. The silicone gel filling resembles the structure of natural breast tissue, making rejection of the foreign body less likely. Silicone breast implants are not recommended for women younger than 22. Women who have had breast augmentation surgery should have regular check-ups to make sure everything is alright with the implants and they do not need to be changed or removed altogether.
In some cases, women choose fat repositioning to augment their breast. For this type of surgery, fat from other areas of the patient’s own body is removed using liposuction and is then injected into the breast tissue to make it appear larger. This type of surgery is considered to be more natural and poses less risk than artificial breast implants.
While some women may opt for breast augmentation for aesthetic reasons, there are also medical reasons for breast surgery. For example, some women’s breasts do not grow naturally after puberty (breast hypoplasia). Similarly, a male to female transgender woman may wish to undergo a breast enlargement procedure as part of her transition. Some women may wish to have reconstructive plastic surgery following a mastectomy due to cancer.
Before embarking on surgery, a series of tests needs to be carried out on the patient, to see if breast augmentation is the right course of action. In some cases, surgery is not recommended if the patient has certain health problems. Once the surgery has been performed, the patient needs to undergo imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to determine if everything is alright with the implants and the breast tissue.
Breast augmentation surgery is performed by a plastic surgeon. Before the implants are inserted, the surgeon uses a special breast tissue expander to prepare the breast for augmentation. Implants may be made of silicone, saline solution or the patient’s own fat tissue. Following surgery, the patient can expect to stay in hospital for several days to fully recover and to adjust to the implants.
Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko
