Who is a candidate?

There could be many reasons for women to want a breast augmentation, such as improve her body shape, balance the difference in size of the breasts or reconstruction of the breasts after a mastectomy.

Types of implants

A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or a salt-water solution known as saline. Each of the filling materials has their own advantages like the consistency of the silicone filling and the innocuity of the saline in case of a leakage.

There is no evidence that breast implants could cause cancer or auto-immune diseases. You should consult with your doctor about the subject.

Augmentation surgery

The surgery could be performed under local or genera anesthesia. The procedure involves the insertion of an implant either directly behind the breast tissue or underneath the pectoral muscle, depending on your anatomy and your surgeon's recommendation. The incision can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest, around the areola, or in the armpit. Every effort will be made to assure that the incision is placed so resulting scars will be as inconspicuous as possible.

Your surgeon may prefer to perform the operation in an office facility, a freestanding surgery center, or a hospital outpatient facility. Occasionally, the surgery may be done as an inpatient in a hospital, in which case you can plan on staying for a day or two.

The surgery may de ambulatory or as an impatient for a day in a hospital. You may need fluid draining for 24 hours following the surgery and may need gauze bandaging for up to 7 days.

As with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery such as infections and haematoma and specific complications associated with this procedure.

The most common problems are capsular contracture, decreasing of breast size, folding of the saline filled shells. Occasionally the implant may break and may need to be removed.

The nipples may become oversensitive, undersensitive, or even numb during the first few months.

There is no evidence that breast implants will affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to nurse.