Breast implants and lifts are among the more popular forms of cosmetic surgery.
Breast implants and uplifts are two of the more popular forms of breast augmentation. Women who get breast implants are usually unhappy with the size of their natural breasts and are looking to have a bigger bust line. Women who get breast lifts are unhappy with the shape of their breasts, usually after child birth or after loosing a large amount of weight.
Breast Implants
Breast implants are soft and they usually have a silicone shell. They are usually filled with either silicone gel or saline, depending on which the patient chooses. Saline-filled implants can either be prefilled during surgery or adjusted after surgery. Silicone breast implants come in different shapes and sizes for the patient to chose. The third type of breast implant, the "gummy bear" gel breast implant, is made of a firmer type of silicone that helps to maintain the shape of the implant. This implant has not yet been FDA-approved and can only be obtained through clinical study.
Breast Implant Risks
There are serious risks to consider when contemplating breast implant surgery. Breast implants are not permanent. The patient will likely need more surgery due to the many possible complications associated with breast implants. These complications include implant rupture, hardening around the implant, breast pain, asymmetry, unsatisfactory style or size, wrinkling or rippling.
Other risks include changes in nipple and breast sensation.
Breast Lift
Also known as mastopexy, breast lift surgery is usually sought by women who have lost the elasticity in their breasts, causing the breasts to sag and loose their shape. Breast lift surgery requires an incision to remove excess skin so that the resulting skin can be repositioned. There are three different techniques for breast lift surgery:
Standard breast lift surgery involves making a keyhole incision from the base of the breast to the areola. This technique is often used for severely drooping breasts and leaves the most scarring after surgery.
The doughnut mastopexy leaves less scarring because the only incision made is around the areola. A piece of skin around the areola is removed and the remaining skin is reattached to make the breasts look lifted. Scarring following this procedure is minimal.
The laser bra lift procedure is a new technique that is similar to the standard procedure. The incision is made in the same place, from the base of the breast to the areola, but the removed excess skin is treated with a laser and used along the chest wall to hold the breast lift tissue in place.
Breast Lift Results
Expectations for breast lift surgery must be realistic in order for the patient to be satisfied. While a breast lift can give the patient the shapely, perky breasts they desire, most patients are more satisfied when the breast lift is paired with implants. Also, breast lift surgery does not last forever. Aging and pregnancy are two factors that greatly alter the results of a breast lift. Patients can have more than one breast lift surgery in a lifetime, but this will result in more visible scarring.
Breast Lift Risks
Breast lift surgery carries some of the same risks and undesired results as breast implants. There is a chance of asymmetrical results, altered breast and nipple sensation, and abnormal scarring.
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