Undergoing breast augmentation is a big decision, and some patients may be on the lookout for alternatives to surgery. On their search for another way to enlarge their breasts, they may come across breast enlargement or enhancement pills, which claim to increase bust size “naturally.” So do these pills really work?
Category Archives: Breast
Things to Consider Before Getting Breast Implants
When you’re considering a breast augmentation, the first thing you may be concerned about is feeling better about your body- and that’s exactly what you should be thinking about! Being happy with yourself is the motivation that will get you in for a consultation. But once you start getting down to the many decisions you have to make before surgery- the most obvious being the size of your breast implants- it’s important to consider how your pre-op choice will affect your daily life.
Consider a few elements of your lifestyle and how having slightly larger breasts, moderately larger, or much larger breasts would change those elements.
Textured or Smooth Breast Implants?
Among the many options available for customizing your breast augmentation (including implant size, shape, and placement) is the amount of texturizing on the surface of the breast implant. Breast implants come smooth-surfaced, or in various degrees of texturization.
A texturized implant can have tiny grains on the surface that vary in size from visible to the naked eye, to only visible under magnification. The texture of the surface is part of the implant, not something added to the surface after the implant is manufactured. Texturization is build into the surface of the implant.
Capsular Contracture and Breast Augmentation
When you begin discussing the risks associated with breast augmentation, one of the phrases you begin to hear is “capsular contracture.” What does that mean, exactly? And what can you do to decrease the risk of capsular contracture occurring in your situation?
Definition
When a foreign body enters the tissues, the body creates a lining or layer of scar tissue around it as an immune system defense mechanism. This is true of any foreign object, from breast implants to small splinters. This lining that is formed is known as a “capsule.”
Breast Augmentation Revision
Breast implants can last between ten and twenty years (or even longer), but they are not lifetime devices. Eventually, you may need to have the implants replaced. This is especially true if your implants were put in by an inexperienced surgeon, which may lead to issues.
There are a number of reasons to consider breast augmentation revision, including the following:
Breast Implants and Breast Self Exams
Women of all ages are encouraged to perform a monthly self-examination of the breasts in order to detect any lumps or changes in the breast tissue. A monthly self-exam can help you detect possible breast cancer before your annual gynecological check up or mammogram. Women with breast implants should still perform a monthly self exam, though there are a few things to keep in mind. In fact, the breast implants may make a self exam easier because you won’t be pushing against the lumps of your ribs, but against the flat surface of the implant.
Breast Implants and Pregnancy
Women experience profound changes in their body during pregnancy, and that can include their breasts. Some women’s breasts increase in size or change in sensitivity. Some women plan to breastfeed once the baby is born. No matter how your body is genetically programmed to change during pregnancy, women with implants want to know how their augmentation will affect their pregnancy and breastfeeding ability.
The first thing you should know is that breast implants will not interfere with your pregnancy in any way. The implants (whether they are saline or silicone) are medical devices that won’t harm you during pregnancy or at any other time.
Also, your breasts may continue to change even if you have implants. They may get larger, softer, harder, or otherwise change in appearance or feeling. This will not affect the implants. You should still be on the lookout for normal complications associated with implants, such as leakage. Continue reading
How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Like many people considering breast augmentation, you might be wondering how long the implants themselves will last. No one wants to undergo a surgical procedure just to have to turn around and do it again a few years down the line! However, breast implants can last up to ten or even twenty years.
Like any medical device, breast implants are not lifetime devices. They wear out over time, just like a prosthetic joint or a pacemaker would. Your lifestyle could impact the lifespan of the implants, as well- things like dramatic weight loss/weight gain or a consistently active lifestyle can cause them to wear out more quickly.
The breast tissues around the implants will experience effects of the normal aging process, which may include some sagging. Your surgeon may recommend a breast lift or a revised breast implant procedure to keep your profile looking the way you desire.
One way to have your saline implants last longer is to ask the surgeon to fill them to their optimal levels. The implants will be round, firm, and be less likely to cause wrinkling. Saline implants that have been filled to their optimal levels also have a statistically lower rate of early failure. Continue reading
How to Get the Best Results From Breast Augmentation
Undergoing breast augmentation is a major decision, one that requires careful planning and necessary recovery time. It is important to do as much as you can to get the best possible results from your breast implants, to avoid complications or a negative aesthetic result.
The first thing you can do to get the best results is to carefully select the correct size implant for your body, and have realistic expectations about the results of the surgery. For example, naturally thin women may have breasts that have a gap between them- implants will not correct that. If you select an implant that is too big in an attempt to move the breasts closer together, the result will be unnatural and could cause complications such as the “double bubble” effect.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation
There are a number of questions to be asked when considering whether or not to get implants. Even if you have already committed to the procedure, you probably still have questions about your implants or recovery time. Here, we’ve gathered a few of the most common questions about breast augmentation surgery.
How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices, but there is no set timeline for when you need to have them replaced. They may last between 10 and 20 years before you need to replace them, depending on your age, what kind of implants you get, and whether or not you experience any complications like leakage or unevenness that develops over time.