Women who improve breast shape and size can opt to have breast augmentation in NYC. The procedure can also correct breasts that differ in size and shape and restore breast volume and firmness lost due to excessive weight loss, pregnancy, aging, or other reasons. It involves surgery to insert FDA-approved breast implants under or over the chest muscle. Hundreds of thousands of women have this popular cosmetic surgical procedure every year and report no adverse effects.
If you are considering breast augmentation, one major decision you have to make is with regard to the breast implant. For optimal results, you have to choose the right option for your body. This is not easy as there are a wide variety of breast implants in various sizes and shapes. You need to know everything about breast implants in order to make an informed decision.
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about breast implants.
- What types of breast implants are currently available?
In New York City, breast enhancement surgery is performed using different types of implants. Each type has its own advantages, and your surgeon can help you choose the best option for your case. Types of breast implants currently available are:
- Saline implants: They are filled with sterile salt water after placement in the breast pocket. They are available to women 18 years of age and older for breast enhancement in NYC and for breast reconstruction.
- Silicone implants: These implants come pre-filled with silicone gel, a medical-grade, viscous material which makes them look and feel more like natural breast tissue. They are meant for women age 22 and older for breast augmentation and for breast reconstruction.
- Gummy bear: These silicone gel implants are made of high-strength silicone gel. These form-stable implants maintain their shape even when cut in half. They are less likely to wrinkle, fold, or ripple.
- IDEAL implant: The IDEAL implant features a series of implant shells nested together. It has two separate chambers filled with saline, and is uniquely designed to reduce collapse and wrinkling.
- Which implant is better: silicone or saline?
According to the ASPS, silicone implants were used in 88%, and saline implants in 12% of all breast augmentations in 2018. Though both silicone and saline implants have unique advantages and yield good results, silicone implants have less chance of rippling and wrinkling. They also provide a more natural appearance.
The main advantage of saline implants is that if they break, the saline will be absorbed by the body. Their main drawback is that they are more likely to ripple or fold within the implant pocket, and the edges may be visible underneath the skin’s surface, particularly in women with thin skin and / or little body fat.
The plastic surgeon will determine the best implant for you by evaluating factors such as your aesthetic goals, body type, age, lifestyle, and budget.
- Are breast implants safe?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) states that breast implants are safe, but that no medical device is without risks. There have been rare cases of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a highly treatable type of lymphoma, but ASPS notes that “decades of research have yet to establish a causal relationship between the device and systemic disease”.
- Is age a constraint for breast implant surgery?
Although there is no scientific basis for the age requirement, under FDA regulations, an ideal candidate must be at least 22 years old to receive silicone breast implants and at least 18 for saline breast augmentation implants.Women can consider breast implant surgery if they are good candidates for the procedure and are aware about the procedure’s benefits, risks, and results.
- Can I breast-feed with breast implants?
Women with implants successfully breastfeed their children. A professionally performed augmentation procedure will not affect the breast glands/ducts directly. To understand this better, consult a well-trained plastic surgeon before the procedure.
- How are breast implants placed?
There are different types of incisions for implant placement: underneath the breast, on the outer edge of the areola, within the armpit and just above the belly button. The cosmetic surgeon will determine the best option depending your anatomy and goals, also taking care to see that breast augmentation scars remain hidden.
Generally, saline implants can produce a natural, attractive result when placed below the pectoral muscle, whereas silicone implants are softer than saline and produce a more natural slope when placed under the breast tissue and over the muscle. The amount of natural breast tissue and the size and type of implant are all factors that go to determine implant placement.
- How long will breast implants last?
No medical device can be expected to last for lifetime, and as you age, your body will change and anatomical changes can occur which may lead to the need for additional surgery for a replacement or revision implant surgery. According to an ASPS report published in January 2018, one out of five patients will need a replacement or revision after 10 years, which means four in five are still enjoying the benefits of their implants 10 years after receiving them.
Fourth- and fifth-generation breast implants are safe and you can expect lasting outcomes when your procedure is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon.
- When should breast implants be replaced?
It is a common misconception that breast implants should be periodically removed and replaced every so many years. There is no need for a follow-up or to replace your implants unless you have developed complications due to dissatisfaction with initial results, change in breast size, aging, capsular contracture (hardening of the breast tissue around the implant), rupture, or deflation.
- Is it true that breast implant surgery improve posture?
According to Italian researchers, breast implant surgery can improve posture through changes body mass and mood. The study found that breast augmentation surgery improved posture throughout the entire spine, resulting in a “retro positioning” of the upper part of the body through a slight retro positioning of the head and a compensatory anterior positioning of the pelvis. Many women report that the procedure improves image, confidence, and self-esteem.
- Is it necessary to get a breast lift along with my implants?
It’s important that women have a clear understanding of both the procedure and what they can achieve. While implants enhance breast size, they cannot correct sagging. On the other hand, a breast lift focuses on position but does not increase breast size. If your nipples hang lower than the crease at the juncture of your breasts and chest wall, then you may need a breast lift. Both these procedure can be combined effectively to improve outcomes.
- Do breast implants cause pain?
A ruptured silicone breast implant can cause breast pain, breast thickening, or changes in the contour or shape of the breast. However, ruptured implants can be removed surgically and a new implant can be inserted at the same time.
- How do you know if your implant has ruptured?
If a saline implant breaks, then breast size would decrease. The FDA recommends medical imaging to verify the implant’s integrity beginning at three years and every two years after that. With an IDEAL implant, you can detect rupture by just looking in the mirror.
If you are considering breast augmentation in New York City, choose an AAAASF-accredited plastic surgery practice that provides the services of plastic surgeons who are experts in performing the procedure. In a reliable practice, you can expect end-to-end care and support all through the treatment, right from initial consultation up to full recovery.