Is Breast Augmentation Right For You?

April 20th, 2009 by author

More women have undergone breast augmentation than any other kind of plastic surgery procedure in the United States, making it the number one process to date. There are many reasons why women choose to undergo this surgery, some of which include the desire to improve the size and overall shape of their breasts, correct deformities and to reconstruct the breast tissue after a mastectomy due to cancer. Let’s take a look at whether breast implants might be right for you.

Two implant options are available when considering breast augmentation surgery: saline-filled and silicon gel-filled implants. Whichever breast implant a woman chooses depends on her desired outcome and the size of the woman. Does she want a more natural look and feel, or a more uniform look? Silicon implants provide a more natural look and feel, while the advantage of saline is that the implant can be increased or decreased in size to even out any lopsidedness.

The trans-umbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) procedure is one of the most popular options for breast enhancement today. An incision is made in the belly button of the patient during this procedure. With many of the other available breast enhancement surgery options, the incision is made in the armpit or bust.

The TUBA procedure is unique. Once your cosmetic surgeon makes the incision in your belly button, he or she will then tunnel up to the chest area. The surgeon feeds a deflated saline implant through the tunneled section. Once the breast implant is in position, and it can be placed either in front of or behind the muscle, it is inflated with saline solution.

After the TUBA procedure, care should include wearing a sports bra that provides extra support. You will more than likely be on light duty for a few weeks following your procedure, as strenuous physical activities can cause problems until you fully recover.

Of course, the most important part of the decision-making process when undergoing any kind of reconstructive or aesthetic plastic surgery is finding a qualified cosmetic surgeon to perform the procedure. To locate a plastic surgeon in your area who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you can go online at www.plasticsurgery.org.

After you locate a doctor in your area that is certified to perform cosmetic plastic surgery, the next step is to schedule a consultation appointment with him or her to determine whether you are a good candidate for breast enhancement surgery. A good plastic surgeon will spend time with you to evaluate both your mental and physical health and give you their unbiased opinion on whether augmentation breast implants is the right choice for you. You need to know all the benefits and risks of the surgery as well as what type of post-operative care you will need.

The trans-umbilical breast augmentation procedure decreases the recovery time for the average patient, when compared to other types of incisions. Many breast surgery patients report less post-operative wound care, recovery pain and decreased down time, as well as less conspicuous scarring. The biggest disadvantage or risk of this procedure is the remote chance of an implant being punctured and leaking during installation.