Breast Augmentation Surgery: Busting Myths, Selecting Implants

Breast augmentation surgery is a sought-after procedure by women for a variety of reasons. They prefer it to change the appearance of their breasts distorted due to pregnancy, weight gain, or loss. Another major factor is the urge to get a fuller cup size.

If you are thinking about getting breast implants, it is safe to assume that you have some preconceived notions and questions about the procedure. You may feel more interested in learning about the security of breast implants.

While some preconceived notions about the subject may be correct, others may rely heavily on myths or misconceptions. It is easy to pick up false information from people you care about or read online. This makes it critical to know the facts about the operation so that you can trust your decision to undergo breast augmentation.

Breast Augmentation: Myths you believed are for real

Here are some of the most popular misconceptions and myths about breast augmentation followed by reality.

1. Augmenting the breast is easy

The science and art of breast augmentation go hand in hand. The procedure may appear simple but it requires utmost procedure for the surgeon to perform it. Only a highly skilled cosmetic surgeon with extensive training and experience can provide stunning and lifelike results.

2. Every augmented breast appears fake

The current trend in breast augmentation is towards a more natural aesthetic. This is in contrast to the 90s when it was only about the augmented look. Skilled plastic surgeons can now create enlarged breasts that appear and feel natural by combining technique advances with new implant materials and designs.

3. Built-in support via implants

Placing an implant under the muscle may provide support for the breasts and prevent further sagging because of aging, according to some claims. The lack of supporting scientific data is a significant drawback of this assertion.

4. Having an implant might be risky

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States oversees all medical device manufacturers who sell breast implants for usage in the country. Therefore, the companies care to follow the federal government's safety criteria during the manufacturing and testing of each implant.

The likelihood of a rupture is relatively low because implants are robust and long-lasting. Traditional silicone implants have a rupture risk of about 2% at 5 years post-op and between 7 and 15% at 10 years post-op, according to recent studies.

5. Big implants are the only ones used

With breast augmentation, images of massive, bra-breaking breasts may pop into your head. However, smaller implants give the illusion of a more proportioned and natural breast, and plastic doctors around the country are witnessing an uptick in patients choosing this option.

6. Reversing slag: The power of breast augmentation

Droopy or flattened breasts are a common complaint among women, and it can happen due to both aging and childbearing. It is possible to enhance the breasts with implants to achieve the desired total volume increase. Nevertheless, breast implants cannot solve these problems alone. Seeking the suggestions of your surgeon would be advisable in this regard.

7. Long-lasting implants

All medical implantation methods, including breast implants, do have a failure rate. Around the 10-year mark, several manufacturers suggest getting new implants. However, many cosmetic surgeons believe that if a patient is satisfied with their breasts and the implants are still in good condition, there is no need to replace them. Consult your doctor for the best course of action.

8. Almost immediate results

Typical side effects of breast augmentation include swelling and hardness to the touch in the days immediately after the treatment. Also, the implants will likely sit higher on the chest until they settle into their final location after a few weeks.

After the breasts have healed, which typically takes around a month, you can see the final effects of breast augmentation.

9. Bravado augmentation hurts

Patients have varying degrees of discomfort during and after procedures, with many reporting little to no discomfort. Most patients feel better within two weeks after using the prescribed pain medication. For information on how to get back on your feet after getting breast implants, check out our most recent blog post.

Breast augmentation: the Real Deal

During breast augmentation, the surgeon creates an incision under the armpit (transaxillary) or in the natural fold under the breast (inframammary). The incision separates the breast tissue from the surrounding chest tissue and muscle. The result is a hollow space that can accommodate the implant.

The expert can position the implant either below the chest muscle or between the breast tissue and the muscle in the chest. Before the procedure, the surgeon will decide the placement location of the implant after consultation with the patient.

The surgeon will administer a general anesthetic before the procedure to ensure that the patient remains unconscious during the entire duration. Next, the doctor will suture the incision after the placement of the implant. The entire process of breast augmentation can take around sixty to ninety minutes. To monitor immediate recovery and supply pain medication, the patient will need to spend one or two nights in the hospital following the procedure.

Types of Breast Implants

The patients can choose from among numerous implants to attain their goal of breast augmentation. Here are different types:

1. Silicone implants

They are the most popular choice because of their natural feel and reduced wrinkling with time. The gel filled in these implants feels like natural breast tissue. Despite the implant leakage, the gel may remain stuck up with the shell of the implant.

It may also slip into the pocket of the breast implant. It will not collapse either way, enabling the implant to survive. Silicone implants have FDA approval for breast augmentation in females with age of 22 years or older.

Choosing this implant will require you to visit your plastic surgeon frequently to ensure the proper functioning of the implants. The surgeon uses methods like MRI Screening or Ultrasound to assess the existing condition of the silicone implants.

2. Saline Implants

Over time, saline implants are less prone to folding, rupturing, or shifting. Yet, they may not have the same natural feel as silicon.

Saline implants consist of sterile salt water. Unlike a silicone implant, the entire implant will collapse in case of an implant shell leak. The body shall absorb the saline and expel it naturally.

As for advantages, saline breast implants provide more feel and firmness, uniform shape, and are FDA-approved for women 18 years of age or older.

3. Structured saline breast implants

These implants also comprise sterile salt water in addition to an inner structure that intends to make the implant appear more real.

4. Gummy bear breast implants

Also known as form-stable implants, they retain their shape despite damage in the implant shell. The silicon gel contained inside the implants is thicker and firmer than the traditional implants. Placing a gummy bear implant will require the surgeon to make a comparably longer incision in the breast skin.

5. Round breast implants

These implants make the breasts look fuller and rounder than their form-stable counterparts. Choosing a high profile will help to attain even better projection. They have less chance of rotating out of place, as their shape remains the same all over the breast.

6. Smooth breast implants

These implants allow an enhanced natural movement and the softest feeling, as they move with the pocket of the breast implant. They may have visible rippling beneath the skin.

7. Textured breast implants

In these types of implants, the scar tissue remains glued to the implant, thus restricting their movement in the breast. This implant reduces the tight scar capsule risk.

The doctor and the patient can discuss the most feasible implant. In the end, it should be able to serve the purpose of the patient.

Wrapping up!

Because breast augmentation is a joint cosmetic operation, many people have the wrong idea about it. These urban legends have no basis in reality and keep doing rounds to discourage women from undergoing the operation. Considering the invasive nature of the surgery, it may have several side effects like any other surgery.

However, the myths associated with it need proper resolution so that the patients willing to give their appearance an aesthetic appeal do not feel hesitant. Here we have tried to highlight most of these rumors that often create a sense of panic among the potential candidates of breast augmentation.

It will still be wise to approach the best surgeons and discuss all your apprehensions regarding the surgery. This is way better than believing the myths without knowing the underlying truth.

Moreover, selecting a trustworthy surgeon who truly cares about your well-being can lessen the likelihood of difficulties and get the desired results.