Understanding Your Breast Procedure
When you make the decision to move forward with breast enhancement, you have many more choices to make before you are ready for the operating room. Breast enhancement offers many different options for women today, which allows the plastic surgeon to customize the procedure to the unique body proportions and desired results of every single patient. If you are anticipating breast surgery, there are a few basic facts you need to know about those options and the differences between various breast procedures.
Augmentation vs. Lift
Breast augmentation focuses on creating size and volume in the breasts. This procedure uses implants to add the additional fullness a woman is looking for. The procedure can be performed on adult women of any age and is frequently requested by women in their 20s and 30s that want to add some extra curvature to their frame. The procedure can also be safely performed on women in their 40s, 50s and even 60s to increase breast size and create a more youthful body contour.
A breast lift is used to address sagging and drooping of the breasts that often occurs over time. This procedure removes excess skin and repositions the breasts to their original, youthful position on the chest. It is a surgery that is often recommended for women that have experienced significant changes to the breasts through pregnancy and nursing. It may also be performed on women in their later years that have seen sagging as a result of aging. Women may also opt for a breast lift if massive weight loss has affected the appearance of the breasts.
Silicone vs. Saline
If breast augmentation is your procedure of choice, you will then have to make a decision about the type of implants you want. Silicone implants are crafted of a silicone shell and filled with a gel-like silicone substance. These implants come pre-filled in a wide range of shapes and sizes to fit every woman’s frame. Many women find the silicone implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue.
Saline implants are crafted of a silicone shell and filled with a sterile saline solution after they are placed beneath the breast tissue. Saline implants tend to have a higher risk for complications like palpability and the appearance of wrinkles. If the implant ruptures, the changes to the breast can be seen almost immediately as the saline is rapidly absorbed by your body.
Submuscular vs. Subglandular Placement
No matter which type of implant you choose, there will also be a decision about where the implant should be placed. In some cases, the best placement is subglandular, which means the implant is placed on top of the pectoral muscle and behind the breast tissue. This is a good choice for women with sufficient breast tissue to cover the implant.
Submuscular placement puts the implant just under the pectoral muscle, which ensures a more natural result for women with less breast tissue to work with. Submuscular placement also gives implants a natural slope on the upper breast. Submuscular placement is not generally recommended for women that do a lot of strength training.
While the numerous choices prior to breast surgery can seem overwhelming, Dr. Rappaport at Houston Center for Plastic Surgery will walk you through every step of the process. His goal is to ensure you are comfortable with every decision you make and that you are well prepared for your surgery and recovery. To learn more, contact Houston Center for Plastic Surgery today at (713) 790-4500.
