Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation Introduction
The three basic types of breast implants are saline-filled, silicone gel-filled, and alternative (e.g., soybean oil) implants. Breast implants are designed for treatment of augmentation, reconstruction, and revision patients. While many women believe breast implants cause illnesses, such as autoimmune disease, this is not proven at this time. However, most women with breast implants will experience local complications, such as pain, capsular contracture, and rupture/deflation. You may need to have nonsurgical treatments or reoperations to treat local complications. Breast implants do NOT last a lifetime. You should be prepared for long-term follow-up, reoperations to treat complications, and personal financial costs.

General Description of Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast implant surgery can be performed on an outpatient (not in the hospital) basis or in a hospital. It can be done under local anesthesia (only the breast area is numbed) or under general anesthesia (put to sleep or not aware of having surgery). Breast implant surgery can last from one to several hours depending on your particular case (your condition, implant choice, incision site, implant placement, etc.).

If the surgery is done in a hospital, the length of the hospital stay will vary according to the type of surgery, the development of any postoperative (after surgery) complications, and your general health. The length of the hospital stay may also depend on the type of coverage your insurance provides. Before surgery, your doctor should discuss with you the extent of surgery, the estimated time it will take, and the choice of treatment for pain and nausea.

Choosing the Implant Type

You should consider the following when you and your surgeon are discussing implant options.

Implant Status – Whether or not an implant is PMA-approved or investigational (not PMA-approved) should be something you consider (see the Status/Availability section for details). An implant that is investigational means you will need to be part of a clinical study to get these implants. In addition, the surgeon of your choice may work with only specific breast implants.

Shape and Size - Depending on the desired shape and size you wish to achieve, you and your surgeon may choose a round or contoured implant shape of appropriate size (volume). You should be aware that contoured implants that are placed submuscular (under the pectoralis major muscle) may assume a round shape after implantation. Your surgeon will also evaluate your existing tissue to determine if you have enough to cover the breast implant.

Implant Surface - Textured surface implants were designed to reduce the chance of capsular contracture. Some studies with small numbers of women suggest that surface texturing reduces the chance of severe capsular contracture. However, other studies of a large number of women with saline-filled implants show no difference in the likelihood of developing capsular contracture with textured implants when compared to smooth-surfaced implants.

Implant Palpability/Visibility - The following may cause implants to be more palpable (more easily felt) or more visible: textured implants; larger implants; subglandular placement; and smaller amount of skin/tissue available to cover the implant.

Breast Augmentation Prices & Personal Costs

Breast implant surgery and treatment of complications may not be covered by your health insurance. Typically, insurance companies will not cover breast augmentation or any reoperations and additional doctor visits following augmentation. However, most insurance companies cover the first breast reconstruction operation. Insurance coverage for reoperation procedures or additional doctor visits following reconstruction may not be covered, depending on your insurance policy.

Aside from insurance coverage specific to your surgery, you need to find out about how breast surgery will affect your health insurance, as a whole. For some women, companies may increase premiums, drop coverage, or deny future coverage following breast implant surgery or following complications from the breast implants or surgery. Policies on coverage may also change from year to year.

Before surgery, be sure to get, in writing, answers from your insurance company to the following questions, at a minimum:

Does my policy cover the costs of the implant surgery, the implant, the anesthesia, and other related hospital costs? To what extent?
Does it cover removal and replacement of the implants if this becomes necessary? To what extent?
Does it cover the cost of detecting or treating a complication as a result of either the implant or the reconstruction? To what extent?
Will there be an increase in my insurance premium? To what extent?
Will future coverage be affected? To what extent?

Understading Breast Augmentation Limitations:
• Don't expect perfection.
• Have realistic expectations. A cosmetic surgery can reshape your body, but not your life.
• Know the breast augmentation risks.
• Don't do it on the cheap. Pay what it takes for safe breast augmentations.
• Make sure your cosmetic surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• Do your homework. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Tips for Choosing a Breast Augmentation Surgeon:

• Check into the experience of the surgeon you are considering. Does he or she specialize in the breast augmentation procedure?
• How many breast augmentation procedures of this kind has the doctor done?
• How many is the doctor currently performing per year?
• Breast augmentation before-and-after pictures can give you some indication of a surgeon's ability, although you must realize that they cannot be construed to guarantee the result you will achieve.
• Make sure you are comfortable with the personal support between you and your cosmetic surgeon. You should always feel that your concerns are being addressed.

If you or a loved one are thinking about having breast augmentations, you need to speak with an experienced doctor or surgeon as soon as posisble. You probably have alot of questions, and chances are you may be nervous or afraid. Good breast augmentation surgeons in your area can help relieve this anxiety and stress. . An experienced cosmetic or plastic surgeon can evaluate your individual situation and give you their professional advice and opinion regarding breast augmentation. The fact is, you won't know until you speak with a surgeon directly.

Types of Cosmetic Surgery:

Botox Injections | Breast Augmentation | Breast Lift | Brow Lift | Butt Lift | Cellulite Treatment | Collagen Injections | Chemical Peel | Chin Augmentation | Ear Surgery | Eyelid Lift | Face Lift | Forehead Lift | Hair Replacement | Laser Skin Resurfacing | Lasik Eye Surgery | Lip Augmentation | Liposuction | Nose Job | Varicose Veins | Thigh Lift | Tummy Tuck | Upper Arm Lift | Weight Loss Surgery