Breast augmentation continues to be one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures because….the results are immediate and very gratifying for nearly every single woman that undergoes the procedure. Breast augmentation can be done with either saline or silicone implants, both of which work well and create identical results in the end. But there are a few disadvantages with either saline or silicone breast implants and patients need to understand what these are so they can make the best decision for themselves.

Saline breast augmentation has a long history of success and offers two distinct advantages. First, it is less costly than silicone implants and it is the only implant type that can be placed through a very small incision off of the breast in the armpit. Its single greatest long-term risk is implant failure. In others words, what would happen if the implant should get a small hole or tear in it. Implant failure is a good medical term but the practical outcome of this problem is better appreciated as deflation, In most cases, this will be immediate…creating the effect of a flat tire. There are some cases where a saline breast implant deflation can be slow, gradually getting smaller over weeks or months. But most of the time the deflation is relatively immediate and the change in breast size acute. Why this happens has nothing to with what the patient has done. If you were to get a high energy level of force delivered to your chest, such as a car accident or get kicked by a horse (to pick two extreme examples), that may be enough force to cause the implant bag to tear. But this is very unusual. The main reason that saline breast implants deflate is due to fatigue of the material that makes up the bag or shell of the implant. The constant movement and stretching of the implant eventually causes microscopic tears in the material which eventually leads to a hole or crack that goes through the thickness of the implant wall. Much like a tiny crack in a dam which eventually spreads and causes ultimate dam failure.

What is the likelihood that saline breast implants will deflate? No one can give an exact prediction for any patient. I like to tell my patients that it is not a matter of if…it is just a matter of when it will occur. That is the right mindset to have. You must accept that this may happen. I hope that it never does for any patient, but I know it will for some. According to one of the largest breast implant manufacturers in the U.S., their reported deflation rates for saline breast implants was 1% at one year after surgery and 3% at 3 years after surgery in a very large study involving thousands of breast augmentation patients. If you apply simple math to this trend, that would be 10% (1 out of every 10 patients) at 10 years after surgery. So the risk of saline implant deflation is not irrelevant. And the concept that your breast implants will last a lifetime is not realistic. (possible yes, but not very likely) Plan for their eventual replacement is what I tell my patients.

The good news is that replacement of any deflated saline breast implant is much easier and less costly than the original procedure. And the manufacturers (currently) offer free implants for those deflated anytime during your lifetime and cash payouts to help cover the cost of replacement surgery should the deflation happen within the first ten years after placement.

Breast augmentation with implants is the most popular and sought after cosmetic surgery available today. This is because the results of a successful procedure dont just have the power to transform a patients body, but her self-confidence and quality of life as well. However, if you select an inexperienced or unqualified cosmetic surgeon, you may end up with unnatural looking breasts or recovery complications that can change your breast implant experience from an exciting, positive one to a difficult and painful one.

To ensure you are selecting the right cosmetic surgeon and that he or she is able is to achieve the best results possible, you should refer to the information and tips below when speaking with your cosmetic surgeon about the breast augmentation procedure and how to minimize complications and detection.

The Components of a Thorough Consultation

Once youve narrowed your cosmetic surgeon search down to one or two individuals, you need to schedule an initial consultation and come prepared. This is important because a thorough consultation can tell you if youre in the right hands. You should bring along a list of the specific questions youd like to ask as well as a sample photo of the breast size and shape you would like to achieve with the surgery.

One of the most important aspects of your consultation should be a detailed breast exam. In order for your cosmetic surgeon to recommend the best type of implant, placement and initial technique for your surgery, he or she will need to carefully evaluate your natural breasts. You will know if your surgeon is doing a thorough job of this if he or she is taking detailed measurements of breast volume and width, shape and nipple positioning, and the width between breasts. If your cosmetic surgeon doesnt gather this important information during your consultation, it should be cause for concern.

Limiting Complications and Pitfalls – Strategies to Discuss With Your Surgeon

There are a number of steps that can be taken to make sure your breast implant surgery is as successful as possible. The following is a summary of the most commonly reported complications and telltale signs of surgery you want to avoid. Before you schedule your surgery, you should ask your cosmetic surgeon how he or she is going to address these issues to help ensure that you have the most positive experience and results possible.

Post Surgery Infection: Your cosmetic surgeon should have a detailed strategy for ensuring you do not contract an infection as a result of your surgery. Most surgeons will administer an antibiotic for you to take right before surgery as a precautionary measure. In addition, the instruments and implant used should be carefully sterilized in an autoclave.

Deflation and Rippling: Deflation and rippling are embarrassing telltale signs of breast implant surgery. There are several strategies for avoiding these pitfalls, the most common of which is overfilling your implants and selecting implant models that are smooth in texture.

Nipple Numbness: Fifteen percent of all women who have cosmetic breast surgery are left with permanent nipple numbness. The numbness is caused by intercostal nerve damage (the nerve that provides nipple sensation), which can occur if the nerve is cut accidentally during surgery. To avoid this, your surgeon should take care not to cauterize or cut any tissue near this nerve.

Asymmetry: The last thing you want as a result of breast augmentation is asymmetry. To help avoid this, your cosmetic surgeon should take detailed notes on any asymmetry you had before the surgery and adjust the amount of fluid or position of the implant to attain the best degree of symmetry possible.

Post Surgery Pain and Nausea: To make sure you do not experience severe pain after your procedure your surgeon can employ a variety of pain reduction methods. He or she can inject a long lasting numbing medicine directly into each breast that lasts for several days. In addition, you should be prescribed a strong oral pain medication to take once the injected medicine wears off. Managing pain is one of the best ways to avoid the onset of nausea. If you still experience nausea, there are other medications that your cosmetic surgeon can prescribe including Zofran, Scopalamine and Pepcid AC.

Once you have covered all of this information with your surgeon, you should feel confident in his or her abilities and that your experience will be an extremely positive one.