Why is the number of women over 40 getting breast implants on the rise? Because over-40 is the perfect time to get breast enhancement work done. It’s not just enlargement; it’s reconstruction, getting your chest back the way it was before the ravages of aging.

As you get older, your breasts sag and droop, especially if you’ve had kids or changes in your weight. It’s perfectly natural, but these days it’s unnecessary. You can still have the perfect breasts you’ve always wanted.

For over-40’s, implants can…

- Reverse the process of aging.

- Get rid of the fatty tissue that builds up over the years and makes breasts sag.

- Allow you to shape your body and have it your way.

- Provide psychological benefits and make you feel great about your body again.

What Kind Of Implant Is Right For You?

There are several types of implants out there, depending on what results you’d like. There are silicone, saline and autologous implants.We all know about silicone and saline. Basically, silicone implants are higher maintenance, take longer to put in, and carry a small risk of rupturing. However, most women and surgeons agree that silicone feels more natural than saline.

There is a new option on the market called autologous breast implants. This means using tissue from somewhere else on the body to make an implant. Many women prefer this because it is natural and has a more natural feeling, but not all women are eligible to do it. After all, you’ve got to have the tissue to spare!

You can also choose the shape of your implant. Contoured implants are tear-shaped and feel the most like natural breasts. But, they are pricey and there is a slight risk of them flipping over. Round implants are cheaper and safer. Talk to your surgeon and see what they recommend for your body type.

Reclaiming Your Breasts After Cancer

Breast augmentation is also a wonderful way for women who have suffered through breast cancer to reclaim their breasts. Breast cancer can leave you with only one breast or none at all, and this can be a major blow to a woman’s feelings of self-esteem.

Cancer kicks you when you’re down, and it can feel like you’ve lost your womanhood. Plastic surgeons are experienced at reconstructive breast implants. When you go into your consultation, your doctor can recommend the best way to reconstruct your breasts.

Some doctors prefer to do the reconstruction immediately after a mastectomy while others may do it when you have recovered from that surgery. What you doctor decides depends on your individual situation and his own preferences.

Things to Keep In Mind

As with all surgery, there are more risks for older women. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully during the recovery. Your follow-up visits and mammograms will be very important after your breast augmentation surgery, so make sure you do what you need to do.

Breast augmentation over 40 is a growing trend in America for women who want their young, firm breasts back. Talk to a plastic surgeon today for more information.

Breast augmentation is the Number One elective surgery chosen by women today. Since there has been much controversy about breast implants in the past, if you are considering this surgery, yourself, there are many questions you’ll want to have answered.

First of all, the procedure and the implants are now recognized as a safe and effective way to increase breast size and improve shape. It’s far more effective than pills and exercise gadgets, and offers immediate, long-lasting results.

Almost always, the surgery is done on an outpatient basis, under general anesthesia. The operation lasts less than an hour, and when you wake up you will be wearing a bra and will notice two small bandages over the incisions. The incisions are usually in the armpit, and are less than an inch long. (Once healed, you can wear a bathing suit or sleeveless top without a visible scar.)

The breast implant is placed behind the chest wall muscle, to reduce the chance of hardening and to give a more natural look and feel. (Implants placed in front of the muscle also look natural but they do tend to sag over time.)

The issue most women agonize over most is-not surprisingly-size. The most common reason for additional surgery after the initial implant is because the woman has changed her mind about the size-so it makes all kinds of sense to research and discuss that aspect of the operation thoroughly, before proceeding.

So How do you know what size and shape implant to choose? An in-depth conversation with your breast surgeon is the first step and seeing pictures and talking to others who’ve had the procedure helps, as well. What’s most important to keep in mind is your own, personal body size and shape – what looks great on a 6-foot-tall, emaciated runway model might not look so hot on average-height, average-weight you.

An excellent way to handle the challenge of choosing size and shape of your implants is to try on implants of varying sizes and shapes by wearing them inside a special bra for several days as you go about your normal routine. This implant simulation will give you a good idea of what to expect after surgery as well as letting your surgeon know what you think is “too big”, or “too small”. Find a good sizing kit that contains information about breast augmentation, how to choose an implant size, a number of different “try on” implants, a specially made bra to use with the implants, and an instructional DVD.

After your surgery, you should avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for the first week. During the second week, you may resume light activity and exercise (such as using a treadmill), and by the third week, all restraints are off.

All surgery carries with it at least some risk-but the risks associated with breast implants are extremely rare and very small. They include: Bleeding and infection Contracture (hardening of the implants) Briefly altered nipple sensation and rupture of the implant.

Be assured, though, that your surgeon will take every precaution to minimize the risk of bleeding and infection can place your implants behind the muscle wall to reduce chances of contracture that nipple sensation will return to normal within a few months and that rupture is very rare and not at all threatening to your health (although you will need to have the implant replaced, it’s a relatively minor procedure and the major implant manufacturers offer lifetime replacement warranties).

Breast implants don’t affect breast-feeding, and most importantly, implants will not affect your risk of getting or detecting breast cancer. The latter is a concern for all women, and it’s important to know that you aren’t doing something that could be harmful to you in the future.

Short of having access to a magic wand, it’s hard to imagine any surgery with fewer risks and complications than breast augmentation. And the benefits – in appearance, self-confidence and self-esteem-are so profound that any woman who currently is dissatisfied with her breasts owes it to herself to consider the procedure.

Having breast implants inserted can be a great way to achieve your breast enhancement. Before you have your procedure done you will need to decide where you want the surgical incisions to be placed. The placement will depend on what type of implants you pick and whether you want them to be placed over or under the pectoral muscles.

An inflammatory cut is a good placement for the opening because it allows for all positioning of breast implants, sub glandular, partial sub muscular, and complete sub muscular. This type of opening is made in the crease between the bust and the chest wall.

This is a great place for the resulting scar because it will be well hidden. Once the cut is made the plastic surgeon can make a pocket within the tissue and the implant can be inserted above, below or partially below the chest muscles.

Another possible opening is the periareolar incision. This is made around the areola; the brownish area surrounding the nipple. This can be a good place for an opening as the scar will be camouflaged in the coloring of the areola. A scar formed here will be expertly hidden because the color and texture will be very similar to that of the surrounding tissue.

It is possible that the scar will be visible though; that is just one of the risks of this incision style. The periareolar slit can be good for inserting the implants into exactly the right positions though.

Another really good option is the transaxillary incision. This is when the cut is made in the armpit folds and the breast implants are pushed into place across the chest. The placement is accomplished by making a small cut in the armpit and creating a channel to the chest. This is easiest performed with saline inserts that can go in while they are deflated and then can be filled with saline solution once they are in place.

The transaxillary process is often accompanied by the use of an endoscope. This is a tiny tube and camera that can act as the surgeon’s eyes as the channel is made and the insert is pushed through. One nice thing about this method is that it allows for any of the three muscular insertion placements. It also leaves no scars anywhere on the chest.

Finally, you may decide that a transumbilical or TUBA is the right choice for you. This is very good at hiding scars because the cuts are made inside the folds of the belly button or navel. Like the transaxillary opening, the TUBA method typically requires the use of the endoscope.

The tiny camera guides the surgeon as he makes a channel from the navel to the bosom area working his way through the subcutaneous fat layer. The inserts are then pushed through the tunnel until they reach the designated pocket behind the skin.

The TUBA has the same benefits as the armpit method-no scars in the upper body and any type of placement around the muscles is possible. Plus the scar is virtually undetectable anyway as it is hidden in the belly button.

No matter which incision placement you choose, any of them can help you get the larger chest you have been wanting. Your plastic surgeon can talk you through the best options for your breast enhancement process.