Breast implant patients will find relief with a new pain pump that minimizes discomfort. This video, featuring Dr. Paul Zwiebel, explains how it works. Read the full story

Breast augmentation with Macrolane, a new large-scale filler, revitalizes curves without having to go under the knife. Dr. Christopher Inglefield of the UK discusses Macrolane in this video. Read the full story

Breast augmentation patients see the effects of surgery better with 3-D imaging. Dr. Paul Zwiebel explains how his patients have seen more desirable results using the 3-D technology. Read the full story

Breast implant scars can often be very subtle. And because there are three different types of incisions a doctor can use, the location of the scars can vary. This video shows where the incisions can be made. Read the full story

Breast augmentation surgery may be less risky using the Keller Funnel, to be unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons later this week. Read the full story

Breast implants aren’t generally something you can try on for size. But a few lucky ladies each took their own pair for a test drive on a recent episode of Plastic Surgery Talk. The gals got to use a kit to see which size implants suited them best, and how they felt about being more buxom. Was bigger better? Or was proportion a factor? Tune in now to find out! Read the full story

Although it’s technically true that “all” breast implants have some degree of cohesivity, in this interview Dr. Steve Teitelbaum explains the difference between cohesive gel implants, standard silicone implants and saline implants. Most patients desire a natural- looking breast that maintains its shape over time– and this 4 minute video reveals which implant achieves those results most often. Read the full story

Breast implants, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, breast augmentation, mammoplasty enlargement, or breast enlargement, can help women enhance their self image, either by improving the size and shape of the breasts or reconstructing the breasts after surgery or trauma.

Reasons for Breast Implants

The typical purposes of breast implants are:

•    Cosmetic — enhancement of the shape and size of the breast, making them look fuller and contributing to the woman’s self-confidence.
•    Reconstructive — to correct an inborn deformity or to reverse the aftermath of an operation like mastectomy.
•    Partial Reassignment — to complete one phase of a gender change operation (male to female).

Types of Breast Implants
One of the most critical decisions a patient needs to make before undergoing breast augmentation surgery is the fill you want for your implants.  Breast implants come in two primary types:

•    Silicone gel implants — use a silicone rubber shell that is filled with viscous gel also made of silicone. These implants are particular suitable, but not limited to, females with little breast tissue as well as for those undergoing breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. They demonstrate high stability (or form retention) property, thus less prone to rippling. Silicone implants are only available to women age 22 and older,

•    Saline implants — use elastic polymer shell made of silicone and is filled with sterilized saline liquid. Although good to excellent results may be anticipated, saline implants are more prone to visually and tactilely noticeable problems such as wrinkling or rippling. You must be at least 18 years of age to get saline implants.

Risks of Breast Implants
Both types of implants are approved by the FDA, but surgeries involving implants carry a unique risk outside of those from the surgery itself. Saline implants can deflate, while silicone implants can rupture and leak out into the area surrounding the implant. Both types of implants can also lead to capsular contracture, a complication that can be very painful and distort the appearance of the breast. These complications often result in the removal of the implant.

Before deciding to undergo surgery, it is pertinent to understand all the options and risks of getting implants.  Be sure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon, who can help you decide on the best option for your body type and desired results.

Breast implants are used in a plastic surgery procedure called breast augmentation or augmentation mammaplasty, which helps to increase the size or improve the contour of female breasts, usually for cosmetic or reconstructive reasons. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery performed in the United States.

However, with the wide array of breast implants available in the market, implant selection cannot be a do-it-yourself matter; it takes an expert to choose the best type, size, and shape of implants for a particular patient. Breast implants are categorized by surface type (smooth; textured), profile (protrusion distance), size/volume (typical ranges: 120-850 cc), shape (round; other shape), filler (silicone; saline), and material (implant innards).

Significance of Implant Placement

•    Subglandular — the breast implant is above the chest muscles and under the breast tissue.
•    Partial submuscular — the implant is partially under the pectoral and other chest muscles and under the breast tissue.
•    Full submuscular — the implant is under the muscles of the pectoral and chest areas.

Factors Affecting Breast Implant Selection
•    Filler –there are two primary types of breast implants: silicone-filled and saline-filled. Saline implants are more likely to cause problems such as rippling, wrinkling, and noticeable to the eye or touch.
•    Surface type — textured surfaces lessen the likelihood of capsular contraction, but may look unsightly because the texture may show through the skin when a subglandular placement method is used.
•    Shape, profile, and volume — breast-line goals and implant placement affect the way a breast implant will look. For example, a partial or full submuscular placement can make a contoured breast shape look more rounded.
•    Thickness — depending on placement, implant thickness may or may not be an issue.

What to Consider with Silicone Breast Implants
Silicone is a chemical compound formed by the mixture of silicon, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Silicone with middle (as contrasted with low and high) molecular weight form gels, and the silicone gel is used as filler in breast implant.

Although the use of silicone gel implants is approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), there have been isolated (but considered inconclusive by authorities) reports of illness attributed to silicone gel, such as: connective tissue disorder (CTD), change in nipple sensation, breast pain, hardening of the area around the implant, implant rupture, and the need for additional surgery. FDA studies disclose that majority of women using silicone implant have satisfactory experience with it.

No matter which type, size, or shape of breast implants you choose, you should be aware of the risks associated with both the surgery and the existing implants, including scarring, infection, implant rupture, and capsular contracture, an abnormal response that occurs when the woman’s immune system reacts to the breast implant. Complications from breast implants can result in reoperation.