Breast Augmentation

Introduction
Breast augmentation, technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breast for a number of reasons:

• To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small.
• To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy.
• To balance a difference in breast size.
• As a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.

Types of implants
A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or a salt-water solution known as saline.

What are the risks involved
An uncommon problem, capsular contracture, occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. Capsular contracture can be treated in several ways.
As with any surgical procedure, a small percentage of women develop an infection.
No evidence that breast implants will affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to nurse.

The surgery
Your surgery will be done under general anesthesia in a hospital, from which you will be discharged the same day or the next day at most. The incision can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest or around the areola ( the dark skin surrounding the nipple ). Working through the incision, the surgeon will lift your breast tissue and skin to create a pocket, behind the breast tissue. The implants are then centered beneath your nipples.

The surgery usually takes two hours to complete.

After the surgery
You’ll be up and around in 24 to 48 hours. You should be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the level of activity required for your job.

Finally,
For many women, the result of breast augmentation is satisfying, even exhilarating, as they learn to appreciate their fuller appearance.