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Health
Cosmetic
Surgery
Breast Enhancement Mammoplasty,
or breast augmentation surgery, is one of the most frequently requested procedures
by women around the world who either want to enhance their appearance, correct
the size or shape of their breasts, "lift" sagging breasts or for reconstruction
after breast cancer
surgery.
Some still think
of breast surgery as a "boob job" something that
aspiring exotic dancers do to enhance their careers. Or, as singer
Dolly Parton once observed: "I'm in showbiz. I look at my boobs
like they're show horses or show dogs. You've got to keep them groomed."
But the truth is that most of the people who have breast enhancement
surgery are much more average.
It
is popular with mature women to recover a more youthful figure. Many women who
have had children opt for breast enhancement surgery to help regain their pre-pregnancy
figure. One
survey found that 65% of the women polled were 35 years of age or older, married
and mothers. In
the same survey, close to 90% of the women who participated agreed that, "Breast
augmentation is a personal choice that helps women achieve the confidence and
well-being to flourish in other areas of their lives." Joshua
Levine, the CEO of Mentor, the company conducting the survey, stated, "The
survey results confirm what we have known for years: breast augmentation patients
are intelligent, thoughtful women completely capable of making informed decisions."
Today there are many options for women who must improve their bust. Gone are the
days when exercise and "falsies" were the only means to provide a fuller,
youthful bustline.
Each year, worldwide approximately 2 million women have breast
implants which come in several types. Silicone implants were used beginning
in the early 1960's, but were banned in the U.S. in 1992 over concerns about silicone
leakage into the body. The
implant manufacturers have made improvements to the materials and today, the
FDA has approved the use of silicone implants once again as a safe and effective
option. If
you are still nervous about the silicone implants, saline
implants are an
alternative to silicone and, although made up of a silicon shell, are injected
with a saline solution to give a natural feel and shape. Cohesive
gel (gummy bear) is another option widely available around the
world and new undergoing study in the U.S., featuring a gel that has a "memory"
for retaining the implant shape and is soft and supple. Hydrogel
implants, combines saline solution with the added strength of a tear resistant
shell, although they, too, have now been banned in some countries as unsafe due
to apparent leakage. They have never been approved in the U.S.
With
all of these appliances, there is some chance of shifting or leakage. Although
rare, risks
are involved with any breast augmentation surgery, so talk to your doctor to discuss
the
risks and benefits before your choose to undergo the procedure. Your doctor
can tell you what to watch for to make sure that you recognize any problems during
he healing process or afterward. Make
sure that you have a list
of questions that may concern you when you speak to your plastic surgeon.
Many younger women are concerned with whether they will be able
to breast feed after having augmentation surgery. Ask all of your questions
before you decide on the surgery to improve the likelihood that you will have
reasonable expectations and be happy with the results. On
the Net, check out additional news and information, pictures and illustrations,
questions to ask your doctor, facts on how the operation is performed, post-operative
care and recuperation, along with the possible risks - and the benefits - of breast
enhancement.... Breast
Implants - Extensive
information on the topic from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration including
a complete consumer handbook, research and studies, photos and illustrations,
possible complications, related links. Imaganis
- Breast Augmentation - Good overview, plus topics to discuss with your
doctor, description of surgical procedures, types of implants, post-operative
care, side effects, and related links and resources. Breast
Augmentation and Breast Implants Information Web - Read other visitors
first-person accounts about their breast implant surgeries, plus information on
costs, links to government studies and related resources, FAQs, photos, and a
Breast
Implants Discussion Forum. Making
an Informed Decision About Breast Implants
- A complete tutorial from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the current
controversy, including breast implant risks, the growing interest by teens, plus
questions to ask your doctor or surgeon about breast implants and breast reconstruction. Breast
Implants - Excellent, illustrated guide from Wikipedia including facts
& information on saline and silicone gel implants, incision types, related
risks and complications plus extensive references and links to further information. Implant
Info Message Boards - Busy discussion boards featuring personal stories,
tips & advice on silicone & saline breast implants. also
see in Health & Diseases -> Breast
Cancer also
see -> Buttock Implants
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information is intended as reference and not as medical advice. All treatment
decisions should be made by medical professionals. |