Am I an ideal candidate for breast augmentation (breast implants)?
Breast augmentation, or increasing breast size through the use of breast implants, is a surgical procedure designed to increase the size and enhance the shape of a woman’s breasts. There are many reasons women seek breast augmentation:
- you feel insecure about the size of your breasts and wish they were larger
- clothes that fit snugly around your hips and waist are often loose at the bustline
- you feel self-conscious wearing a form fitting top or bathing suit
- one of your breasts is noticeably smaller than the other
- your breasts have lost their shape and firmness after having children
- weight loss has changed the size and shape of your breasts
If you identify with one or more of the above statement, you may be a good candidate for breast augmentation. However, you might not be a good candidate for breast implants if you:
- are a teenager
- are being pressured by others to have breast augmentation
- are in poor physical health
- have unrealistic expectations about what breast implants will do
Many women who have undergone breast augmentation describe getting breast implants as a decision that profoundly and beneficially affected their self-esteem, physical appearance, and social life. If you have decided that you want breast augmentation or have more questions, schedule a consultation with your doctor. The decision to get breast implants is very personal, and it’s one that only you and your doctor can make.
How Will My Breasts Look After My Implants are Removed?
If you’re considering having your breast implants removed, there’s probably one question at the forefront of your mind: What am I going to look like afterward?
Because our bodies heal at different rates and in different ways, it can be incredibly difficult to predict exactly what your breasts will look like following explanation. If you have saline implants, however, you have an option available to you that women with silicone implants do not have: you can allow your surgeon to deflate your implants two to three weeks prior to surgery to get an idea of what your breasts will look like without them.
If you’re only playing with the idea of having your implants removed, you should not go down this road—your plastic surgeon will not be able to fill the implants back up after they’ve been deflated. But if your surgery is already scheduled, having your implants deflated ahead of time can be an excellent means of figuring out whether you will need a breast lift after (or in conjunction with) the procedure. As the saline absorbs into your body (don’t worry, it’s harmless!), your breast tissue will contract and lift up, giving you—and your plastic surgeon—an idea of what your breasts will look like once your implants are gone.
Not everyone is a candidate for implant deflation prior to explanation, so if you’re interested in pursuing this procedure, keep in mind that you should discuss it—in detail!—with your plastic surgeon before deciding on it as a course of action. That said, I have had a lot of success with this technique . . . so if you are a candidate, and you really want to know what your breasts are going to look like one you’ve removed your implants, this is a great option! Give us a call and set up a consultation if you’d like to learn more.
Best, Dr. Usha Rajagopal
Why is Breast Lift Popularity Soaring?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) released new plastic surgery statistics on Monday—and they show that the popularity of breast lift procedures has grown at twice the rate of the popularity of breast implant surgeries since 2000.
According to the ASPS, fewer than 53,000 breast lifts were performed in 2000; last year, in contrast, there were more than 90,000.
Breast augmentation still outnumbers breast lifts by a long shot, of course: last year alone, 290,224 breast augmentation surgeries were performed by ASPS member surgeons. That’s more than three times the number of breast lifts performed. But in terms of popularity gain, that number represents only a 37 percent increase from 2000, while the 53,000 to 90,000-procedure jump breast lifts have made in the past thirteen years represents a 70 percent increase. In other words, breast augmentation procedures are still the most popular cosmetic surgery for women by far—but at this rate, breast lifts will eventually catch up to them!
Why are so many women getting interested in breast lifts? My guess is that it’s because of a combination of factors. For one, plastic surgery is more popular these days, period. Furthermore, there are many women out there want to improve the appearance of their breasts but don’t like the idea of implants (as ASPS president Robert X. Murphy, Jr., MD says, “Many women are looking for a youthful breast by using the tissue they already have.”)
It doesn’t hurt that breast lifts in general have great patient satisfaction ratings, either. At RealSelf.com, for example, 87 percent of 631 members who have reviewed their breast lift experiences say that the procedure was well worth it.
A breast lift won’t increase the volume of your breasts the way implants will, but it will perk them up while still looking and feeling totally natural. Sound like something you might be interested in? Give us a call here at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center—we’ll get you set up with a consultation, and you can find out if a breast lift is right for you!
Until next time, Dr. Usha Rajagopal
Related Images:
What is a Gummy Bear Breast Implant?
A Gummy Bear Breast Implant by Natrelle® Breast Implants 410 is growing in popularity is a highly cohesive anatomically shaped silicone breast implant devised for both comfort and safety with a 96% satisfaction rate with patients after 7 years.
*Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person.
Breast augmentation / Breast implant surgery
Technically known as augmentation mammaplasty, breast implant surgery is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breast.
Dr. Rajagopal uses both saline and silicone implants. Most saline-filled breast implants share some standard features, like a silicone rubber shell and a valve for filling with saline solution.
However, to better meet each individual woman’s needs, breast implants come in different shapes and sizes. Some implants are round, and some are anatomical. The shape of the implants you choose may affect the shape of your augmented breasts. The newest implant is the inflatable one, which may be used in selected patients.
Dr. Rajagopal will recommend an implant depending on your breast and body shape.
If you have any questions regarding Breast Implant Surgery at our San Francisco office, or wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rajagopal, in San Francisco, California, please call the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center at 415-392-3333.