Breast enhancement surgery: Pros, cons and options

Feb 10 2010

With ever growing cases of breast enlargement surgery in the UK, CosmeticSurgeryGuru [ http://www.cosmeticsurgeryguru.com/ ] can report that patients interested in undergoing breast enhancement surgery in 2010 continue to make the choice between saline and silicone implants. CosmeticSurgeyGuru notes that in 2009 breast enhancements remained the most popular procedure for women in the UK. Currently, the largest group in the UK, Transform cosmetic surgery clinics, emphasise you still have a choice between the two materials. Here, on Transform's breast enlargement surgery [ http://www.transforminglives.co.uk/breast-surgery/breast_enlargement.aspx ] page they state, "You and your surgeon will come to a decision based on your personal preferences and which type of implant suits your needs best."

Made of a silicone shell and filled with non-toxic silicone gel, the manufacturer fills silicone implants to a specific size and seals them. The outer shell is available in a number of different textures, sizes, shapes, colours, and thicknesses to help doctors produce results as close to natural tissue as possible. It's important to note, however, that this style requires a large incision below the breast for installation, and once in place, are not adjustable.

Saline implants are made from the same shell as silicone breast implant devices, but are filled with saline solution (saltwater) instead of silicone gel. These may come pre-filled by the manufacturer, or unfilled, which are installed using a small incision in the belly button, around the areola, under the arm, or under the breast. This incision for this style is therefore easier to hide. Once in place, the doctor fills them to the desired size and seals them. Adjustments can be made to the firmness and size afterward with a minor surgery.

CosmeticSurgeryGuru adds that patients report saline breast implants feel hard and more like a water balloon. However, advancements in surgical techniques allow plastic surgeons to offset this somewhat by placing the implant behind the chest muscle and/or slightly overfilling the implant. There was some concern surrounding saline implants in the 1990s over the relation between these sorts of breast implants and many health issues in women.

BAAPS and many UK plastic surgeons warn patients that both styles carry a number of risks, more so by foreign cosmetic surgeons, and some of which may require additional surgeries to correct. Some of these risks include infection, permanent damage, breast pain, and excess scar tissue. CosmeticSurgeryGuru states that both styles of breast implants also carry the risk of rupture, so care must be taken with them post-operation. Leakage of saline implants is noticeable because they deflate almost instantly. Silicone implants may leak and collect in the surrounding tissue, and therefore they can go unnoticed. Patients should also know that both styles of implant can potentially interfere with the detection of breast cancer. CosmeticSurgeryGuru announces that making a decision on a cosmetic surgery provider should place the aftercare reputation of a company at it's very heart - not simply the cost of the cosmetic surgery procedure.

Regardless of the fact that there's no one clear choice that suits every patient, breast enhancement remains one of the most popular cosmetic treatments for beautification and reconstruction purposes. Until the ideal solution is discovered, patients will need to weigh the pros, cons, and options carefully to determine which one will meet their needs the best.