Breast implants are fluid-filled sacs placed in the chest to increase breast size. Two types of implants are approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition to increasing breast size, implants can also be used to replace a breast removed because of breast cancer or to restore full breast size after a woman has had children.
Implant Types
Saline breast implants consist of a silicone rubber outer shell filled with saline solution. Saline implants are placed in the chest while deflated. During surgery, saline solution is added to the implants, allowing the surgeon some flexibility in determining the final size. Saline implants are approved by the FDA for use in women 18 years of age and older. Silicone implants have a silicone rubber outer shell that's filled with silicone gel. These implants are already filled with silicone when they are placed in the chest. Silicone breast implants are approved for women 22 years of age and older. You and your doctor will decide the appropriate implant size, based on your preferences and your body type. Breast implants can be used in women younger than age 18 if reconstructive surgery is needed.
Candidates for Surgery
You are considered a good candidate for surgery if you meet minimum age requirements for the type of implant you wish to use and have self-esteem or other issues because of the size of your breasts. Women who have trouble finding clothes that fit well because of small breasts and who are self-conscious in tight-fitting clothes are often good candidates for breast implant surgery.
Surgery
Before the procedure begins, implant patientsl receive either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Incisions are made in the arm pits, under the breasts or around the areola, the colored part of the breast that surrounds the nipple. Depending on the implant type and size, your implant will be placed over or under the chest muscle or behind breast tissue. If you have chosen saline implants, the implants will be filled with the appropriate amount of saline solution after they are positioned in your chest. Incisions are closed with surgical tape, skin adhesive or stitches.
Recovery
In most cases, you will return home the same day that the surgery is performed. You will be advised to walk periodically to prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. Swelling after surgery is normal and can be reduced with ice packs. Depending on the type of procedure, you can go home with drains in your chest to prevent the buildup of fluid in the chest. The drains are usually removed at the first post-operative examination. Antibiotics and pain relief medication will be prescribed as necessary. As you heal, your breasts might feel warm, itchy or sensitive and you might notice a sore or stiff feeling in your chest. Lifting, engaging in strenuous activity or sleeping on your chest is not recommended immediately following surgery.
Warning
Breast implants can rupture if there is trauma to the chest, damage to the implant during surgery or too much compression during a mammogram. If a saline implant ruptures, the saline solution is absorbed by the body and the breast likely will look smaller. A ruptured silicone implant doesn't always result in an immediate reduction in size, but a change in shape, hard lumps, pain, numbness, burning or swelling in the affected breast are symptoms of a a ruptured implant. According to the FDA, a magnetic resonance imaging scan is recommended three years after the implant is placed and every two years after the initial screening to make sure that the implant has not ruptured. Ruptures sometimes require additional surgery to remove and replace the damaged implant.
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