Cosmetic Plastic SurgeryCosmetic Plastic Surgery
Silicone Breast Implants/Augmentation
If you are constantly wearing push-up or padded bras breast augmentation may be for you. You may enjoy buying clothes to enhance your new shape, as well as increase your self-confidence.
Overview
Silicone breast implants, also called cohesive gel implants, offer a natural-feeling alternative with a better aesthetic result than saline implants. They are softer and look and feel more like real breasts. They also have fewer contour irregularities like rippling when compared to saline implants. In November 2006, the FDA approved Mentor's MemoryGel™ and Allergan's Natrelle as silicone breast implants for use in patients over 22 years of age. Silicone implants were taken off the market in 1991 to allow time to evaluate their safety profile. As part of the 2006 approval, the FDA recommends that patients obtain an MRI every two years after implantation to monitor the integrity of the implant's triple-layer silicone shell.
The breast is a dynamic organ throughout life, from time of development to time of aging. Many factors affect the breast - hormonal flux, pregnancy, breast feeding, weight gain or loss, skin elasticity, and changes in breast tissue itself. Since the breast is so dynamic, predicting the appearance of an implant is difficult. Nonetheless, patients who need breast implants as part of body contouring get a great aesthetic result, with better shape, fit of clothing, and body proportions. When done for right reasons, breast implants improve body image and self esteem.
Both saline and silicone implants should be considered temporary devices. It is possible that these implants can result in capsular contractures or scar formation around the implants, necessitating revision surgery. It is not known whether the new gel implants have a similar rate of capsular contracture when compared to saline implants.
Prior to the procedure, we help you select the implant projection, size and shape that are best for you. Implants are available with a smooth or lightly textured surface.
Ideal Candidates
- Patients who are doing it for the right reasons (i.e. for themselves)
- Patients with small breasts or extra skin with loss of breast volume
- Patients who are in good health
- Patients with full breast development
- Patients who do not have breast disease
- Patients with realistic expectations
- Patients with normal shaped breasts
Risks and Complications
According to the Institutes of Medicine (IOM), silicone breast implants do not appear to be linked to diseases and conditions like connective tissue disorders and cancer. Risks and complications of any breast implantation may include but are not limited to scarring, bleeding, infection, capsular contracture or scarring around the implant, asymmetry, skin wrinkling and rippling, calcification, implant displacement, fluid accumulation, contour problems secondary to or resulting from implant shape, change in nipple and skin sensation, firmness of the breasts, thrombosed veins, painful or possible deformity of breasts, and risks and complications associated with anesthesia. It is important to realize that complications can occur, but are rare.
The FDA has recommended to physicians that patients enroll in a study that will follow approximately 40,000 women for 10 years after receiving silicone implants. The information gained from this study will aid the FDA and the scientific community in determining the safety profile of silicone implants.
Breast augmentation has a high patient satisfaction, and if done on the right patients leads to improved body image and self esteem.
Risks and potential complications of surgery are best discussed at the time of your consultation.
Smokers have a greater risk of wound healing and pulmonary complications.
Current medical information does not demonstrate an increased risk of breast disease or breast cancer in women who have breast implant surgery. Breast disease can occur independently of breast implants.
After your implants are placed, subsequent alterations in breast shape may occur as a result of aging, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, or other circumstances not related to augmentation mammoplasty.
Recovery
Most patients will recover within ten to fourteen days at which time you may resume light exercise. Strenuous exercise and upper body lifting can be resumed in four to six weeks. Dr. Farella recommends wearing a soft cotton bra without an under wire for two months. This allows the implant to drop into a pleasing position. As with all cosmetic procedures, the final result will be apparent around one year.
In/Out Patient
Breast augmentation surgery can be done as an out-patient under general anesthesia and usually takes one to two hours.
Information on this page is not a substitute for medical consultation or advice. Please contact us to schedule an appointment to discuss the best treatments for you.
Call for a complimentary consultation:
(914) 241-7111
Lexington Avenue Suite 104 - Mount Kisco, NY 10549
(914) 997-9090
311 North Street Suite 408 - White Plains, NY 10605
(718) 548-5200
3333 Henry Hudson Parkway Suite 1-A - Riverdale, NY 10463
