As with any surgical procedure, the goals of breast augmentation surgery are simple: A safe procedure with the desired outcome for the patient. For breast augmentation, this means increasing the breast size, with minimal scarring to achieve a natural, pleasing and long-lasting look. Some patients may request a larger appearance, some smaller. The amount of augmentation is tailored to each patient. Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation? You are a good candidates for breast augmentation if you are in good physical health and have realistic expectations. As this is a purely elective, cosmetic procedure, you should have no major medical…

There is very little, if any, effect of breast implants on breastfeeding. One must consider two factors on how implants affect breastfeeding: the effect of the surgery itself and the effect of the implant. Rates of being able to breastfeed after any type of breast surgery, including breast augmentation, can approach 70%, but the true rate is really unknown. The limited studies to date lead us to believe that women with augmented breasts have about the same chance of being able to breastfeed as women who have not had the surgery. In fact, about 70% of women who have not had…

The outcome of a breast augmentation in any given patient is influenced by a number of factors. These factors, along with their effect, are listed below: Implant Size – Larger sizes look more “fake”. Implant Pocket – Sub pectoral are more blunted and natural appearing, but are more visible during exercise in athletes. Incision Placement – Inframammary scars are the most visible, axillary scars are the least. Implant shape – Round implants are a great choice for augmentation – no concerns regarding rotation, tear drop shapes can add more volume to the lower portion of the breast, and less to the upper portion, giving…

The risks of any surgery include, but are not limited to: infection, bleeding, scarring, the wound edges opening up, recurrence of the deformity, nerve damage and anaesthesia risks. These risks are small, but they are not zero. There are other risks associated with Breast Augmentation surgery and some of them are listed below. Rippling Rippling may be defined as the appearance of little undulations or waves on the surface of an implant which resembles disturbed water. This rippling is apparent on the skin’s surface and is most often noticeable at the edges of the implants. Rippling is more commonly seen in subglandular implant…

The placement of the breast augmentation incision is based upon three factors: Dr. O’Grady’s preference to achieve the surgical goals, which incision traverses and traumatizes the least amount of tissue, and patient preference. There is no single incision that is perfect for every patient. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Factors which influence incision placement include: scar visibility, operative exposure, potential to injure vital structures including nerves, disruption of breast tissue, access for revision procedures, pre-operative breast size and type and size of implant. Infra-mammary Fold Incision for Breast Augmentation The most common placement of scar is the infra-mammary fold (IMF) incision,…

The placement of the breast implant is entirely patient dependent. This means that the placement is tailored to individual patients based on their needs, lifestyle and anatomy. Submuscular Placement Implants are generally placed in one of two areas relative to the breast. The first and perhaps most common placement is submuscular. Submuscular refers to placement underneath or deep to the pectoralis major muscle (the “pecs”). In this pocket, the muscle covers the upper 2/3 of the implant, while only the overlying breast tissue covers the lower 1/3. Breast implants are usually placed underneath the muscle (sub pectoral pocket) in the majority of patients…

Breast implants are very safe. In fact, no other medical device has been studied as much as the breast implant. A comprehensive report released by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in June of 1999 examined 2000 peer-reviewed studies and 1200 data sets and reports. Its findings indicated that there was no evidence that breast implants were responsible for any major diseases of the body, including autoimmune disease, cancer, or neurological problems. As well, there is no danger in breast-feeding babies from women who have breast implants. When Breast Implants Rupture Should breast implants rupture, the breakage may…

The human body is made up of about 60% water with a low salt content, thus there are two main types of breast implants commonly used for breast augmentation in Canada today. They are saline implants and silicone implants. A breast implant is made up of essentially two components: the shell or outer liner, and the inner filling. The shell of both types of implants is made of silicone elastomer. It is flexible, strong and evokes a minimal reaction from the body. What differs between the two implants is the filler. What is Saline? Saline is sterile salt water. The human body is…

In 1895, the first breast augmentation was performed by Czerny who transplanted a benign fat mass, known as a lipoma, into a position underneath the breast gland in a woman desiring augmentation. Other such transplants, or fat grafts, were subsequently performed. However, the results were unpredictable and the appearance was poor. Complications such as the fat dying, chronic, draining wounds as well as the fat masses being absorbed by the body plagued these initial attempts and they fell by the wayside. The first attempt at breast augmentation with foreign materials was made shortly after Czerny tried his fat transplant. In 1899,…

What Is BIA-ALCL? BIA-ALCL is Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, a T-cell lymphoma that can arise around breast implants placed for either reconstructive or cosmetic indications. Currently, the cause of BIA-ALCL is not clearly understood. Is BIA-ALCL A Type Of Breast Cancer? BIA-ALCL is not a cancer of the breast tissue itself, but a type of cancer that develops around the scar tissue from the implant, and in some cases, can spread throughout the body. It is a type of Lymphoma, not Breast Cancer. Is BIA-ALCL Common? It is estimated that there are 35 million women worldwide who have breast implants. The true incidence…