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Breast Augmentation Education

Introduction to Breast Augmentation

Quite simply, Breast Augmentation is the process of placing a man-made device behind the breast, to enlarge it. Breast Augmentation, however should be about more than just making the breast larger; it should have several goals:

  1. Making the breast prettier.
  2. Maintaining or improving the shape of the breast.
  3. Improving a woman's entire figure.
  4. Breast Enlargement

When performed properly, Breast Augmentation can achieve all of these goals. Here in Los Angeles, breast augmentation is extremely popular and is the source of great satisfaction for thousands of women.

Breast Augmentation is a surgical procedure where an implant is placed into a space or "pocket" behind the breast. The creation of this "pocket is where the artistic ability and skill of a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon plays its most important role. Breast Augmentation is a true surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia and approximately one to two weeks of recovery. When considering Breast Augmentation there are many important choices to be made in conjunction with your plastic surgeon. Careful consideration must be given to the type of implant to be used, position of the incision, whether the implant should be behind or in front of the chest muscle and the size of the implant. Dr. Lent has articles on each of these subjects available on this web site.

What is a breast implant?

A breast implant is a device with a soft outer shell, usually made of a firm Silastic material, which resists breakage. The device is filled with a material, which gives it its size and shape. The filler materials most commonly in use today are, Saline (salt water) and Silicone gel. Each of these materials has its pros and cons.

Saline or salt water is the more natural substance. A woman's body is made up of about 70% saline. This product is much more consistent with the make up of the human body, therefore if the implant breaks or leaks, the saline is simply absorbed by the body and is not harmful in any way.

Silicone gel implants have a softer feel to them, making them a good imitation of the human breast. Silicone implants, however, do have a significant draw back. The human body does not contain silicone in any significant amount; therefore if the implant leaks or breaks the body will recognize it as a foreign substance. Furthermore, all Silicone gel implants constantly leak Silicone in small amounts, through the microscopic pores on the surface of the implant. This means that Silicone is constantly getting into the back of the breast. The body will continuously react to the Silicone with an inflammatory response, which can lead to scarring. It is for this reason that patients who have this type of implant have a much higher incidence of Capsular Contracture.