When Do I Need to Replace My Breast Implants?

Breast augmentation is an operation that works exclusively because of the implant. Like joint replacement surgery, the operation is completely dependent on a medical device for its result. Like all medical devices, breast implants will eventually fail for some patients at some point in their lives. Because of this concern, I not infrequently hear questions from breast augmentation patients asking....is it time for me to replace my breast implants?

As a general statement, you do not need to replace breast implants until they develop a problem, known as failure. They is no known benefit to replacing them just because they are 'old after ten years, for example, or some other length of time. You replace them when the device fails.

The presentation of failure will differ depending upon what type of breast implant is used. Saline implant failure is usually quite obvious as it develops a leak and the breast size begins to change. In other words, you develop a 'flat tire'. Whether the leak is slow or fast, your breast gradually gets smaller. This is tantamount to a cosmetic emergency and there will be no question as to whether it needs to be done. Silicone gel implants, however, fail differently.

Because the gel is not a liquid, it will not come running out and cause a dramatic change in breast size. Rather silicone gel implant failure may not be obvious at all as the breast will not change size. Its failure is 'silent' and often will only be picked up by mammogram or MRI. If the breast looks good and is pain-free, one can have the debate if it should be replaced at all since it will cause no harm to your body (because of the tear) and the breast size has not changed. Certainly there is no urgency to replace it like in saline implants. One has a lot of time to decide if replacing it needs to be done now or later.

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clarian Health Systems. (http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com

What to Consider When Choosing Your Breast Implant Size

There are many aspects you may want to consider when deciding what breast implant size is best for you. Not every size will be right for every woman, shape, and build, so it is important that you take these issues into consideration when weighing your sizing options.

Consider Your Personality

If you have never had large breasts before, you may want to think hard before you choose a large breast implant size. It is most definitely a different world when your breasts are center stage. You may find that you are treated differently by many people. Men may react more to you, which you may or may not be comfortable with, and some women may even react more toward you.

You need to consider if you have the type of personality that will accept the change in attitudes and attention you will receive. A good idea may be to talk to other women who have enlarged their breasts with breast implants and see what their opinion is on how they were treated before vs. how they are treated now.

Consider Your Shape

Women who are bigger framed may have bodies that are more equipped to carry larger breasts. The larger your breasts are, the heavier they will be. Some women with very large breasts suffer from back problems because of it and even consider breast reductions to relieve the stress on their backs.

The smaller your frame is, the less weight upfront you may be able to carry. Additionally, the same breast implant size will not look comparable on women of different builds. A woman who is thin around the middle will stand out with a C cup; however, on a woman who carries more weight around the middle, a C cup may be barely noticeable. Smaller women may want to consider a cup size or two larger than they are now, while larger women may want to consider a fuller size, like D or DD cups. If you are honest about yourself and what will be most flattering on you, you will have a better chance of being thrilled with your choice after you see the end result.

Consider Your Age

Age may also be a factor for some women. Over the course of your life your breasts will change in different ways. For example, when you have a child, your breast may grow a size or two and then shrink back up, they may grow and stay bigger, and they may even sag a little afterward. Even with implants your breasts may not look exactly the same.

If you are younger, you may want to wait until after you have children to get the best results with your implants. You may grow a bit naturally and require smaller implants to get to your preferred size, and you won't have to risk needing maintenance after delivering the baby in order to make them look as amazing as they did before. Also, if you plan to breastfeed in the future, you will need to select an implant position that is more better for that function.

These are simply suggested issues that you might want to consider when choosing your breast implant size. In the end, the only thing that is important is that you are happy and comfortable with the way your implants look and the choices you made.

Why go into surgery unsure if you've made the right breast implant size choice? Be sure with Envision Implants, http://www.doctorkinsley.com Developed by a certified plastic surgeon, this system allows you to test four breast implant sizes in the privacy of your home.

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Why You Need to Choose the Right Size When Going For Breast Implants

Probably the most commonly asked question involving breast implants surgery is "What size implant is right for me?" The answer is that it depends - on several important factors. Revision surgeries are very common among implant patients, as the breast size they ended up with was not the size they hoped for.
Here are some things to consider when you are trying to choose the right volume for you.

Height and Weight

Traditional beauty call for balance and symmetry. This means choosing a breast implant size that will be most proportional to your hips and waist and overall figure. For those who are shorter, breasts that are too large can have the effect of making them look round all over.

Obviously taller women can easily go with bigger sizes as they have the height to make them look proportional. Skinny women, no matter the height, will also be better suited to smaller implants as anything too big will make the figure look unnatural and top-heavy.

Breast Diameter

One measurement many plastic surgeons use to help patients determine the right size is the breast diameter (not the chest diameter). It is generally recommended that the implant diameter be slightly smaller than the woman's natural breast diameter to preserve the most natural look.

Amount of Breast Tissue

How big of implants you can realistically choose will depend on how much breast tissue you have to start out with. Very small-breasted women face the risk of their breasts looking very "fake" and overly round as there is little extra skin to mask the implant lines and shape. Women who have a substantial amount of tissue can choose bigger implants with less chance of rippling and distortion.

Pictures of Similar Body-Types and Implants

Once you have a rough idea of what dimension implants you want, it can be very helpful to sit down with your surgeon and take a look at some pictures of models or former patients who have chosen the dimension you think you want. This is a good way to compare what those implants look like on women with a similar build and figure as yours.

And while you certainly do not want to go too big, you should know that the most common complaint from patients six months after breast implant surgery is that they wish they had gone with a bigger size. Immediately after surgery the breasts will become swollen as a reaction to the trauma of surgery, often giving a false sense of how big the implants are.

As this swelling gradually subsides, the actual implants may not be as satisfying. So maybe the best way to pick your implant size is to choose one that you think would be ideal and most proportional to your body...and then go with a size slightly larger than that one. It also helps if you have a surgeon that you trust. She will likely have plenty of experience in helping women find the size that they really want.

Make sure you ask your surgeon for his recommendations at every step of the process.

If you are planning to go for breast implants, Boston based plastic surgeon says there are various options available. However, it is necessary to finalize after proper research and consultation, the right size for you. To learn more about it, visit http://www.drmossthebeautyboss.com

Why Would Anyone Want Breast Implants?

Breast enhancement or augmentation is one of the most common procedures in cosmetic plastic surgery, with a total of 355,671 breast implant procedures performed just last year in 2008. The procedure is relatively straightforward, but as you'll find with any type of surgery, there are specific risks and complications that are uniquely associated with this type of operation.

Breast augmentation is generally recommended when there's a need to balance a difference in breast size, to improve body contour, or as a reconstructive technique following some other type of invasive surgery.

Breast augmentation surgery typically involves the insertion a breast implant either directly behind the breast tissue, beneath the chest wall muscle or above the breast muscle. Breast implants come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with varying designs, and in a wide range of material types and compositions.

Breast implants are made with a solid silicone, rubber shell. The implant shell may be filled with either saline solution (sterile salt water) or elastic silicone gel. Both saline and silicone gel breast implants are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Approval means that an implant has been rigorously researched and tested, and reviewed by an independent panel of physicians for safety.

The implant devices can be placed in different positions, the logistics of which are facilitated through a variety of incision locations. Breast tissue and skin is subsequently lifted to create a pocket for each implant. The primary objective aside from the proper placement of the implant is to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, in the breast crease, around the nipple, or in the armpit. Following the surgery, if all goes well, the breasts will appear fuller and more natural in tone and contour. And, the entry scars will fade with time.

Breast surgery is a medical procedure that requires advanced surgical skills. Because of the surgery's complexity, your best option is to use a board-certified plastic surgeon, who has experience in all aspects of breast enhancement. The goal of any reputable surgeon is to leave your breasts looking as natural as possible, while enlarging them to your desired size.

However, it's important to note that none of the implants will last forever. Rupture can occur as a result of injury or even from the normal compression and movement of your breast, causing the implant shell to leak. If filled with saline, the solution will be absorbed in the surrounding tissue within a few hours and expelled naturally by the body. If the implant is filled with silicone, the leaking solution will usually remain within the implant shell or escape into the breast implant pocket. This type of leak is difficult to detect and for this reason annual implant assessment visits to your doctor are highly recommended.

When it's all said and done though, the improvement in your shape or contour can certainly enhance your self-confidence, and in many ways it can actually have an impact on the way others perceive you, as well. Ultimately, when you feel better about yourself, there's not much else that really matters.

For additional information and resources, please visit Understanding Breast Implants

Copyright 2009 Harry Monell. All rights reserved. Please feel free to share the entire contents of this article with your friends or post it on your site as long as it is left intact with all links unchanged, including this notice.

Harry Monell is primarily a sports, nutrition, and natural health enthusiast and writes a wide variety of articles on those topics. He also enjoys writing on a broad range of other important niche topics.

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