Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #68

feature
THE NUMBER OF OPTIONS IN BREAST ENHANCEMENT SURGERY
TODAY MEANS THERE’S A PROCEDURE TO SUIT EVERY PATIENT’S NEEDS.
CAITLIN BISHOP REPORTS.
Breast surgery is more customisable than ever before.
Research spanning decades has helped formulate
surgical and aesthetic techniques that have placed
breast surgery at the forefront of today’s plastic and
reconstructive arena.
The expertise garnered through years of investigation
from leading aesthetic surgeons around the globe means
breast surgery today offers more individualised results, with
less scarring and reduced downtime following surgery.
The implants used in breast augmentation have
been improved and refi ned through both design and
manufacturing. Features to reduce the risk of capsular
contracture and prevent implant rotation, gel diffusion and
implant rupture help achieve superior results with fewer
incidences of complication.
Surgical techniques have also changed. Different implant
placement and incision sites afford breast augmentation
patients more options in scar placement and aesthetic
outcomes. Surgical advances in breast reduction have led
to improved results, with less downtime. And a greater
understanding of breast anatomy and aesthetics has made
correcting deformities, such as tuberous breasts and
asymmetry, more effective than ever before.
Breast surgery in 2015 encompasses a range of
procedures to suit the functional and aesthetic concerns
of most women. Here, we outline the most common
procedures performed today and how the surgical
approach can be tailored to meet each patient’s needs,
concerns and expectations.
Breast augmentation
When considering implant shape, texture and size in
breast augmentation, a decision is made with reference
to a woman’s individual body type and aesthetic goals.
During the consultation process, measurements are taken
to determine the anatomical limitations and allowances of
the breasts, chest and soft tissue, and patients are able
to express their motivations, concerns and expectations
going into surgery.
The choice of projection is a very personal one. A woman
who is happy with her shape and has suffi cient breast
tissue may opt for a low-profi le implant that will simply
increase the size of her breasts. Another patient may favour
a high-profi le implant to reduce sag and generate cleavage.
Ultimately, a thorough understanding of the implants,
their shapes, fi lls and placement will help ensure a
satisfactory outcome.
Implant fill
There are two types of implant fi lling: silicone gel and saline
solution. Both are encased within an outer shell of silicone.
Silicone gel implants are touted to have a more natural
feel than their saline-fi lled counterparts, and the gel’s
cohesive consistency helps retain implant shape following
insertion. In comparison, saline-fi lled implants are fi rmer to
touch, and have a greater chance of rippling after insertion.
If implant rupture occurs with saline-fi lled implants,
the saline solution will be absorbed into the body and the
rupture will be immediately noticeable to the patient. When
using silicone gel fi lled implants, rupture is less noticeable
and can remain undetected for longer periods of time,
which is cause for concern to some doctors and patients.
Although the length of incision will depend on the size
of the implant, there are slight differences between saline
and silicone gel fi lled implants. Because silicone gel is
manufactured into the implant before surgery, the incision
sites must be slightly longer than those required for saline
implants, which can be fi lled through valves once inside the
breast pocket.
Implant shape
Implants come in round, teardrop (anatomical) and conical
shapes. The round and teardrop options are the most
popular in modern-day breast surgery.
Round implants come in smooth and textured shells, and
will usually lend more upper pole fullness than anatomically
shaped implants. When the patient is upright, a round
implant can assume a defi ned, round shape or a teardroplike
contour, depending on its fi ll.
Anatomical (teardrop) implants have a fuller lower pole,
and the shape more closely resembles that of the natural
breast. Their design gives them greater projection in relation
to the size of the base, making them particularly suitable
for women with little breast tissue. A precise degree of
accuracy is needed when positioning anatomical implants,
because if they shift after surgery the shape of the breast
may be noticeably distorted. To reduce this risk, anatomical
implants will always have a textured surface to enable
adherence to surrounding tissue.
www.cosbeauty.com.au 43