Breast Implants

Breast enlargement enables a woman to choose the breast size that she feels will enhance her body image and self-confidence. Some women find however, following their breast augmentation procedure, their originally desired breast size has changed, and this can lead them to request additional surgery. Additional breast surgery means added risks and complications. Daniela Rodriguez, MD, PLC and his staff will assist you to make the best choice about determining your “ideal” breast size.

A number of variables are used to arrive at the best choice of implant size. This involves a thorough discussion with Daniela Rodriguez, MD, PLC regarding your desires and concerns, measurements of the breasts, fitting of implants during your consultation, and the use of photographs of patients who have undergone breast augmentation by Daniela Rodriguez, MD, PLC. Patients who are actively involved in the decision process about implant size may be more likely to be satisfied with the surgical results.

What are the available implant styles?

Teardrop or anatomic implants were introduced to better simulate the natural contour of the breast. However, one of the disadvantages of the contoured implants is that they are textured. In the saline-inflatable implants, this sometimes means that they will be more palpable and there may be more visible rippling. In most situations, contoured implants are reserved for women with mild drooping who elect not to have a mastopexy or breast lift.

Many surgeons prefer smooth round implants for augmentation and often use the anatomic implants for reconstruction. Much of the choice in implants is surgeon-preference. You can trust that Daniela Rodriguez, MD, PLC will recommend the implant with which he can get the best aesthetic result.

Informed Consent

Informed consent is crucial to successful breast implant surgery. Informed consent results when patients are provided with all the facts and information necessary to make an educated decision to proceed with a medical treatment or surgical procedure. Daniela Rodriguez, MD, PLC and his staff will provide all the necessary information to insure that you will be able to make a fully informed decision.

Patient Safety First

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society for Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its effort to ensure patients receive safe and effective medical devices. Patient safety is the primary concern of all plastic surgeons. Scientific studies on the safety of breast implants support the more than 30-year clinical experience that saline-filled breast implants are safe medical devices. Now that silicone gel breast implants have been FDA-approved to be made available for the U.S. market and determined to be safe and effective, the FDA will continue to monitor them by requiring Allergan and Mentor Corporation (the manufacturers) to conduct a large post-approval study following about 40,000 women for 10 years after receiving breast implants. The two societies support continued research on both saline-filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants.

Benefits

Studies confirm that the vast majority of women who choose breast augmentation experience improvements in body image, self-esteem and quality of life.

Additionally, women who have undergone breast augmentation by board-certified plastic surgeons report that they are being adequately informed about the risks and benefits of breast implant surgery, and that their surgeons are responding to their questions and needs.

Rupture of an Implant

Rupture of an implant may be related to the length of time it has been in the body. The general experience among plastic surgeons tends to be that implants last between 10-20 years. Breast implants of any type are not considered lifetime devices and it can be expected that at some time in a patient’s life, the implant will have to be removed or exchanged. Also, rupture may be related to force or trauma, such as a blow to the chest in an auto accident.

With regard to saline implant ruptures, one usually knows when this occurs, as it deflates and a definite asymmetry becomes noticeable.

When silicone ruptures, it is often hard to tell since the silicone is usually contained within the capsule of scar that forms around the implant.

Another consideration is the failure rate of breast implants. One of the implant companies relates a failure rate of 2% per 7 years. A rupture within 3 years is unusual but not unheard of.

Additional Resources:
Breast Augmentation
Candidates For Surgery
Silicone vs Saline Implants