Did you know that the number one plastic surgery procedure performed in the United States today is breast augmentation? It’s true. More women have gotten breast implants than any other plastic surgery procedure to date. The reasons why women choose this type of surgery are varied, but the most popular reasons are to improve breast size and shape, correct a deformity and to have reconstruction after a mastectomy due to cancer. Are implants right for you? Let’s take a look.
There are two breast implant options to choose from; saline-filled or silicone gel-filled implants. The implant a woman chooses for her breast augmentation surgery depends on her size as well as the desired outcome of both the look and feel of the breasts. A saline implant can be increased and decreased in size to get a more uniform look, while the silicone implant gives a more natural look and feel of the breast.
The trans-umbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) procedure is one of the most popular options for breast enhancement today. An incision is made in the belly button of the patient during this procedure. With many of the other available breast enhancement surgery options, the incision is made in the armpit or bust.
The TUBA procedure is unique. Once your cosmetic surgeon makes the incision in your belly button, he or she will then tunnel up to the chest area. The surgeon feeds a deflated saline implant through the tunneled section. Once the breast implant is in position, and it can be placed either in front of or behind the muscle, it is inflated with saline solution.
After the TUBA procedure, care should include wearing a sports bra that provides extra support. You will more than likely be on light duty for a few weeks following your procedure, as strenuous physical activities can cause problems until you fully recover.
Of course, the most important part of the decision-making process when undergoing any kind of reconstructive or aesthetic plastic surgery is finding a qualified cosmetic surgeon to perform the procedure. To locate a plastic surgeon in your area who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, you can go online at www.plasticsurgery.org.
After you locate a doctor in your area that is certified to perform cosmetic plastic surgery, the next step is to schedule a consultation appointment with him or her to determine whether you are a good candidate for breast enhancement surgery. A good plastic surgeon will spend time with you to evaluate both your mental and physical health and give you their unbiased opinion on whether augmentation breast implants is the right choice for you. You need to know all the benefits and risks of the surgery as well as what type of post-operative care you will need.
One of the biggest advantages of the trans-umbilical breast augmentation procedure is that the recovery time is much less than other, more traditional types of breast surgery. The procedure typically results in less visible scarring on the body, less recovery pain, less post-operative care and less down time. A disadvantage of the procedure is that there is a greater chance of the implant being punctured and leaking during installation.