Types of Implants Breast implants consist of two types: a silicone pouch with an inner filling of silicone gel; and a silicone pouch filled with a saline solution (salt water). Silicone is a bio-compatible material that is used for many years in medicine. It is also used in artificial joint replacements, cardiac pacemakers, and syringes, in addition to hundreds of products that we come into contact with every day, including food, plastic products, clothing and even the furniture we sit on.
Saline filled implants are the most popular implants in use today. Inamed Aesthetics, Mentor and McGhan are three of the world’s leading manufacturers of saline filled implants.
Silicone gel-filled breast implants are currently available only to women who are undergoing breast reconstruction after a mastectomy (breast removal); or, to patients who are having revisionary surgery to remove implants that have hardened or ruptured.
How do you and the doctor choose the right size and shape that is best for you?
Implants come in many shapes, textures and sizes. Choosing the right implant for you is a decision you and the doctor will make based on your personal desires, weight and body shape. Whether low profile, medium (moderate) profile or high profile, the surgeon can customize the implant width and projection to achieve your desired look.
Using a special formula the surgeon can determine not only the best size for you, but also the best shape.
The Procedure
There are several ways the implant can be inserted. The most popular methods are: through an incision just under the breast in the crease where the breast meets the chest wall. This is called an inframammary incision. The implant may also be inserted through the nipple and areola (peri-areolar incision), or through an incision in the armpit, referred to as an axillary incision. Another option for insertion of the implant is through the belly button. In each case, the incision scar is well hidden in the skin fold or bra line.
The implant is surgically placed in a pocket located inside the breast, either behind the breast tissue or behind the breast muscle. The procedure takes approximately one to two hours to complete. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited outpatient surgery facility.
Quick Recovery Breast Augmentation
It is also important for the surgeon to have a plan for the patient’s quick recovery post operatively. How can quick recovery be obtained for the patient? This can be accomplished in several ways:
1) During surgery: if the surgeon is very gentle in manipulating the tissues dissecting the soft tissue very gently, and he or she does not allow any instruments to rest on the ribs. The result is that all bleeding is stopped immediately. These two factors are important in decreasing the trauma to the soft tissue, thereby allowing the patient to heal rapidly. Another important contributor to quick recovery is if the surgeon uses general anesthesia that is monitored in a specific way, for example through BIS monitoring.
2) After surgery the patient is encouraged to move the upper extremities immediately with no compression dressing. She typically will get out of bed, move around and have a good dinner that night, and require minimal pain medication. The next day she will have a shower and will be encouraged to lay on her abdomen and increase activities each day until they become normal. This technique is new and in contrast to other techniques that were associated with discomfort and longer recovery.
Recovery
After surgery the breast will be tender and feel tight. Nipple sensation is reduced, but should return after a period of several weeks. There will also be some swelling and bruising, which will disappear. Special instructions regarding activity, medication, and exercises for the shower and bedtime, help patients adjust to their new implants and reduce the risk of capsular contracture (scar tissue) formation. BIS monitoring during anesthesia and hyperbaric treatments help to provide quicker post operative recovery.
Dr. Daniel Man's office is located directly across from Boca Raton Community Hospital at 851 Meadows Road, Suite 222, Boca Raton, Florida 33486, phone number 1-800-232-5508.
