With nearly 300,000 breast augmentation procedures performed in the United States every year, it is little surprise that breast augmentation is an extremely popular topic with patients visiting my Atlanta office. As a board certified plastic surgeon with more than twenty-five years of experience specializing in procedures of the breasts and body, I answer questions about breast augmentation frequently. Here are a few of the questions I most commonly hear from patients interested in this procedure.
What size and type of implant is best for me?
Every patient is different, with distinctive physical proportions and their own individual reasons for seeking breast augmentation, so the real key to picking the right implant is an in-depth consultation with a surgeon who keenly understands the body’s proportions. During our consultation, we will discuss the many options available in breast implants as well as your personal expectations, and you will be able to examine many before and after photos of real patients, so that together we can determine the best plan for you. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to experiment with different implant sizes and types using the Vectra® M3 imaging system by Canfield Imaging Systems. This technology captures photos from a variety of different viewpoints with multiple high-resolution cameras and uses them to create a simulated, three-dimensional computer image of the face and body. With this computer simulation, you will be able to see exactly what different implant types and sizes will look like from every possible angle, allowing you to effectively preview the results of the surgery and make sure they meet with your expectations.
Are breast implants safe?
Yes, I absolutely believe that breast implants are safe. While there was some concern, in the early 1990’s, that silicone gel implants caused various medical disorders, extensive testing has been performed since then on thousands of women. A review of several large epidemiological studies of women both with and without implants, which was presented to the FDA in 2007, indicated that these diseases are no more common in women with implants than those women without them. In my capacity as an executive board member for Allergan’s Breast Aesthetics Council, it has been my experience that, although cases of implants rupturing or deflating may be extremely popular with the media, they occur very rarely and can be safely repaired with breast revision surgery. Breast augmentation is major surgery, and not to be taken lightly, however hundreds of thousands of breast augmentation procedures are performed every year with only very minimal or no complications.
What sort of lifestyle changes will I need to make after breast implant surgery?
My extensive experience with breast reconstruction techniques and use of the most up-to-date, minimally invasive technologies allows me to achieve extremely natural looking results with a minimal amount of scarring, bruising, or tissue trauma. As a result, most women recover quickly after breast surgery and most of my patients can return to their normal activities in an average of is three to six weeks. Many women are also concerned about future pregnancy and breast feeding. While every woman is different and will have varying experiences both during and after pregnancy, the breasts will still enlarge and go through all the changes associated with pregnancy just like they would have before augmentation. In general, with only some minor precautions, there is no reason why a woman who has undergone breast augmentation surgery should have to change her lifestyle at all.
Stay tuned to my upcoming blogs for answers to even more questions about this extremely popular cosmetic procedure, as well as to keep informed about all the latest plastic surgery news. If you are interested in breast augmentation, or in any of the cosmetic procedures that I perform, please contact me, Dr. James Namnoum, to schedule a consultation today. Don’t forget to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+ for more plastic surgery news and updates.
