Breast augmentation surgery / breast enhancement surgery / breast mammoplasty / breast enlargement surgery -whatever name you use - it is a surgical procedure to enlarge small breasts or breasts that have lost their fullness. It may be undertaken to enhance the body shape if breasts are considered too small; to correct a reduction in breast size after pregnancy; to correct a difference in breast size; or breast reconstruction after breast surgery.

Breast augmentation has been available in the United States for over 40 years. However the surgical techniques and implants themselves are constantly being refined, increasing the safety and reliability of the procedure. At this time over two million women have breast implants.

A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gell or saline (salt water). There is however some restrictions on the silicone filled variety.

Silicone shells filled with saline solution are implanted either directly under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle, thus giving breasts a fuller and more natural contour. Incisions are made where they can least be seen - usually the armpit, around the areola (nipple area), or under the breast itself.

There are 2 surgical techniques of placing the implants. The first is where the implant is placed under the breast tissue and over the chest muscle (subglandular placement).

The second method is where the implant is placed under the chest muscle and breast tissue. (submuscular or subpectoral placement).

The procedure is usually done under general anesthesia.

The surgery takes 1 to 1.5 hour and a bandage is then applied over the new breasts to help with healing for two days postoperatively. You would then attend a follow up appointment where you are given instructions regarding care and activity. After a post-surgical recovery period of 24 to 48 hours and an additional reduced-activity period of a few days, patients will likely experience soreness and swelling for a few weeks. Exercise and normal activity can resume at the direction of the surgeon.

Breast augmentation recovery is not a simple process. In most cases, the breasts that you see immediately after breast implant surgery are not indicative of the final results.

It is not until after six to eight weeks of breast implant recovery that the breasts finally take a shape of their own. Recovery continues until each person feels comfortable with their new breasts.

There are several different stages of the breast implant recovery process. Initially discomfort is to be expected. This discomfort can range from mild to severe, and can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks or more. The stitches that the surgeon uses to close the pocket around the implant will either dissolve on their own within a week of recovery or they will need to be removed by the surgeon seven to 10 days after surgery.

Compression bandages or a compression bra are used immediately after surgery to prevent blood and fluid accumulation, speed healing and keep the implants in place during the early stages of recovery. If bandages are applied, they are usually removed within a day or two and replaced with a compression bra. This bra is usually worn for the first two weeks or more of recovery.

During recovery from breast implant surgery, it is common for some women to experience minor drainage, swelling, bruising and tenderness. To control swelling, it is often helpful to use cold packs and sleep with the torso elevated. Pain medication is often prescribed to reduce pain, and limiting activity during recovery will help reduce the risk of bruising. For most women, the full recovery from breast implant surgery usually takes a few months. Everyday activities can usually be resumed with two weeks. However, as with all surgeries, recovery time is different for each patient.

Complications. Like any surgery some complications can occur. The most common problem - capsular contracture - occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezing of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel hard - this can be treated - either by removal or 'scoring' of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal and replacement of the implant. Excessive bleeding after the operation may cause some swelling and pain - occasionally women develop an infection around the implant - some reports of nipples becoming oversensitive, undersensitive, or even numb. Occasionally breast implants may break or leak.

Male breast implants. There are no significant physiological differences between male and female breast tissue other than the initial volume. The surgical procedure for male breast augmentation is identical. Through inserting an implant behind each breast, surgeons are able to enlarge a man's bustline by a cup size. Because men usually have less skin in that area it is recommended that they start with the smaller implant so that the body can get used to the new shape and stretch over the area.

Male breast implants, also known as pectoral implants, serve a separate purpose from transgender implants. Usually, male breast implants are designed to help sculpt the chest area and provide definition. Patients who opt for male breast implants often have experienced difficulty gaining their desired muscle definition through exercise alone.

Other candidates use male breast implants to mask problems caused by injury or growth defects affecting the pectoral muscles. Like liposuction, male breast implants can provide results that are otherwise impossible for certain individuals.

Unlike female breast implants, the male breast implants are made of solid silicone, which is inserted under the muscle tissue. During a male breast implant surgery, the surgeon will make small underarm incisions, creates pockets under the muscle tissue, and inserts male breast implants under the pectoral muscles. The surgery takes between one and two hours, and surgery for male breast implants is carried out on an outpatient basis, allowing the patient to return home the day that male breast implants are received. Recovery can take as long as six weeks, but most patients getting male breast implants are able to resume all activities within a month. Secondary surgery is rarely needed, and male breast implants are designed to last a lifetime.

Breast augmentation prices vary - but seem to range from $4,000 - $10,000. Finance is available for breast augmentation. There are 100% patient finance programs available - affordable, low-interest payment programs. And yes - you can: choose your own surgeon; pay affordable monthly low-interest payments; and make payments over a period of 12 - 60 months!

Breast augmentation alternatives - are there any? There are some herbal supplements for breast enlargement around that offer outstanding benefits and results - without the scars and depleted bank accounts. In addition, herbal side effects, if any, generally demonstrate a beneficial nature as opposed to those suffered from surgery.

Most breast enlargement herbs work on the glandular tissue in the breast. Fat tissue in the breasts will vary and is primarily dependent upon the fluctuations in the weight of the woman's body. Women report that they can lose weight, but their breasts do not shrink when they take breast enlargement herbs.

So - worth checking out before undergoing surgery??

Gay Redmile is the webmaster of several health and wellbeing sites. For further important plastic surgery information and resources visit her sites at:

http://www.getabreastenhancement.com
http://www.plasticsurgeryinfosite.com
http://www.newliposuctioninfo.com