Ask any mother and she will tell you her body underwent a number of changes during and after pregnancy. One thing many women find, after the birth of a child and/or nursing, is that her breasts have changed in size and/or shape. In some cases, the changes cannot be reversed with diet and exercise, leading the woman to look at surgical treatments to get her shape back. A breast lift is one option and a breast enhancement is another. In fact, many women are now choosing to undergo this type of procedure as part of a mommy makeover, and opt for breast augmentation, with or without a lift procedure.
Breast augmentation benefits those women who have lost breast volume or witnessed a decrease in breast size following a pregnancy or nursing. Often referred to as augmentation mammaplasty, this type of surgery offers a number of benefits. The boob job improves the figure in terms of balance and increases the projection and fullness of the breasts. Self confidence and self image typically improve after this procedure, and some women opt to undergo breast augmentation surgery following an injury or a mastectomy for breast cancer.
Three types of breast augmentation surgery are offered. Saline implants consist of a silicone shell that has been filled with saline or sterile salt water. Silicone implants are very similar, yet they are filled with a plastic gel known as silicone. Most women opt for one of these two types, with many preferring silicone as they say it feels more natural, and silicone implants do come with the risk of leakage. The third option is fat transfer breast augmentation, yet this type of surgery is much less common.
Surgical costs vary greatly based on many factors. This includes not only the type of procedure selected, but the location where the surgery will take place, and the experience of the doctor plays a role in this also. The majority of surgeries run somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000, and insurance typically only covers the procedure when it is done for reconstructive purposes following a mastectomy or injury.
Be aware that there are risks associated with this type of procedure. The female may experience pain in the breasts or notice a change in sensation in the breast and/or nipple. Scarring and bleeding have been reported by some patients, and infection is a risk with any surgery. In addition, scar tissue may form and harden around your implant or the patient may find the breasts are not symmetrical. In addition, breast implants may need to be replaced over time.
Breast surgery cannot restore breasts which are now sagging significantly. In situations such as this, a breast lift is the better option, although many women are now choosing to have both a breast lift and breast augmentation surgery. An easy way to determine if a breast lift will be of help is to place a pencil under the breast. If the pencil remains in place, a lift may be needed. This procedure takes three hours or less and may be done on an outpatient basis. Women may breastfeed following this operation.
Consider all options and consult with a plastic surgeon. He or she can discuss the options available to you, along with the various benefits and drawbacks. You are unique and therefore cannot make an informed decision based on general information. For this reason, speaking to a plastic surgeon needs to be one of the first steps taken to ensure you understand exactly what can and cannot be done and which procedures, if any, are right for you.