BREAST AUGMENTATION

What does a breast implant operation involve?
The surgeon will make an incision either in the armpit, around the areola, or beneath the breast. The implant is placed either in front of the chest muscle or behind it. This has an im

What are breast implants made of?

All implants consist of a silicone bag with a filling inside it. There are two types of filling: either liquid or cohesive jelly or silicone gel and saline (salt water)

What's the best material to use for breast implants?
Silicone gel has the best texture for implants. The gel has the same consistency as body fat, so the implant is soft and pliable. However the ultimate shape and feel depends on how much scarring occurs around the breast.

Is silicone safe?
15 years ago, a group of US lawyers dealing with medical negligence claimed there was a link between silicone implants and the development of breast cancer and birth defects. These claims resulted in a US ban on silicone implants for cosmetic purposes in 1992, even though the lawyers are now agreed that silicone implants have nothing to do either with the development of birth defects or breast cancer. Indeed, the evidence shows that women who have had implants actually have a lower rate of breast cancer. The same lawyers also linked silicone implants to the development of ME, arthritis and CTD (Connective Tissue Disease). However, researchers from the Mayo clinic in Minnesota found that only five out of 750 women with implants developed a connective tissue disorder over eight years, a rate no higher than that among a controlled group of 1,500 women without implants, and there have been 23 similar studies. The UK Department of Health has given silicone implants a clean bill of health and doctors in Britain have concluded that they are safe. Silicone is used all the time for joint replacements. It's also used as lubrication for syringes, so we're all exposed to it, and diabetics, for instance, have a very high level of exposure to it, yet diabetics show no increased signs of CTD.

What are the after effects like?
When you wake up from the operation, your new breasts will be taped in position with elastoplast, supported by your new bra. They will feel sore. The discomfort will subside in five to six days, and dressings and any stitches will be removed after ten days. You will be asked to wear a sports bra to support the implants in the right place for a month after surgery. You can drive after ten days, and three weeks after your operation you may resume gentle exercise. However, you should avoid sleeping on your front for at least four weeks, and full upward stretching of the arms is inadvisable for six weeks.

What about the risks?
Everyone runs the risk of some loss of sensation in the nipples or elsewhere in the breasts, although some women actually notice increased sensation after implants. The bigger the implant though, the more likely is the risk of nerve damage and loss of sensation. Scarring around the implant can lead to the formation of a hard fibrous shell - which contracts and squeezes the implant into a round ball. Some women quite like a degree of mild hardening, since it makes breasts stick out. Breasts which are too hard can be painful though, and implants may have to be remove