BREAST AUGMENTATION

If you're considering breast augmentation...

Breast augmentation, technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast for a number of reasons:

· To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small.

· To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy.

· To balance a difference in breast size.

By inserting an implant behind each breast, surgeons are able to increase a woman's bustline by one or more bra cup sizes. If you're considering breast augmentation, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure--when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances.

THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION

Breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal, or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.

The best candidates for breast augmentation are women who are looking for improvement in the way they look. If you're physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate.

TYPES OF IMPLANTS

• A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or a salt-water solution known as saline.
  
• Because of concerns that there is insufficient information demonstrating the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that new gel-filled implants, at the present time, should be available only to women participating in approved studies. Some women requiring replacement of the implants may also be eligible to participate in the study.
  
• Saline-filled implants continue to be available to breast augmentation patients on an unrestricted basis, pending further FDA review. You should ask your doctor more about the specifics of the FDA decisions.

POST OPERATION