Should You Get a Boob Job?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 290,000 women had a breast augmentation in 2005. This figure is up 37% from 2000. Most women have been dissatisfied with their breasts at some point – they’re too small or too large, asymmetrical or saggy from having children or aging. If you’re so unhappy with your breasts that you’re seriously considering plastic surgery or are simply curious about what it involves, read on for the risks and benefits of breast augmentation. Plus: Take our quiz to test your breast cancer risk…
1. What’s up doc?
Should you just randomly choose a surgeon after a quick online search? Of course not.
“Pick a doctor who is board certified in plastic surgery,” says Dr. Michele Shermak, chief of plastic surgery at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.
She recommends visiting The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website, which has a feature that will locate a certified doctor in your zip code.
An initial consultation with your doctor is critical. During this appointment, he or she should thoroughly review your medical history, ask you questions about your breasts and listen to you describe what you want. You should be able to communicate easily and feel comfortable during the conversation – if you’re getting red flags, you should find another doctor.
“Some surgeons assume that women want to be large,” Shermak says.
But many women just want a firmer, more youthful appearance. So make sure you communicate your exact wishes with the surgeon up front.
2. Placement test
“Pick a doctor who is board certified in plastic surgery,” says Dr. Michele Shermak, chief of plastic surgery at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore.
She recommends visiting The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website, which has a feature that will locate a certified doctor in your zip code.
An initial consultation with your doctor is critical. During this appointment, he or she should thoroughly review your medical history, ask you questions about your breasts and listen to you describe what you want. You should be able to communicate easily and feel comfortable during the conversation – if you’re getting red flags, you should find another doctor.
“Some surgeons assume that women want to be large,” Shermak says.
But many women just want a firmer, more youthful appearance. So make sure you communicate your exact wishes with the surgeon up front.
2. Placement test
Implants can be placed in one of two places:
The implant can be placed directly behind the breast tissue. This is the best place to put it if a woman wants to lift up a saggy breast. Just be aware that imperfections in the implant will be visible sooner in this location.
The implant can be placed behind the pectoralis major (chest) muscle. In this case, the muscle will hide imperfections and create a more flawless look.
“The chest muscle will massage the implant, helping to keep it smooth,” Shermak says. In addition, if the implant is behind the muscle, the implant won’t be in the way when it comes time for a mammogram.
“The chest muscle will massage the implant, helping to keep it smooth,” Shermak says. In addition, if the implant is behind the muscle, the implant won’t be in the way when it comes time for a mammogram.
3. Breast cancer
Can an implant block a tumor from a mammogram technician?
“Cancer diagnosis is not delayed in women with breast implants,” Shermak says.
Mammogram technicians are trained to deal with women with breast implants – they will make special accommodations, often taking multiple pictures and mammography views.
They may also use special techniques, like lifting the breast tissue slightly away from the implant.
“Cancer diagnosis is not delayed in women with breast implants,” Shermak says.
Mammogram technicians are trained to deal with women with breast implants – they will make special accommodations, often taking multiple pictures and mammography views.
They may also use special techniques, like lifting the breast tissue slightly away from the implant.
4. Silicone vs. saline
Shermak says that saline implants will evaporate slowly over time, and can lose 15-20% of their volume in five years.
You may also be able to feel some rippling as the implant deflates, although this rippling will not necessarily be visible if the implant is placed under the pectoralis major.
Saline implants will leak slowly and deflate over time; silicone implants hold their shape, so they’ll feel natural longer. Although it’s normal for a saline implant to slowly leak, it’s not normal for a silicone implant to leak.
If you think your silicone implant is leaking or has been ruptured, your doctor may order a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI to tell for sure.
So how do you choose between silicone and saline?
Easy – you don’t.
The FDA currently prohibits the use of silicone implants, expect in the case of reconstructive surgery. The FDA ban is currently under review, and many women are anxious to get silicone implants should it be lifted.
You may also be able to feel some rippling as the implant deflates, although this rippling will not necessarily be visible if the implant is placed under the pectoralis major.
Saline implants will leak slowly and deflate over time; silicone implants hold their shape, so they’ll feel natural longer. Although it’s normal for a saline implant to slowly leak, it’s not normal for a silicone implant to leak.
If you think your silicone implant is leaking or has been ruptured, your doctor may order a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI to tell for sure.
So how do you choose between silicone and saline?
Easy – you don’t.
The FDA currently prohibits the use of silicone implants, expect in the case of reconstructive surgery. The FDA ban is currently under review, and many women are anxious to get silicone implants should it be lifted.
5. Replacement
Because saline implants slowly leak over time, they will need to be replaced in approximately five years.
If the woman is thin and has less breast tissue, they will need to be replaced sooner than a woman with bigger breasts. This is because the larger woman has more tissue with which to hold the implant in place.
If the woman is thin and has less breast tissue, they will need to be replaced sooner than a woman with bigger breasts. This is because the larger woman has more tissue with which to hold the implant in place.
Replacing an implant is a lot easier than the original surgery because surgeons can simply reopen the incision they initially made.
Implant procedures improve more and more each generation; maybe one day they won’t need to be replaced at all.
6. Damage control
Implant procedures improve more and more each generation; maybe one day they won’t need to be replaced at all.
6. Damage control
“Cosmetic surgery, even though it’s elective, is still surgery,” Shermak says.
This doesn’t mean that you need to be afraid; it simply means that you need to understand it’s a serious procedure that has risks and recovery time.
This doesn’t mean that you need to be afraid; it simply means that you need to understand it’s a serious procedure that has risks and recovery time.
About 10% of patients will lose sensation in the nipple after the procedure.
“This is not necessarily related to the skill of the surgeon,” Shermak says.
Rather, it depends on how far out the nerves to your nipples reach. If they reach out far, they may be damaged when the implant is inserted. If you decide to have your implants removed later on, your breasts will be saggier and more deflated than had you not had them inserted in the first place.
“This is not necessarily related to the skill of the surgeon,” Shermak says.
Rather, it depends on how far out the nerves to your nipples reach. If they reach out far, they may be damaged when the implant is inserted. If you decide to have your implants removed later on, your breasts will be saggier and more deflated than had you not had them inserted in the first place.
Leaking: Saline means salt water. If a saline implant leaks, your body will just re-absorb the salt water. The implant itself will deflate and a surgeon can remove it.
If a silicone implant leaks, your body will create scar tissue, forming a capsule around the silicone so it can’t leak into the rest of your body.
Silicone in some cases can migrate past the capsule and travel up the chest area, causing nerve damage, but Shermak notes that this is rare.
If a silicone implant leaks, your body will create scar tissue, forming a capsule around the silicone so it can’t leak into the rest of your body.
Silicone in some cases can migrate past the capsule and travel up the chest area, causing nerve damage, but Shermak notes that this is rare.
7. The payoff
Many women who are post-partum come in seeking breast augmentation. A woman may be able to get her pre-baby stomach and legs back through diet and exercise, but there’s little she can do on her own for her breasts.
Augmentation can restore self-esteem and turn back the clock, making the patient feel youthful again.
And as for those who simply want a bigger set?
The procedure can improve their self-image, helping them to feel sexier and more assured.
Shermak says that as long as the patient has done her homework, researched the surgeon and knows the risks and benefits, there’s nothing wrong with getting an augmentation for vanity’s sake.
“For some women, it’s simply the right thing to do,” she says.
Augmentation can restore self-esteem and turn back the clock, making the patient feel youthful again.
And as for those who simply want a bigger set?
The procedure can improve their self-image, helping them to feel sexier and more assured.
Shermak says that as long as the patient has done her homework, researched the surgeon and knows the risks and benefits, there’s nothing wrong with getting an augmentation for vanity’s sake.
“For some women, it’s simply the right thing to do,” she says.
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