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The Basics of Breast Enhancement

The female silhouette is central to pop culture and, as a result, is the subject of constant scrutiny. More and more, women are turning to cosmetic surgery to achieve a more youthful look, a streamlined appearance or a more prominent profile. While women can change their appearances in a number of ways, many are turning to breast enhancement to improve their figures.

Although some women get breast enhancements to improve their figures, others get them for medical reasons. For example, those who have had a mastectomy because of breast cancer may want to get a breast augmentation to get back their womanly shapes.

Breast Enhancement Procedures
Women can alter their breasts in three ways: augmentation, reduction and repositioning by lifting them. Here is more information about how each procedure works:

• Augmentation, or enlargement, is perhaps the most common surgery done to the breast, beating out reductions and lifts. Mammaplasties are performed by making small surgical incisions (through the belly button or at the site of the nipple) and inserting saline implants. The size will vary based on anatomy and the desires of the patient.
  
  The bags that hold the saline are inserted empty to accommodate the small incisions. Once they have been inserted, the doctor fills them with saline. He then moves the nipples, putting them in the appropriate spot to fit the new sized breasts.
  
  
• Reductions improve appearance while generally promoting better health for many women. While the procedure reduces neck and back pain, it also allows for increased physical exercise and overall comfort, especially in fitted clothing. The procedure involves the removal of tissue, skin and a portion of the areola to decrease chest weight and breast size.
  
  Although females get this procedure to improve their appearances, males are also getting breast reductions, as enlarged breasts are a common insecurity in overweight men. The reduction procedure, known as gynecomastia, employs the same surgical techniques as a mastopexy (a breast lift).
  
  
• Breast lifts, also known as mastopexies, are popular for fixing breasts that sag due to genetics, age, weight loss and pregnancy. Smaller-breasted women are better candidates for this procedure, as the weight of their breasts won't cause sag as soon as the larger-breasted women.
  
  In a breast lift procedure, the skin is pulled, wrapped from both sides and appended to the underside of the breast. Sometimes, the shaping process involves nipple relocation. Augmentations can incorporate a lift procedure, as well.
  
  Mammaplasty, gynecomastia and mastopexy are cosmetic enhancements that insurance companies do not generally accept. However, most insurance companies will cover portions of procedures related to larger breasts. Similarly, federal law mandates that insurance companies cover the reconstruction and enhancement procedures for post-mastectomy patients.
  

Seeking a Surgeon for Breast Enhancement
When choosing a surgeon for your breast enhancement procedure, choose a licensed, skilled professional who is specifically familiar with the selected procedure, whether it is reduction, enlargement or a lift. Qualified physicians should have performed multiple operations and be willing to provide photos and testimonials from satisfied patients.

Before you undergo the operation, be sure to talk honestly with your surgeon regarding your expectations and the likely outcome of the procedure. While surgery can make valid improvements, be sure that there are no guarantees. Staying motivated and keeping a healthy emotional outlook can directly affect the outcome of any procedure.

Surgical Risks and Complications of Breast Enhancement
Infection remains the greatest post-surgical risk of any breast enhancement therapy. In most cases, antibiotics can solve minor incidences. Fever and prolonged pain are among the indicators of more serious reactions.

Because breast surgeries necessarily involve cutting and reshaping breast tissue, scarring always occurs to some degree. However, newer procedures (especially for implants) involve much smaller incisions. In some cases, surgical scars that enlarge, change color or harden can't be treated or removed through further procedures. Unfortunately, these are a permanent remnant of the cosmetic surgery.

Implants are especially susceptible to hardening, as the surrounding tissue may harden in response to the foreign object. Occasionally, leakage occurs. If the implant starts to leak saline, a surgeon may recommend replacement or removal.

Recovery time for outpatient breast enhancement procedures lasts anywhere from 7-10 days if all goes well in the procedure. Of course, any complications will require longer recoveries and possibly more procedures in the future. While patients can return to work, many choose to delay heavy physical exercise for a longer period.

Non-Surgical Options for Breast Enhancement
For decades, women have sought non-surgical options to improve breast shape and size. Creams, gels, pills and herbal treatments all purport the ability to improve the appearance of breasts. Manufacturers are developing products that include a host of plant estrogens or other natural blends that attempt to mimic puberty. While some claim to be satisfied with the results, keep in mind that you need to fully study the ingredients of each, as well as how each impacts the system, before starting any herbal regimen.

Breast enhancement pumps are another option. They work to activate tissue development through a series of suction and tension exercises. The sessions are tedious, but manageable.

Those who wish to supplement a surgery or augment with creams, pumps and pills can integrate specific exercises into their routine. Although these do not directly affect the breasts or their size, they will strengthen the muscle walls of the chest. Results can include a minor uplift in a silhouette, as well as increased firmness.

When researching alternatives to breast enhancement surgery, be wary of exaggerated claims. Proceed with caution when ingesting supplements and be prepared to react immediately to potential side effects. Because few controls exist for manufacturers and there haven't been any large-scale studies to prove the effectiveness of any oral or external products, take caution before starting any new breast enhancement product.