Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants)

Breast augmentation, technically referred to as augmentation mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure performed by a plastic surgeon to increase the size and shape of a woman's breast with breast implants.

Patients seek breast implants 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.
As a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants):

How long do breast implants last?
A 'guesstimate' for the product life is 15-20 years -- averaging at 16 years (Institute of Medicine). Breast Implants do not need to be changed unless there is a deflation.

There is a 2% rate of deflation in the first 10 years. Although the rate of deflation is different in each individual depending upon implant surface type (textured implants may rupture sooner or more often than smooth implants). However there are women who have had implants in over 25 years with no problems. There is no definite answer, but do expect to replace implants at last once in your life.

I have heard that the silicone shell of a saline implant can cause silicone toxicity or silicosis, is this true?
This has never been proven. This subject is very controversial at best and there are many scare tactics used by anti-breast augmentation advocates and this may be one of them. There are no certifiable cases of silicone toxicity caused directly and solely from the silicone shell or gel/oil of a prosthetic mammary implant; it is still unproven, either way.

Is it true the replacement or removal of breast implants is fairly minor?
For removal and replacement of smooth, saline implants, yes. The major part of the original operation is the creation of the pocket. When the replacement is needed, the pocket is still there, so all that is needed is to open the pocket, take the old implant out and put in a new one.

What are my breast implant type options?
Saline-filled: The U.S. F.D.A. recently approved only two manufacturers' saline filled implants for general, cosmetic use in the USA. Those two companies are Allergan or Inamed and Mentor Corp.

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are now available in the U.S. for both augmentation and reconstruction and were officially approved by the FDA in November 2006. Silicone has received a lot of negative publicity in the last 10 years and it is still unknown whether or not the long term* effects of silicone are negative. All studies based on Silicone and Connective Tissue Disorders were shown to be inconclusive in regards to Silicone actually causing these diseases.