Breast Implants - Breast Augmentation  Perth, Western Australia » Click here to view our dedicated Breast Augmentation website Breast augmentation overview - is it right for me? Any one of the following feelings or conditions may indicate that you are a good candidate for breast augmentation: you are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small weight loss has changed the size and shape of your breasts after having children, your breasts have become smaller and have lost their firmness one of your breasts is noticeably smaller than the other you feel self-conscious wearing a swimsuit or form-fitting top. In addition, there are several "musts" for anyone considering breast augmentation: if you are a young woman, your breast development must be complete you must be emotionally mature and fully understand your own motivations for wanting the procedure (the best reason is to feel better about yourself) you must have realistic expectations, knowing that the procedure can bring improvement, but not perfection. Breast implants overview - are silicone breast implants safe? Silicone gel-filled breast implants are one of the most studied medical devices and decades of research have evaluated their safety and effectiveness. The safety of Silicone-Filled Breast Implants is supported by extensive preclinical testing, U.S. clinical studies and European rupture prevalence data.  Silicone is the most bio-compatible material known to man. In Australia, silicone gel-filled implants are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and have been registered on the ARTG since 2001. They are also approved by the FDA in USA. Do breast implants feel unnaturally hard? While breast implants may sometimes not be as supple as natural breasts, most women are very satisfied with the results. Capsular contracture may result in unnatural firmness following augmentation. Capsular contracture is when the body produces excessive scar tissue around the implant. The incidence of capsular contracture in primary breast augmentation is in the order of 2 -3% of cases. It is often of a minor degree which does not require treatment. Significant capsular contracture may require re-operation to remove the capsule.   Can breast implants cause breast cancer and other diseases? There is no medical evidence to show that women with breast implants have a higher chance of developing breast cancer or autoimmune diseases. Will I be able to breastfeed with breast implants? There is no medical evidence to show that breast implants interfere with breast-feeding, and women with breast implants do not risk exposing their breastfed children to excessive amounts of silicone. The ability to breastfeed successfully varies in all women with or without breast implants. Can breast implants make it difficult to detect breast cancer? It is recommended that all women regularly self-examine their breasts for lumps and changes, and have an annual examination by a doctor. Mammography is more difficult to assess for women with breast implants. Patients should inform radiologists of their breast implants prior to having the mammogram. Is breast augmentation a painful surgery that requires a lot of time off work and physical activity? Each patient will tolerate pain in a different way, and this is usually taken into account by a doctor and appropriate pain medications are prescribed post operatively. The length of time it takes to recover from surgery can also differ from patient to patient, although most breast augmentation patients are mobile and able to care for themselves within two days after surgery. Most patients are able to return to work within five to seven days.  Patients are encouraged to commence a slow walking routine two days after surgery in order to limit swelling, and are advised to avoid vigorous exercise for two weeks. Are breast augmentation scars obvious? Breast implants are inserted through a small incision and these incisions can be made either in the crease under the breast, under the arm, or around the nipple. The surgeon will recommend the most appropriate incision for each patient in order to minimise visible scarring. Can anyone tell when a woman has had breast implants? A carefully planned and performed surgical procedure can give most patients a natural appearing result. It is important to choose an experienced surgeon who will not only consider a patient's desires, but take into account the height, weight, and natural breast size and shape. Choosing an appropriate implant and positioning it correctly are the keys to achieving a natural looking result. Do breast implants make the breasts sag earlier? Breasts sag due to gravity, weight and the elastin/collagen structure within the skin that breaks down with the ageing process. A natural breast of the same size and weight will sag just as fast as an implant. It is important to wear a good quality, supportive and well fitted bra and not assume that breast implants mean that a bra is not necessary. Excessively large implants can result in premature sagging. Do breast implants need to be replaced regularly? The lifespan of currently used breast implants is unknown. There is a possibility they may have to be removed or replaced at some stage. However, there is no set period at which time the implants should be replaced. Many implant manufacturers give a life time guarantee on their product. What should I expect from the breast augmentation consultation? A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering breast augmentation. During this meeting, Dr Cooper will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for surgery. You should arrive at the consultation ready to provide complete information about. previous surgical procedures past and present medical conditions medications you are taking, including herbal remedies or nutritional supplements the results of mammograms you have had any history of breast cancer in your family Your surgeon will help you understand the factors that may affect your results. For example, gaining or losing a significant amount of weight may change your breast size. Pregnancy can also alter breast size in an unpredictable way. As part of the consultation, your breasts will be examined and photographed for your medical record. During this examination, your surgeon will consider the size and shape of your breasts, your chest dimensions, the quality of your skin and the position of your nipples. Your surgeon may suggest additional cosmetic procedures to improve your results. For example, if your breasts are sagging, your surgeon may suggest that a breast lift procedure be performed in conjunction with your breast augmentation surgery. How is breast augmentation performed? The access incision is made in one of three locations: underneath the breast just above the crease, around the lower edge of the areola, or within the armpit. The incision under the breast is usually the preferable one. Once the incision is made, the surgeon creates a pocket into which the implant is inserted. This pocket is made either directly behind the breast tissue or beneath the pectoral muscle, located below the breast tissue and above the chest wall. This decision is usually predicated by the thickness of the soft tissue of the upper breast and chest wall. There are other factors determining the "above or below muscle" issue which your surgeon will discuss with you. Drains are not routinely used. Are breast implants safe? Each year, thousands of women undergo breast augmentation surgery and experience no major complications. However, you must fully understand the risks as well as the benefits of the procedure. One of the most important parts of your consultation is the discussion that you and your surgeon will have about the possible complications of breast augmentation surgery. These include altered nipple sensation, implant malposition, infection, capsular contracture and implant failure. Capsular contracture or breast firmness is much less of a problem than in the past. If it develops it can be treated by performing a capsulectomy and replacing the implant. Infection is unlikely but can be devastating as it usually means the implant has to be removed. The likelyhood of implant failure is hard to quantify but the newer implants do seem to have a longer lifespan. Implants do not have to be automatically replaced after an arbitrary time such as 10 years. Nipple sensation can be affected but the change is usually only temporary. Be sure to raise any questions or concerns that you may have about the safety of the procedure. Saline or silicone breast implants? All commonly used breast implants have an inert silicone covering. This silicone covering may be smooth or textured (rough surfaced). Following the silicone "scare" over the previous decade, saline implants became more popular. There are many women who remain anxious about having silicone implants despite there being numerous scientific papers stating that silicone poses no health risk in breast augmentation. A saline implant is initially filled with air and this is evacuated prior to inserting the implant beneath the breast. Once the implant is in place, it is then filled with saline, which is a physiological fluid. Saline implants can be placed via a smaller incision because they can be rolled up and placed underneath the breast prior to filling. A further perceived advantage of saline implants is that if they leak, the saline simply disperses into the body tissues. The downside of using saline implants is that they often have to be over filled to prevent any visible or palpable rippling, and this imparts a firmer feel to them. Also, if the implants do ripple, then they are probably are more likely to fail through fatigue. For these reasons saline implants are rarely used for breast augmentation these days.  Silicone filled implants are increasingly the preferred option in Australia. They are approved for general use by the Therapeutic Goods Advisory Service (TGA). The older soft silicone implant is still available, but more recently a cohesive gel implant has been introduced. The benefit of the cohesive gel implant is that if the implant covering ruptures, the gel itself is of a cohesive nature and will therefore not disperse. One of the downsides of silicone implants is that they are pre filled and therefore require a slightly longer incision to place the implants. The obvious benefit is that they do impart a softer feel to the breast, and certainly the cohesive gel implants give an excellent feel and form to the breast. This is particularly important in women with small breasts. What size and shape breast implant is right for me?  Breast implants currently available in Australia come in either round or anatomic (tear drop) shapes. The anatomic implant has more projection at the base and is said to impart a more natural look. This is probably more important in a woman with very small breasts, or in nulliparous women (women who have not had babies). The anatomic implants are more expensive and may occasionally be prone to rotation. The size of the implant desired vexes many women. Various factors are taken into account by the surgeon when assessing this. These include the breast shape and size (the surgeon will measure certain dimensions of the breast), the amount of upper breast "padding" and the height and body shape of the patient. Implant sizing charts allow the surgeon to reasonably accurately predict the dimensions of the new breast. The patient can request to view photographs of previous augmentations and this may help in making a decision regarding the desired size. Sizer implants are placed in the bra to give some idea of the projection prior to making a decision. The surgeon will generally acceed to the patient's wishes regarding the desired breast size, but patients should be counseled against requesting too large an implant. Large implants do, as a rule, lead to more problems in the long term. How will I be cared for on the day of my breast augmentation surgery? Breast augmentation is performed in a hospital under a general anaesthetic, usually as a day case, unless combined with other, more major procedures. Pain and discomfort are usually minimal and return to normal sedentary activities in two to three days is expected. A new sports bra or crop top is suggested for comfort, and gentle massage of the breasts is recommended in the early post-operative period. How long will I continue to see my plastic surgeon? After the initial healing period, you will return to your plastic surgeon's office for a postoperative follow-up visit so that your progress can he evaluated. In the following months, your surgeon may ask you to return for periodic checkups. It's important to return for these checkups so that your surgeon can assess your long-term results and address any questions or concerns you may have. Click here to view the 3D Procedure Animation from the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. » Click here to view our dedicated Breast Augmentation website Contact Staff:        Inquiry form          (08) 9481 3092            reception@perthplasticsurgery.com Practice Location: *The images on this page are used with permission from the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons . Complete patient education pamphlets are also available.