How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Anne

2012 marks the 50th birthday of the first successful breast augmentation, but how long does the average implant last? Timmie Jean Lindsey, the Texas woman who had that landmark surgery 50 years ago, still has the original breast implants that were experimentally placed in 1962. However, for the majority of women who choose to have breast enhancement, implants won’t last nearly that long. The lifespan of a breast implant may range from a few years to a few decades. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), women who have breast augmentation should assume that they’ll need to have the implants replaced at some point.

So how do breast implants break? Some of these products are defective from the beginning, while others disintegrate naturally over time. Capsular contracture, or the formation of scar tissue around an implant, may squeeze the shell and cause it to leak. Physical trauma that involves a blow to the chest, like a car accident, may cause implants to rupture. The pressure applied to breasts during a mammogram may also cause damage. When you consider the effects of time, trauma and natural wear and tear, there’s no way to predict the longevity of a breast implant with 100% certainty.

When saline implants break, the results are usually apparent immediately. Leaking saline is absorbed quickly by the body’s tissues, leaving an obvious asymmetry. Detecting a break in a silicone implant isn’t as easy, because the material that fills the implant leaks much more slowly and tends to remain in the capsule created by the plastic surgeon. The American Society for Plastic Surgeons recommends that plastic surgeons follow up with all of their breast augmentation patients every three to five years, whether or not they have signs or symptoms of implant rupture. After 10 years and for every five years thereafter, the ASPS advises that women with silicone implants have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to detect possible signs of leakage.

Even if you’re perfectly happy with your breast implants, it’s important to stay in touch with your plastic surgeon and keep your post-operative appointments. If you notice any changes in the shape or size of your breasts, call your surgeon to schedule an evaluation.

Safe Ways to Cut the Cost of Breast Augmentation

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Anne

When an Australian woman recently scored an all-expenses-paid trip to Thailand for breast augmentation by winning a Facebook contest, the Australian Medical Association was appalled. Rodney Cooter, president of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, warned that such contests trivialize plastic surgery while minimizing the importance of proper postoperative care. The travel agency replied that the contest filled a need for women who lack the financial resources to enhance their bodies with plastic surgery.

Winning a contest may be the only sure way to get breast augmentation for free, but any woman can save money on the cost of breast augmentation. Use these tips to lower the cost of a beautiful boob job without sacrificing quality of care:

Compare quotes from several board-certified plastic surgeons. Many plastic surgeons offer free initial consultations, where you can meet the surgeon, discuss your expectations and get a quote. Even if you’re delighted with the first surgeon you meet, schedule a consultation with at least two other professionals so that you can feel confident that you’re getting a competitive price.
Consider breast implant costs. Saline breast implants are typically less expensive than silicone, and choosing saline may cut the cost of your augmentation. On the other hand, many women feel that silicone implants look and feel more natural than saline, and they’re willing to pay a bit more for the difference.
Ask for quotes from different hospitals and surgical centers. Hospital fees make up a big chunk of the cost of breast augmentation. Look around your community for hospitals or surgical centers that offer attractive discounts to cosmetic surgery patients, then ask those facilities for referrals to reliable surgeons.
Combine cosmetic procedures. If you’re torn between having a breast augmentation and sculpting your thighs with liposuction, why not have the best of both worlds – and cut plastic surgery costs at the same time?
Shop around for affordable financing. Unless you’ve been saving up your pennies, it’s likely that you’ll need some form of financing to cover a breast augmentation. Before you whip out that credit card, compare your card’s interest rates with rates for plastic surgery loans.
Save money – but take your time. In an effort to save money, you might be tempted to accept a low-ball quote from a shady surgeon. If you meet a plastic surgeon who treats breast augmentation like a medical emergency and wants you to schedule yesterday, grab your checkbook and run. Take time to find a board-certified surgeon you can trust.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Lorraine

While the popularity of plastic surgery continues to grow, even during the global downturn, there is one potentially negative element which those considering plastic surgery should be aware of. There are increasing reports of non-plastic surgeons offering cosmetic surgery procedures. This might be described as one of the weak economy’s effects on the health care industry.

There are increasing reports of people going to doctors for cosmetic surgery procedures only to find out that the surgeons do not specialize in plastic surgery. Suffice to say, patients are not reporting satisfaction with their surgeries, due in large part to inexperienced doctors performing procedures they should not be offering. You must therefore ensure that your chosen plastic surgeon is board-certified and experienced in plastic surgery, and not some other specialty. Would you want an obstetrician to perform your heart transplant surgery? The same applies to plastic surgery and you must do your research.

Doctors can attain board certification in various specialties from a number of organizations. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is one of the most respected societies for surgeons specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery in the US. Unfortunately it is clear that a number of doctors who do not have experience with cosmetic surgery have started offering procedures, even complex ones such as breast augmentation, to bring extra money into their practices.

To attain certification from ASAPS, surgeons must maintain high procedural standards and have outstanding training and continuing education in their field of specialization. Here are some tips for finding the right plastic surgeon for your procedure:

Research online to find suitable candidates in your area
Use resources such as the ASAPS website to find out about the doctors’ achievements and qualifications
Look at before-and-after photos on the doctor’s website
Set up a consultation with them to make sure you trust, and feel comfortable with them, and that they have successfully performed your chosen procedure many times before.

Once you have done all these things and made sure the surgeon has the right credentials, qualifications and experience, you can be confident that you will be happiest with the surgery outcomes. Your surgery should improve your appearance, your confidence and your self-esteem and not be a source of trauma and unhappiness. A few simple steps like these can ensure that you get the best results.

Saline Breast Implant Rupture: Just Don’t Panic

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Anne

Picture this scenario: You wake up late on a Monday morning with less than 15 minutes to get ready for work. You race to the shower, only to realize that one of your beautifully augmented breasts looks . . . deflated. As your husband laughs and affectionately calls you “Uni-booby,” you dial your plastic surgeon’s number in a panic. While implant rupture can be caused by a sudden trauma to the chest, sometimes it happens with no apparent cause.

When saline implants rupture, the results can be alarming, even if the effects are harmless. Over time it’s almost inevitable that breast implants will need to be replaced, but no woman wants to deal with a sudden deflation. Unless your implant has been contaminated by a fungal or bacterial microorganism, the saline should be absorbed quickly into your body’s tissues without any serious side effects. However, if you have a high temperature, a rash or you feel sick after a saline implant fails, you may have an infection, and prompt medical attention is required.

Most women don’t need to be encouraged to call their plastic surgeon when a saline implant ruptures. While your surgeon probably can’t fit you in for implant replacement on your way to the office, he or she can provide reassurance and talk with you about your options. A saline implant rupture is rarely a medical emergency, but replacement should be scheduled promptly to prevent the formation of scar tissue around the deflated implant. Once the surgically created pocket contracts around a ruptured implant, replacement will be more complicated.

For many women, the cost of replacement is a concern. Depending on the type of warranty you have, the reason for the rupture and how much time has passed since your breast augmentation, the manufacturer may cover the implant and all or part of your surgical costs. Women should brace themselves for the possibility that they’ll have to cover these expenses out of pocket, then wait to be reimbursed. The manufacturer may need to determine whether the implant was defective before paying for the damage. Some manufacturers allow their customers to replace a saline implant with silicone if the saline implant fails.

Meanwhile, what do you do when your figure’s suddenly out of balance and you’ve got a major presentation scheduled at work? Plastic surgeons who perform breast augmentation usually keep implant samples in the clinic to show their patients. Ask your surgeon if you can borrow a sample that’s the same size as the ruptured implant. Placing an implant in your bra is a temporary solution, but it will keep your breasts looking natural and symmetrical under your clothes until you can make arrangements for surgery.