Why Breast Augmentation?

The breast which is too small can be safely enlarged to improve a patient's appearance using the latest scientific principles and techniques.

A woman who is under endowed or "flat chested" feels uncomfortable when she puts on a bathing suit, an evening gown, or goes shopping for lingerie. She may also feel self-conscious about her breasts with her husband. External padding can hardly meet her expectations. Under endowed women have frequently tried pills advertised to enlarge the breasts, or creams, suction cups, massages, exercise, hypnosis, etc., and found them to be lacking. Other than gaining weight or getting pregnant, surgical augmentation of the breast is the one predictable and reliable method for breast enlargement.

Are Breast Implants Safe?

The indication for this operation is the patient's desire to feel better about herself, and in this regard the operation is eminently successful. Every patient needs to understand from the outset, however, that despite its popularity, surgical breast augmentation has certain drawbacks. The first and foremost is the fact that the operation involves the use of foreign material device with filler material, and the device will fail (as all devices do) after a given period of time. Fortunately the device is made of a relatively inert material. With a saline implant, failure results in deflation and harmless absorption of saline (salt water). With the silicone gel implant this can mean leakage of the inner material into the patient's tissues, which is less controllable. While the saline implant is the safer of the two, newer high cohesive gel implants appear to be safer than the older silicone gel implants.

The Procedure

Unless there is sufficient soft tissue coverage the saline implant can sometimes show some waviness or rippling, and be apparent under the skin. If the patient has little existing breast tissue then the implant should be placed beneath the muscle. This will provide more soft tissue cover to camouflage its presence. If the patient has sufficient soft tissue to camouflage the implant, then going under the muscle is not necessary. Placing the implant directly behind the breast gland in such cases can provide an excellent result with less pain and discomfort. When the submuscular approach is used, a significant period of time is required for the muscles to relax and adjust to the underlying volume before the final appearance is appreciated.

Nipple sensation is an important issue in breast augmentation surgery. At The Fairbanks Plastic Surgery Center an anatomic approach is used where the nerves which provide nipple sensation can be visualized at surgery and protected. While this takes more time and effort on the part of the surgeon, it is well worth it to the patient and their ultimate happiness with the result. With regard to size everyone is different; therefore size must be worked out between you and your surgeon (see examples).

At the Fairbanks' Plastic Surgery Center, your surgeons have extensive experience in treatment of the under endowed female breast. The operation can be performed either under a local anesthetic (with the patient awake but sedated) or a general anesthetic (with the patient asleep). Every attention is made to insure patient safety. Aesthetics or concepts of beauty will be reviewed with you during your consultation. The alternative approaches will be reviewed together with the pros and cons of each. Your surgery will be planned to make you as attractive and proportional as possible using the most advanced scientific methods.