Women who are considering breast augmentation often have a lot of questions. This is only natural. We wish to help patients make the most well-informed decisions by providing clear, professional answers. Here, we discuss the top questions that patients ask about breast augmentation.
- Am I a good candidate for breast augmentation?
If you are a healthy adult who wants to build or reinstate breast volume, you may be a good candidate for breast augmentation. It is important to know that silicone breast implants are approved for women aged 22 and older. Women between the ages of 18 and 22 can only get saline implants. Of course, if you are older than 22 and have a preference for saline implants, you may do so. Women who want to have breast augmentation also need to know what is possible and what the risks of surgery are. Breast implant size should harmonize with the body. Overly-large implants pose risks such as damaging the muscle in between the breasts and causing extreme thinning of the skin. Of course, very large implants on a small body-frame also look unnatural.
- How can I know which breast implant is right for me?
There is more to breast implants than size and type. Our experienced team discusses the details of saline and silicone implants, as well as other characteristics that affect appearance. These include implant profile and shape. High profile breast implants may achieve more cleavage and overall volume, regardless of size. A moderate or low-profile implant will increase volume but preserve a more natural slope in the upper region of the breast. Choosing breast implants is something you do together with your surgeon or medical team. The process is informative and fun.
- Which implant placement achieves the most natural results?
Many women know that breast implants can be placed above the muscle or beneath it. The assumption that can be made is that implants need to be placed beneath the muscle to look natural. This isn’t always true. Placement is only one factor in achieving natural-looking fullness and shape. We also look at the chest wall, body type, existing breast volume, and skin thickness to help a patient know what they could expect from each type of placement.
- Will breast augmentation increase my risk of breast cancer?
There has been a misconception about breast implants that they can lead to breast cancer. What studies have shown is that breast implants pose a very low risk for Anaplastic Large-cell Lymphoma, or ALCL. Very few cases of ALCL have been reported, and an investigation by the FDA discovered that reported cases involved a particular type of breast implant by a certain manufacturer. Those breast implants are no longer being made or used.
We realize that you may have many more questions than we have answered here. To get all of the details about breast augmentation that you need to make the best decision for your care, schedule a consultation in our Chicago Breast Center.