If you’ve ever wished for breasts that are rounder, more symmetrical, or that had greater volume, your ears probably perk up when you hear someone mention an experience with breast augmentation. Too often, this anecdote is a third- or fourth-hand story of someone’s cousin or her cousin’s roommate who had a “boob job” that went wrong somewhere along the way.
We know this scenario happens often because we’ve debunked myths and corrected the record on breast augmentation for years throughout many, many consultations with patients at our practice in Portsmouth, NH. If you’ve ever cringed through a breast augmentation horror story and subsequently decided against seeking a consultation, this post is for you. We’ll share three reasons why seeking a breast augmentation now is safer, easier, and produces better results than ever before.
Today’s Breast Augmentation Offers More Options for the Right Feel
If you’ve ever heard a horror about breast implants feeling hard or unnatural for a friend of a friend, dig a little deeper into your many options before you decide against breast augmentation. A common concern we address for many patients is getting the right feel for intimacy or lifestyle. The history of modern breast augmentation surgery goes back to the early 1960s and is largely tied to the evolution of breast implant materials and the way they’re constructed. Much thought throughout this evolution has been given to getting breast implants to feel like a natural breast.
The first silicone breast implants were developed in 1961. Today, silicone implants are considered to be in their 7th or 8th generation. One of the most popular silicone breast implant options on the market called the “gummy bear” breast implant, is the culmination of decades of research and development to get the right feel. Gummy bear implants have an outer shell around their filler material to help maintain their shape while feeling soft.
Saline implants became a popular alternative to silicone in the ‘90s. Today, saline implants offer an advanced construction technique called baffling, which uses tiny internal channels to move fluid around and improve the natural feel of the breasts.
Today’s Breast Augmentation is Safer Than Ever
Concerns about the safety of breast augmentation surgery exist for very logical reasons, but the reality of such concerns are often exaggerated by half-truths and sensationalized stories. If you’re getting implants, yes, you’re introducing a foreign object into your body, but there are a few things you should know to put your mind at ease if safety concerns have you on the fence about scheduling a consultation.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, silicone breast implants are among the most widely studied medical devices in history. This fact, combined with the knowledge that more than 310,000 breast augmentations were performed in 2018 alone, should give you confidence that breast augmentation safety is backed by mountains of data and evidence.
In addition to being one of the most commonly performed and deeply researched cosmetic surgeries, breast augmentations are also performed by some of the most highly trained and skilled doctors. To become a plastic surgeon, a person must spend an average of about 13-14 years in school and medical training before they can seek board certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. After schooling and board certification, plastic surgeons who specialize in breast augmentation also routinely seek continuing education opportunities and training to stay up to date on the latest breast augmentation techniques and materials.
Today’s Breast Augmentation Allows Enlargement without Implants
If you’d like to change the shape, size, or feel of your breasts but don’t like the idea of implants, today’s breast augmentation offers patients another option called autologous fat transfer or fat grafting. To make a small to moderate bust size enhancement, liposuction can be combined with a breast augmentation to move a portion of excess fat cells from your waist, hips, or abdomen and transfer them to your breasts — no implants needed. This approach is also becoming more popular because it can be done with tiny incisions, which means less visible scar tissue.
Want to Learn about More Breast Augmentation Options? Call AW Plastic Surgery for a Consultation.
If you have questions about the best breast augmentation options for you, please contact Dr. Wilson and our team of breast augmentation experts in Portsmouth, NH for a consultation.