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The last few blogs we’ve covered the ins and outs of breast augmentation. The procedure is among the top cosmetic procedures performed in Canada, with around 20,000 augmentation procedures being done each year. That’s not anywhere near the yearly 300,000 procedures in the U.S., but it’s still sizeable.

Dr. Frank likes his patients to have all the information possible about any potential procedure. To that end, this month we’ll share some statistics about breast augmentation. They are taken from American women, as statistics are easier to gather with the larger numbers involved. Still, it should give you a good idea of five reasons why breast augmentation keeps increasing in popularity, both in the U.S. and Canada.

#1 Extremely high satisfaction rates

Women who have had breast augmentation are routinely surveyed in the months and years afterwards. They report incredibly high rates of satisfaction. A recent survey from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 98 percent of women felt their augmentation either met or exceeded their expectations. Over 90 percent of the women also said they felt the procedure increased their self-esteem.

#2 Easy recovery

Breast augmentation surgery does not involve a difficult recovery. Most women are able to return to work after just a few days of recovery. The pain is not acute, and is often related to being similar to the feeling after a rigorous upper body workout.

#3 Implants are proven to be safe

Before any implants were initially approved the FDA in the U.S. and Health Canada studied them extensively. Later, in the 80s, when there was some concern about silicone and safety, even more rigorous research was done and found no link between health issues and silicone breast implants. Plus, modern silicone gel is now very cohesive, meaning it usually adheres to itself and doesn’t leak out into the breast pocket if the implant ruptures.

#4 Duration

Implant durability is continuing to improve. Although most implants will need to be replaced at least once in a patient’s life, there is no specific timeline. Manufacturers guarantee their implants for at least 10 years, and many patients have implants that can last double that time. Plus, replacing implants is not difficult as Dr. Frank can simply enter through the same original incisions to remove the old implants and place the new ones.

#5 Variety of options

There are a variety of implants available from different manufacturers. These vary by the size, the shape, and the projection. This allows patients to choose an option that fits their goals, rather than adapting to a one-size-fits-all approach.

If you’re interested in augmenting your breasts, please call Dr. Frank at (403) 245-1228 to schedule a consultation.

If you’ve been considering having breast augmentation, you know you have many decisions to make beyond just the overall procedure. We covered many of those decisions in Dr. Frank’s December blog.

Of course, you’ll need to choose the type of implants you want. Most women think of choosing between saline and silicone implant options. But there really is another choice that is different enough to merit almost its own category, the gummy bear implant. Dr. Frank wants his patients to have as much information as possible, so here’s some information on these implants.

What is a gummy bear implant?

Gummy bear implants are relatively new to the Canadian market, but they’ve been used in the U.S. and Europe for nearly 20 years. After years of use throughout the country, Health Canada finally approved the use of gummy bear implants in October 2006. These implants retain their shape, unlike other implant choices, because the gel is thicker than traditional silicone implants. In addition to “gummy bear implants” they are also known as cohesive, form-stable, or highly cohesive.

Cohesive silicone gel

There is some misunderstanding about what “cohesive gel” breast implants really are. In reality, all silicone implants sold today use a more “cohesive” silicone gel than implants from the 80s and early 90s. Only the most cohesive, i.e. thicker, are deemed to be “gummy bear implants.” To get an idea of the density, if a cohesive implant is cut in half, there is no gross movement of gel, and the implant maintains its shape.

Safety

Gummy bear implants have a lower rate of capsular contracture and rupture. Like traditional implants, gummy bear implants can rupture, although the gel tends to stay within the implant. Rippling is far less prevalent with cohesive implants than with traditional silicone implants, although this is usually related to how much tissue is atop the implant.

Are you considering breast augmentation? Call Dr. Frank at (403) 245-1228 to schedule a consultation and you can discuss whether gummy bear implants would be right for you.

Breast augmentation is a very popular cosmetic procedure in terms of numbers of procedures. But beyond that, it has one of the highest satisfaction ratings of any cosmetic procedure. If a woman has always felt dissatisfied with her breasts, whether that stems from size, asymmetry, or any other reason, augmentation surgery can really change her self-esteem and body image.

Deciding to move forward with breast augmentation is a big decision, but Dr. Frank reminds his patients that there will be other decisions to be made beyond the initial yes or no.

The choices can sometimes feel daunting — How do I know what to choose? — but Dr. Frank will provide information and help you with each decision.

Implant type

You’ll first choose your implant type: saline, silicone, or cohesive silicone. Each option has its own pluses and minuses.

Saline implants can be placed through a smaller incision, as they are filled once placed into the breast pocket. If they rupture, the body simply absorbs the saline water. Saline implants do have a higher incidence of wrinkling. Plus, if they rupture, you’ll still need replacement surgery to remove and replace the deflated shell.

Silicon implants have become more popular than saline. They are generally thought to feel the most like natural breast tissue. However, if they rupture, the silicone needs to be removed. Most of today’s silicone gels are far more cohesive, however, and stay in or near the implant shell.

Cohesive silicone implants (commonly known as gummy bear implants) are a new addition to the implant options. They are filled with thicker gel, hence the gummy bear name.

Implant size and shape

Beyond the type of implant, you’ll need to decide on the size and the shape of your implants. Some patients believe they will select their implant size based on the same sizing system used with bras. That’s not the case. Implants are sized based on the amount of the substance filling the implant. For instance, implants may be 350 ccs. That is cubic centimeters. The most popular sizes are generally between 330 and 400 ccs.

You’ll also need to choose projection. As an example, these are the five styles available with the Allergan Natrelle Inspira breast implant line:

• Smooth Round Low Profile (widest base/lowest projection)
• Smooth Round Low Plus Profile
• Smooth Round Medium Profile
• Smooth Round Full Profile
• Smooth Round Extra-Full Profile (narrowest base/highest projection)

All manufacturers have similar options. Currently, the two most popular styles with these Allergan implants are Full Profile first and Medium Profile second.

There are other choices you’ll make, such as do you want to place your implants atop or beneath the pectoral muscle? Again, Dr. Frank will help you with all of these so that come the day of your surgery, you’ll be calm and excited for your new figure.

Do you have questions about breast augmentation? Would you like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Frank? Call us at (403) 245-1228 to make an appointment.

Breast augmentation is a popular procedure that we conduct to help our patients gain the confidence they wish to feel in their physical appearance. One attribute that is shared among a good number of women who seek this procedure is a desire to stay physically fit. Breast augmentation gives them the complementary curves that top off their beauty goals. When exercise is an important aspect of a woman’s life, she may find it challenging to allow herself full recover from her surgery. “When can I work out?” is one of the most common questions we hear as we prepare for this body-enhancing procedure.

The techniques employed in the placement of breast implants is so precise and gentle that most patients feel able to return to normal activities relatively quickly. This can be good, but it can also create confusion in the area of exercise. We submit that our patients do the following:

• Wait until the post-op follow up visit to even think about hitting the gym, or the yoga studio, or whatever form of exercise is preferred. We provide post-operative instructions for a reason, and one of the top details is to postpone exercise until cleared by Dr. Frank. Trust the timing of your return to exercise.
• Let your body be your guide. Once you are medically cleared for your return, pay close attention to what your body has to say about your workout routine. Give a little extra rest when needed. In fact, schedule that day off when you do nothing more than take a nice relaxing walk.
• Go easy on the upper body. Upper body exercises can stress the muscles in the chest and arms, those that have been disrupted in surgery. Resist the urge to reach for your former weight, and start your post-surgical workouts with lighter weights that are gentle on these muscles as they build up their strength.
• Get support. In the first few days after breast augmentation, you may have relied on a few close friends or family members to help you. Now, your biggest support is a good sports bra. This is necessary regardless of the type of exercise you do, even yoga can put strain on recuperating muscles and tissues.

Is breast augmentation something you have always wanted to do? Learn more about this procedure by calling our Calgary office at (403) 245-1228.