BREASTIMPLANTS
A breast implant is a
prosthesis used to enlarge the size of a woman's breasts (known as
breast augmentation) for cosmetic reasons, to reconstruct the
breast (e.g. after a mastectomy or to correct genetic deformities), or
as an aspect of male-to-female sex reassignment surgery.
According to the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the third most
commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States.
In 2005, 291,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed.
There are two primary types of breast implants: saline filled
and silicone gel filled implants. Saline implants have a silicone
elastomer shell filled with sterile saline liquid. Silicone gel
implants have a silicone shell filled with a viscous silicone gel. |
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MIAMI -- A woman who went to a man
posing as a Miami Beach plastic surgeon for breast implant surgery
and was left disfigured was awarded a $4.6 million settlement.
Patients seeking breast augmentation are usually younger,
healthier, and from higher socio-economic status than the population
at large. Many of these patients have greater distress about their
appearance in a variety of situations, and have endured more frequent
teasing about their appearance.
Studies have identified a pattern
(shared by many cosmetic surgery procedures) that suggest women who
undergo breast implantation are slightly more likely to have undergone
psychotherapy, have low levels of self-esteem, and have higher
prevalences of depression, suicide attempts and mental illness as
compared to the general population.
Post-operative surveys on mental
health and quality of life issues have shown improvement on a number
of dimensions including: physical health, physical appearance, social
life and self confidence. The large majority of patients reports being
satisfied long-term with their implants even when they have required
reoperation for complications or aesthetic reasons.
Local complications that can occur with breast implants include
post-operative bleeding (hematoma), fluid collections (seroma),
surgical site infection, breast pain, alterations in nipple sensation,
interference with breast feeding, visible wrinkling, asymmetric
appearance, wound dehiscence (with potential implant exposure),
thinning of the breast tissue, and synmastia (disruption of the
natural plane between breasts).
The most common reasons cited for reoperation after breast
augmentation are capsular contracture and dissatisfaction with
size or appearance. |