Liposuction and Plastic Surgery Information - Top Cosmetic Surgical Procedure in the USA: Breast Implants

Top Cosmetic Surgical Procedure in the USA: Breast Implants

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Women are looking for ways to give a "boost" to their bodies, even during this economic crisis. Although there are cosmetic surgical procedures that have dropped in number, other surgeries have increased. Valley doctors are observing a trend that is said to be a sign of the times.

Alicia Pacheco, a 19 year old from Tulare, CA, shared that she is all set to modify her body and increase the size of her breast, after years of being the center of jokes from her friends. She said, "I got teased a lot in junior high and high school and it bothered me a lot." She is hoping to take up a career in the fashion industry, and she said that she wants to conform to those fashions herself. She stated, "Just do it for myself and not for anyone else." She studied her choices and finally settled on having silicone breast implants because implants have a tendency to give the most natural feel.

A finding recently reported by the American Society for Plastic Surgeons stated that breast enhancement is now the most-performed cosmetic surgery in the USA. In 2008, over 307,000 breast enhancements were carried out, which moved the liposuction surgery to the second spot.

Surgeons stated that the trend corresponds with the F.D.A.'s approval in 2006 of the use of silicone gel implants in a 10-year research that established them to be effective and safe in the aftermath of the health scare from the early part of the 1990s. Dr. Thomas Mitts, a plastic surgeon, said, "I've noticed that more and more women are asking about silicone versus the saline implants." He added that many women avoided silicone because of the thinking that, if the implant were to leak, saline is safer than silicone. However, he mentioned that technology has caused the new generation of breast implants to be safer than those in the past.

Dr. Mitts said that even his oldest patient, who is 84 years old, had no problems about the latest implants. He added, "She was robbing the cradle dating this 68 year old guy and wanted to look her best."

Dr. Hedieh Stefanacci, who is a plastic surgeon from Fresno, CA, has also observed the rise toward silicone use for young women and mommies who are seeking a makeover. She demonstrated why silicone has turned out to be safer. It is due to the fact that the actual material does not spill out of the implant. She said, "You can see the silicone comes out but what cohesive means is that all of those silicone particles are attached together, so as soon as I let go, even though I let go, the rest of the gel will contain the compromised portion."

However, most surgeons tell their patients of another important step. Dr. Mitts and Dr. Stefanacci, as well as other surgeons, inform their patients that their first breast enhancement surgical procedure will not be their last. The surgeons say that patients can anticipate another procedure in 10 to 15 years from their first one for health and cosmetic reasons. Both doctors also say that saline implants and surgical procedure cost about $5,400, whereas silicone is approximately $6,400. The doctors also mentioned that the second surgical procedure to remove or replace them is simpler and cheaper.

Implants made of saline will ultimately flatten and need to be changed. The F.D.A. also suggests another surgical procedure for silicone because that is usually the only way to inform if an implant has a tear. Surgeons state the bottom line, which is that today's innovations in the science of reshaping provide women with more options.

For Alicia, considering the dangers and the choices left her with high hopes that recent advancements in medicine can complete what nature left off.

Tags: breast augmentation, breast implants, cosmetic surgery, survey,