Cosmetic surgery breast implants are enhancements used for aesthetic or reconstructive purposes as a means to building or enlarging a woman's breast. Implants are constructed from a flexible, moldable rubber (elastomer) shell filled with a saline (salt water) solution. Since the late 1800's implants have been used to enhance the breasts of women. History suggests that the first use of silicone based breast-implants may have been used by women in Japan as early as the mid 1940's. These women worked as prostitutes and injected the implant material directly into their breasts to enhance size. In the early 1960's the first implant took place. The implant was made of a rubber silicone shell and and filled with a silicone gel.
Cosmetic surgery breast enlargements are typically placed behind breast material or behind the wall of perctoral muscles of the chest. Determination of where the implant will be placed is concluded by the cosmetic implant surgeon after consulting with the patient about desired look and after examination of the breast and surrounding area to determine how much tissue and breast material there is. Placement of an implant has great influence on the look of the breast, as does the shape of the implant used.
Plastic surgery breast implants are round or contoured. Round implants are said to provide fuller breasts that appear firmer and have lift, and are generally used as aesthetic enhancements. Contoured implants have a tear shaped appearance and are made to resemble the actual appearance of a breast.
This type of breast implant was originally intended for breast reconstruction, is sometimes used as an enhancement, but is typically used for reconstruction after traumatic injury or breast cancer surgery. For reconstructive surgery, contoured implants would be placed under the pectoral muscle. Some (not all) women need to go through a tissue expansion process before an implant is placed for reconstructive surgery, to ensure the body can accommodate the implant. This is done by the physician placing an expander under the muscle and filling it with salt water weekly for a few months until the skin is sufficiently stretched. Then the implant may be placed into the designated area.
Another type of reconstructive implant is called the flap reconstruction. With this type of reconstruction the tissue form the patient is used to reconstruct the breast. A saline implant is sometimes used for this reconstructive process, accompanied by tissues taken from the back, abdomen or buttocks.
Breast implant surgery with no complications may take as less than 3 hours to perform and one day in the hospital. The cost of implants may vary, with a typical approximation being 1,500 to 4,000. Some breast reconstructive techniques using the patient's own tissue require hospital stays of up to 5 days, with surgical procedures taking up to 5 hours. Medical insurance covers reconstructive surgery after mastectomy if they cover the mastectomy procedure itself.
