Plastic surgeons see many women who are interested in getting breast implants but are planning on getting pregnant at some point in the future. Some of these women are concerned that the implants will affect their pregnancy or ability to breastfeed. Others worry that the pregnancy will cause cosmetic changes to the breasts and that they will need to have a revision procedure done following pregnancy and childbirth. Here is the truth about breast implants and pregnancy.
Can Women With Implants Breastfeed?
The incisions that are created during breast augmentation surgery do not affect milk ducts or a woman’s ability to breastfeed in the future. As long as you choose a qualified, experienced surgeon, breastfeeding should not be a problem in the future.
Can Breast Implants Adversely Affect Pregnancy?
The materials used in breast implants do not pose a health risk to women, whether they are pregnant or not. These materials have undergone rigorous testing to ensure that they are safe, and have been FDA approved for use in adults.
Will Pregnancy Affect the Appearance of the Breasts?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding may have an affect on the way your breasts look; however, every woman is different. Some women may gain or lose volume in the breasts following pregnancy, while others will regain their former shape.
The end of winter and beginning of spring signal the time of year that many people decide it is time to get in shape for summer by regularly hitting the gym and eating a healthier diet.
While it is important that everyone follow a good diet and exercise routine to maintain overall health and prevent future medical problems, there are some cosmetic flaws that diet and exercise cannot fix. These patients may choose to undergo cosmetic surgery in the months before summer to get their bodies bikini-ready.
Breast Augmentation
One of the most popular procedures plastic surgeons perform on patients is breast augmentation. Many women are not genetically blessed with naturally full breasts that fill out their bikini tops, bras, and other clothes. Breast implants come in various volumes so women can select the size that will suit their body types and aesthetic goals.
Tummy Tuck
Women who have been pregnant and lost a significant amount of weight may have accumulated excess skin in the abdominal area. This extra skin can be removed and the remaining skin tightened. The tummy tuck produces a more contoured stomach and gives women the confidence to wear a bathing suit.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has released its annual report on the number of plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States in 2009.
Not surprisingly, the number of plastic surgery procedures performed last year has decreased. Still, the widespread popularity of cosmetic surgery and non-invasive aesthetic procedures is evident as millions of patients did undergo treatment despite the poor economy.
Plastic Surgery Statistics in the Past 12 Years
1997: 2,099,173
1998: 2,772,924
1999: 4,606,954
2000: 5,741,154
2001: 8,470,363
2002: 6,889,531
2003: 8,251,994
2004: 11,855,013
2005: 11,428,750
2006: 11,456,768
2007: 11,701,031
2008: 10,258,557
2009: 9,993,771
The ASAPS report also includes general information about the patient, such as the gender of the person that underwent surgery.
Most Popular Procedures for Women
Breast augmentation: 311,957
Liposuction: 243,217
Eyelid surgery: 124, 939
Abdominoplasty: 123,041
Breast reduction: 113,511
Most Popular Procedures for Men
Liposuction: 40,519
Rhinoplasty: 32,661
Eyelid surgery: 25,004
Gynecomastia: 16,801
Hair transplantation: 13,064
For more plastic surgery statistics, visit the ASAPS website.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided guidelines regarding breast augmentation for patients and surgeons. These standards are in place to increase the safety and efficacy of these surgical procedures and ensure that they don’t negatively affect a patient’s health in the long term.
Age Restrictions
According to FDA guidelines, women should wait to undergo breast augmentation until they are at least 18 or 22 years of age, depending on the type of implants they wish to have placed. There are no minimum age requirements in place for women that undergo breast reconstruction.
Types of Breast Implants
Saline implants made by Allergan and Mentor were approved by the FDA for use in women 18 years and older in May of 2000. They are approved for use in breast reconstruction procedures for patients in all age groups.
Both companies’ silicone implants received FDA approval in November of 2006. Silicone implants are approved for women 22 years of age and older, and for breast reconstruction patients of all ages.
Stop Taking Certain Medications and Herbs
Certain medications and herbal products should not be taken for at least two weeks before your breast augmentation surgery date. These products include:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Aspirin
- Birth control pills
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Estrogen
- Garlic supplements
- St. John’s Wort
- Green tea
- Vitamin E
Be sure to discuss any medications you are taking with your surgeon before surgery.
Smoking
If you smoke cigarettes, you must quit at least two to four weeks before surgery.
Arrange Time Off of Work
You will want to schedule at least one week off of work so you have time to rest after your breast augmentation surgery.
Take Care of Necessary Tasks
In the days prior to your surgery date, you should pay your bills, complete any housework or laundry that needs to be done, go grocery shopping, and fill your prescriptions so you don’t have to worry about these tasks during your recovery.
Alcohol
Refrain from drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours before surgery.
Arrange a Ride Home after Surgery
You will be unable to drive in the days following your surgery, so be sure to have a family member or friend drive you home from surgery and available to help you during your recovery period.
Food and Drink
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night of your surgery.
The Day of Surgery
On the day of your surgery, please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Do not wear contact lenses or jewelry.
People of almost all ages undergo cosmetic surgery – from the child that undergoes otoplasty or cleft chin repair, to the teenager that gets rhinoplasty, to the adult that undergoes eyelid surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons collects plastic surgery data from surgeons throughout the United States and has provided the age distribution of plastic surgery patients in 2008.
13-19 years: 5% (81,885 procedures)
Three most popular procedures:
- Rhinoplasty
- Breast reduction in men
- Breast augmentation
20-29 years: 16% (271,142 procedures)
Three most popular procedures:
- Breast augmentation
- Rhinoplasty
- Liposuction
30-39 years: 23% (390,967 procedures)
Three most popular procedures:
- Breast augmentation
- Liposuction
- Rhinoplasty
40-54 years: 33% (553,242 procedures)
Three most popular procedures:
- Liposuction
- Eyelid surgery
- Breast augmentation
55+ years: 22% (371,790)
Three most popular procedures:
- Eyelid surgery
- Facelift
- Dermabrasion
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in four out five of the age groups included in the study, while rhinoplasty and liposuction are popular in three out of five categories.
Since the FDA approved silicone breast implants for use in breast augmentation patients in 2006, many women have decided to have their saline implants replaced with silicone implants.
Although silicone implants come pre-filled and are generally more expensive than saline implants, they look and feel more natural, making them popular among women who choose to undergo enlargement surgery.
Women who choose to have their saline implants replaced with silicone implants can usually expect a shorter surgical time and recovery period than they experienced during the initial augmentation procedure. During the first breast augmentation surgery, the surgeon must create a pocket for the implant; when the implant is replaced, there is already space to accommodate the new implant. In many cases, the patient can recovery from surgery and return to work within a few days.
During implant revision surgery, changes can also be made to the size of the implant. Dallas plastic surgeon Mark Deuber is experienced in performing breast implant replacement surgery, contact our practice today to schedule a cosmetic surgery consultation at our practice.
When patients make the decision to undergo plastic surgery, many realize that combination procedures are more likely to help them achieve their aesthetic goals. In these cases, men and women can usually undergo two procedures in the same appointment to reduce recovery time.
Breast Augmentation and Lift
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular procedures performed by plastic surgeons. The procedure is designed to enlarge the breasts with placement of implants. While the procedure can provide some extra lift to the breasts, it is not enough to correct severe sagging. Women who have breast ptosis may also be interested in undergoing the lift procedure so the surgeon can get the breasts in a more youthful looking position.
Breast Augmentation and Tummy Tuck
Some women who undergo breast enlargement surgery need a lift in the abdomen area instead of the breast area. These women may be interested in the abdominoplasty procedure, which is designed to remove areas of excess skin in the stomach area.
Breast Augmentation and Liposuction
Liposuction is another treatment that is commonly performed with breast augmentation. During liposuction, the surgeon can suction fat out of problems areas such as the abdomen, hips, or arms.
With more than 85,000 applications available for the iPhone it’s no big surprise that two plastic surgery apps are being introduced to the market within a month of each other.
The Shafer Plastic Surgery App was the first plastic surgery app made available to consumers just last month for $2.99. It is connected to a database of more than 1,000 frequently asked questions about specific plastic surgery procedures. It is intended to educated potential plastic surgery patients about the procedures in which they are interested.
The iSurgeon app launches this month and includes features that allow users to play the surgeon on images of themselves or others. Those who have the app can adjust the appearance of breasts, noses, lips, and other areas of the face and body. Whether you want to enlarge or reduce certain body parts, or make other improvements, the iSurgeon app can help you visualize what you would look like after plastic surgery.
In a study published in early September in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at Stanford University found that they could make stem cells out of liposuction fat two times faster and with 20 times the efficiency than they could previously.
Stem cells are unique because they have the ability to become any tissue in the body. This means that if a patient is suffering from organ failure, a person’s stem cells could potentially be used to grow a new, healthy organ. Stem cells could also be used to replaced damaged cartilage in patients who suffer from arthritis. The possibilities for stem cells are seemingly endless.
The development of stem cell research could also have a major effect on the plastic surgery industry. According to experts, stems cells could be used to allow women to grown their own natural breasts, fill in facial wrinkles, and to replace tissue lost after mastectomy.
Stem Cells and Breast Augmentation
Because stem cells can be used to grow new fatty tissue, researchers believe that fat extracted from the stomach can be made into stem cells, which are then injected into the patient’s breasts. Over the next several months, the breasts grow to the desired size and strength.
Stem Cells and Facial Rejuvenation
The wrinkle treatment is similar to the breast augmentation process, in that fat is removed from the abdominal area, made into stem cells, then injected into the target areas. After the stem cell solution is injected into facial lines, it is theorized that the new tissue will aid in facial rejuvenation and improve skin texture.