YOUR LOOK
By Dr. Ronald Bergman
Prepping for next Spring’s com- petitions is now in full swing. A question I am asked every year is: “Are breast implants for me?” Picking out the perfect dress and having it not quite fit on top while looking at last year’s pageant photos, wondering if more fullness would have helped in the swimsuit competition. These are common concerns, especially considering that when most women lose weight or begin an intense toning-up regimen for a pageant, they often lose volume in their breasts. This situation leaves my patients with questions and sometimes only a small window of opportunity.
are several subtypes. They
vary in size based on volume
(how many milliliters), al-
though that does not relate
to cup size, but rather to the
amount of volume being
added to existing breast tis-
sue. The different sizes come in different
profiles (width and height) and shell tex-
tures (smooth or textured). So many choic-
es make it very important to discuss with
your plastic surgeon what options would
work best for your lifestyle and natural
canvas. Saline is approved for cosmetic use
in patients over the age of 18, whereas sil-
icone is not approved until age 22. Both
implants are approved for patients of any
age for the purpose of reconstruction.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Think about all your alternative options before undergoing surgery and carefully weigh the benefits versus the consequences.
and the mild swelling that can happen after surgery, I recommend trying to plan for at least three months between your surgery and the big event to provide adequate time for healing.
My caveat to all surgical procedures is that prior to considering a permanent change to your body, it is important to explore all non-surgical options first. Local lingerie stores are often able to provide several options, including bras and adhesive silicone products.
Breast augmentation is the name given to the surgical procedure that involves placing an implant either on top of or below the chest muscle (pectoralis major muscle) for the purpose of increasing breast volume. This is done by your plastic surgeon for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes.
There are two major types of shell implants: saline or silicone. From here, there
The risks of your particular procedure should be discussed between you and your surgeon. Risks specific to breast implant surgery include: the need for further surgery, capsular contracture (hardening of the implant), changes in nipple sensation and implant rupture, which is a very low risk. Implants do not last forever, as most patients need additional surgery at some point in their lifetime. If you decide to have your implants taken out, the changes to your breasts cannot be undone. If you have implants on top of the chest muscle or implanted around the nipple area, breast tissue can be affected and decrease your ability to breast-feed. Mammograms to screen for breast cancer can be more difficult with implants. Because of these risks
This is never a question I can answer for anyone else. I can provide all of the information to make an informed decision, but breast augmentation, like any elective procedure, is an individual choice. I warn patients not to have unrealistic expectations and to make sure that this is something you really want to do for you. That being said, most women make the decision to get implants after a long, well-thought out process and truly enjoy their new figure.
More information is always available through our office as well as the FDA web site at www.FDA.gov/medicaldevices. □
Dr. Ronald Bergman is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Des Moines, Iowa, for 28 years. He specializes in breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tucks. His patients include many local, national, and international pageant winners. Dr. Bergman is also a highly qualified pageant judge. His web site is bergmancosmeticsurgery.com.
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