Breast augmentation, also called Augmentation mammoplasty, is the surgical procedure for increasing the size, correcting the shape, or enhancing the fullness of a woman’s breasts. It involves the placement of a saline, silicon, or a breast implant of an alternative composite, either under the breast tissue, or under the chest muscle.

Most women opt to get their breasts augmented to:

• Enlarge naturally small breasts

• Restore shape and size of the breasts after event like weight loss and pregnancy

• Restore asymmetrical breasts

• Restore breasts for women who have undergone surgeries for breast cancer, including removal of a part or the whole breast.

Having the desired or correct size of breasts has also been considered a factor for boosting a woman’s self esteem and confidence. Most women with smaller breasts opt to get their breasts augmented to a larger size, hoping it will make them look better and hence, increase their self confidence. Various researches show, that breast augmentation improves and induces in a woman, positive feelings about her sexuality and confidence.

Breast Implants

Breast augmentation is done using “devices” called implants. These are used to improve the aesthetics, augment, or reconstruct the breast, leading to the desired change in size, texture and shape of the woman’s breasts. There are 3 kinds of implants:

1. Saline implants: These pouches are filled with a sterile saline solution: Saline implants are less invasive than silicone gel implants. Also, on comparison, even though saline implants offer a more realistic texture and smoother hemisphere contour, they are also more likely to cause problems such as wrinkling, and rippling of the breast envelope skin. There are also higher chances of there being technical issues such as the implant’s presence being noticeable, by either touch or seeing.

2. Silicone implants: These are viscous silicone gel filled pouches: silicone implants have been improved upon since their first conception in the year 1961. The modern, fifth generation silicone implants are filled with semi solid gel, reduces chances of silicone leakage. Silicone gel implants are best suited for women with less breasts tissue, as compared to women with higher amount of breast tissue.

3. Alternative composition implants: these include fillers like soy oil or polypropylene string, but are not manufactured now.

Incision Types

The implant, whether saline or silicone, is placed using one of the 3 most common and preferred types of incisions:

1. Inframammary: This is the most preferred incision method for placing silicone implants due to the larger incision length required. It involves an incision below the breast, under the crease of the breast, or the infra-mammary fold.

2. Periareolar: This is an incision around the areola, or the pigmented area around the nipple. This type of incision is most preferred for breast lift surgeries as it provides optimal approach.

3. Transaxillary: This involves an incision in the armpit. This method has greater chances of inferior asymmetry, even though it does not leave scar on the breast. In most cases, surgical re-visitation is required.

For Honolulu based local information, you should visit the following website:

Honolulu Breast Augmentation