Breast Augmentation: What's the current standard?

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For many women, the process of deciding and going through with a breast augmentation is a mostly personal matter typically exclusive to the surgeon, the patient, and a few close friends and family. And why not? As with any medical issue, one usually prefers that it remain confidential. Yet, occasionally (especially with elective surgeries such as breast augmentation), it may be useful to know what other women making similar decisions are choosing. That's because deciding to have breast implants is not just one decision, it is in actuality a series of decisions. What size should I get? Where should the implant be placed? What type of implant? Should I go with round or shaped? Sure, any surgery is a personal choice, but with all the different choices and flavors out there, a few market benchmarks to help a women get her bearings may help the decision making go a little smoother. So what is the norm when it comes to breast augmentation?

In a study conducted by Reece, MD et al., members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, who routinely conduct breast augmentations were surveyed on the details of the breast implant procedures that they were conducting. These members were asked a series of questions on issues such as incision location, implant size and type, and common complications. Some results of the survey are presented as follows:

1) Most of the time (60% of cases) an anesthesiologist attended the procedure.
2) Average operation time ranged from 45-90 minutes.
3) Saline implant still beat out silicone (although silicone gel implants are back on the rise after it's reintroduction).
4) Smooth and round is the most common texture and shape.
5) Submuscular placement is the most common due to its history of final appearance.
6) 300 to 400 cc sized implants was the most common used in 80% of cases reported.
7) Most surgeons who chose silicone cited patient preference as the driving factor behind the choice.

References:

  • Edward M. Reece, MD, MS; Ashkan Ghavami, MD; Ronald E. Hoxworth, MD;
    Sergio A. Alvarez, MD; Daniel A. Hatef, MD; Spencer Brown, PhD; and Rod J. Rohrich, MD, "Primary Breast Augmentation Today: A Survey of Current Breast Augmentation Practice Patterns", Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 29, Number 2, March/April 2009

DisclaimerThis website is not to be used as a medical reference and therefore does not detail all possible risks and complications of any surgery. All readers are strongly advised to consult a physician, surgeon, or other medically capable and licensed practitioner before making any decision on whether or not to proceed with surgery. Details of specific physicians or surgeon practices and histories are not guaranteed to be complete nor up-to-date. For the most accurate information regarding a particular service provider, direct contact via telephone, fax, or email is recommended.

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