Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

In at least one respect, plastic surgery’s like any other endeavor in life: The more you prepare for it, the better it’ll go. So, once your surgery’s scheduled, here’s a timeline to help you do just that.

Two weeks before surgery

Two weeks out, read up on your procedure. You probably did a lot of Googling ahead of your initial consultation, and that’s great, but don’t stop there. The premise is pretty simple here: The more you know about something, the less intimidating it becomes.

Don’t worry about trying to understand the medical jargon. Instead, look for descriptions of the surgery and the recovery so that you can start to form expectations for each. Read former patient reviews, and ask your surgeon if they can put you in touch with some former patients. Try to answer questions like these:

• Bruising and swelling are natural, but how long will they last?
• How intense will the discomfort be following the surgery?
• What’s involved in dressing your incisions?
• How long until you’re back to your normal lifestyle?

Those questions are bound to lead to others. Don’t be shy about asking your surgeon. It’s in their best interest to help you feel as comfortable as they can going into your surgery. In the same vein, don’t hesitate to share any concerns, either. You may feel like you’re overreacting, but, remember, your surgeon’s done this procedure hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Which means they’ve likely heard your concerns before.

You’ll also want to begin getting both your home and body in order. Coming back to a clean home is one less stressor. But it’s also a smart move because your mobility’s going to be very limited for at least the first couple of days. So, stock up on food and any necessary supplies, including any pain medications prescribed by your surgeon.

If you drink or smoke, abstain until you’re through your recovery. Both can significantly hinder the healing process. Your surgeon may also recommend that you stop taking certain supplements and medications, including aspirin and ibuprofen.

24 hours before surgery

If your procedure includes IV sedation or general anesthesia, the hospital will instruct you to not eat or drink anything after midnight.  If you have prescribed medications you take every day, you can take them with a small sip of water the morning of your surgery.

Also, someone will need to drive you to and from the hospital and, ideally, to look after you for the first day or two after the surgery. You’re mostly going to want to sleep, but you may need some help getting to and from the bathroom and making something to eat.

After your surgery

After the surgery is where your preparation’s going to play its most critical role. When you’re able to prepare yourself for pain and discomfort, you’ll usually find that they’re less than what you expected.

The same goes for your appearance immediately following the procedure. That preparation’s going to help you avoid being judgmental. Before your surgery, you’ll probably scroll through hundreds of before-and-after photos. But they only tell part of the story. You don’t see the bruising and swelling that took place in between.

That’s why, if you have the opportunity, you should talk to other patients who’ve gone through your procedure. They’ll be able to give you a more specific depiction of the recovery. Knowing what to expect will enable you to be easier on yourself. You’ll understand that it’s only temporary, and as long as you take the time to heal, you’ll be back to your normal self, or even better, before long.

More than 300,000 breast augmentations were done in the United States in 2017, making it the most widely-performed cosmetic surgical procedure. That popularity stems from its value on several fronts.

Breast augmentation—an implant is placed behind the breast and/or the chest muscle—can increase the volume of the breast in naturally small-breasted women, replace the volume that was lost after breastfeeding or major weight loss, change the shape of the breasts, and create better symmetry.

In turn, much of the consideration tends to center less on whether to undergo the procedure or not and more on what type of implant to use. So, today I’ll explore some of the key differences between silicone gel and saline breast implants.

But first, a quick overview

Both types of implants have a shell made out of silicone, the surface of which can be either smooth or textured. The smooth implants mimic the movement of a natural breast, rolling around subtly in the breast pocket, while the texture implants remain in one place, more or less.

That’s not the only nuance to be aware of. For a long time, if I was to say breast implant, the image that would likely come to mind for most is a slow-motion running scene from an episode of “Baywatch.” In other words, large, prominent, and, essentially, one-size-fits-all.

But the breast implant has evolved quite a bit since then. Today, they come in a variety of base widths, projection amounts, and fill volumes. The goal now, instead of a dramatic jump in breast size, is to match the implant with the space and create an improved, though natural-looking, appearance.

Silicone vs. saline

The main differences between silicone gel and saline breast implants involve a few key aspects. For one, saline implants can be filled and adjusted during surgery, which allows the surgeon some discretion to adjust for symmetry. Silicone implants are pre-filled and require larger incisions as a result. Saline implants, because they’re unfilled, can be inserted through tiny incisions underneath the breast, around the areola, or through the underarm.

Saline implants tend to look round, especially in thin women with modest breast tissue, while silicone implants have a more natural look and feel that’s closer to soft breast tissue. (Many women liken the feel of saline implants to a water balloon.)

Saline implants are significantly heavier than silicone, which makes them much more prone to downward displacement because of gravity. Silicone implants also have less of a chance of visible wrinkling or rippling, which makes them a more appropriate choice for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.

And, not to be glossed over, saline implants are slightly less expensive than silicone.

But are they safe?

In spite of its obvious benefits, silicone gel implants remain stigmatized for many women. Negative media attention in the ‘80s and ‘90s fueled by claims of adverse associated health problems prompted the widespread removal and replacement of older silicone implants with saline ones that continues today.

Since then, extensive clinical research, driven by the FDA, has confirmed no association between silicone gel implants and any chronic immune disease. That said, when discussing the differences between silicone gel and saline breast implants, saline implants will likely continue to be viewed by many as the safer of the two choices.

When a saline implant ruptures, it happens quickly, so you’ll notice it immediately. Your breast will literally shrink before your eyes. Because it’s only saline, it absorbs harmlessly by your body.

A silicone implant-rupture, on the other hand, will probably go unnoticed. The gel, however, is designed to hold together inside the breast capsule and not migrate to other areas of the body. That’s one of the reasons that regular MRIs are recommended for women with silicone implants.

Thank you for reading “What’s the Difference Between Silicone Gel and Saline Breast Implants?” by Davis CPS. If you’d like more content, please click here.