Breast Implants (Boob Job)

What are Breast Implants?

Breast implant, also referred to colloquially as a “boob job”,  is a type of breast augmentation. As the name suggests, the procedure entails the insertion of an implant under the skin to enhance the size of the breasts and give a more esthetically pleasing shape. It is essentially a cosmetic enlargement of the breasts. 

During a breast implant surgery, your surgeon will start by making an incision in an imperceptible area either in the armpit, in the folds underneath the breast or around the areola. 

Keep in mind that a breast implant is not considered a permanent device and may require future operations 

Who is a candidate for Breast Implants?

• As reconstructive surgery after Mastectomy for breast cancer patients
• Breasts deemed too small
• People with congenital defects
• People who lost volume after pregnancy or weight loss 
• People physically and psychologically mature to make such decisions (minimum varies between the age of 18 and 22 depending on the country and the type of implant to be used. 

Types of breast implants:

          There are two main types of breast implant common nowadays, Saline and Silicone:

• Saline: is a plastic shell filled with sterile salt water. The main advantage of Saline is that in the event of the rupture the salt water solution can dissolve by itself inside the body without causing any threat to the patient.

• Silicone: is a plastic shell filled silicone, a plastic gel. The main advantage of silicone implants is that it feels more like natural breast tissue. However, on the flip side the risk of it rupturing inside the body may cause serious complications. 

Both types of implants can come in textured or smooth implants. Textured implants are designed to stick in the pocket inside the breast tissue created by your surgeon. Whereas smooth implants are softer and are designed to move. 

All types of implants can come in different sizes so it’s up to the patient with the advice of the surgeon to decide which suits them best. 

Recovery:

• It can either be an outpatient procedure or may require hospitalization 
• It takes several weeks for the swelling to subside and for incision lines to fade
• Many surgeons will have their patients wear a sports bra to aid with the healing process
• After one week the patient starts to get back to their normal routine
• Most surgeons believe that you need six weeks for a full recovery.