Breast Augmentation or Augmentation Mammoplasty
It may be argued that fashion is fickle but many women have coveted bigger breasts for centuries. The first surgical breast augmentation was performed in 1890 using paraffin injections. In 1920 this technique was abandoned in favor of fat transplants. Fatty tissue was surgically removed from the abdomen and buttocks and transferred into the breasts. In the 1950’s polyvinyl “sacs” were frequently used to achieve fuller, more projected breasts. Although invented in the early 1960’s, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that the silicone implant, as we know it, really began to take off. Today, the most commonly used implants have a silicone shell but are filled with a salt-water solution known as saline.
Motivations vary but the main reasons a woman has breast augmentation are that she feels her breasts are too small, she has uneven breasts or she wants to regain the size and shape of her breasts after experiencing significant weight loss or pregnancy.
Breast Augmentation, clinically referred to as Augmentation Mammoplasty, is, traditionally and currently, the third most popular cosmetic surgery procedure performed in the United States – the most popular cosmetic procedures, in order, include nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) and liposuction. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 250,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed in 2003 within the United States. Moreover, the number of breast augmentation procedures conducted in the U.S. has increased by more than 20% over the past four years.
With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, including breast augmentation, it is imperative that the prospective patient research and understand various issues such as what the procedure can and cannot treat, inherent risks, costs, etc. Keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is just that – a surgical procedure of which the results cannot simply be erased. While the information contained in this website will provide you with a good introduction to breast augmentation, when considering this cosmetic surgery procedure, or any other cosmetic surgery procedure for that matter, we recommend that you consult a qualified provider with significant experience in breast augmentation surgery.