These are some very serious considerations for a woman who is thinking about having this cosmetic procedure, and should be discussed thoroughly with the plastic surgeon prior to any decisions being made.

There are several methods of breast implantation available to women today, and I'm sure even as we speak there are more being tested! First, we'll talk about the method of entry for the implant device. When this surgery first became popular, the method of choice was an incision in the "breast fold" between the rib cage and where the breast tissue rests. After that, the underarm incision method became popular, since the incision could be made to be less noticeable in this area.

Nowadays, many women are opting for navel, or belly button incisions (trans-umbilical implants), as well as entry through the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple). The belly button method seems to be gaining popularity, and the areola is a close second. The obvious drawback for the underarm implant entry is the visibility of the scar. It has also been argued that insertion of the implant through the belly button may make "implant migration" occur more easily, but that is debatable. Some women who have had areolar implant incisions complain they have lost sensitivity in the nipple area, or have a constant numbness or tingling sensation.

Another important decision has to do with the placement of the implant in the women's breast. The two choices here are behind the muscle and over the muscle, the "muscle" being that of the pectoralis in the chest cavity.

Over the muscle implant operations tend to cost less as they are somewhat less invasive and take less operating time, but this method tends to result in more cases of ruptured implants, since the implant is less protected without the muscle's protective encasement. The other drawbacks to over the muscle implants are the possibility for difficulty in breast feeding, and mammograms that are tougher to decipher since the necessary tissue for analysis is obscured by the implant. Also, over the muscle implants tend to look much more artificial than the other, which is a big reason most women do not choose this method of breast augmentation.

Regardless of the methods you choose for the operation, you must be aware that there are several risks involved that may not even be immediately apparent, but can appear over the next several years after you have the surgery. These include capsular contracture (shrinking of the scar tissue surrounding the implants resulting in painful hardening of the implant), implant rupture, implant migration, hardening of the implant, the "ripple" effect, and more less-known complications that are not as common.

As long as you pick an excellent, board certified, and very reputable surgeon, you can at least know that you are in the most capable hands. You should also know that there are some great natural methods to breast augmentation that are totally effective, and safe. Do your homework, and really consider how you want to look and feel before you make any decisions. After all, breast augmentation surgery is a very serious decision !