By Joanne Elliott

Increasingly, the fashion of the time dictates that breast implants are both more socially acceptable and popular than ever before. As it stands, over two million women have breast implants, and the figures are rising every day.

In general, the surgery is performed with a local anesthetic, plus sedation, and takes less than one hour to conduct. It is claimed that most woman are back to near ‘normal’ activity in four to six days, although upper body exercise is usually deferred for two to three weeks thereafter. The implants are usually expected to have a lifespan of ten years, but sometimes they can last for longer.

What are breast implants?

Breast implants are made from an outer layer of silicone, generally filled with silicone gel or salt water. The substance silicone is used in many items, including cosmetics and food. Whilst there is no evidence to suggest that silicone implants have negative implications for autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis or breast cancer, the long term implications are yet to be firmly researched. One confirmed factor to consider though, is that breast implants can interfere with mammography, where the breast is x-ray screened for traces of cancer cells.

How do breast implants work?

Some implants are round shaped, and others are more natural ‘pear’ shapes. Breasts can be made larger by placing an implant either under the muscle which the breast lies upon, or under the existing breast tissue itself. They can be inserted in several ways - either through incisions in the inframammary fold (the ‘crease’ below the breast), around the areola (nipple), or within the armpit. A scar is always left where the incision has been made, although it is claimed to be minimal, especially after about a year.

What will an implant look like?

Regarding the physical appearance of silicone implants, it is important to remember that nature will always play its part. It is entirely normal for a woman’s breasts to be of slightly different in both sizing and shape. A breast implant will most likely accentuate this natural eccentricity of the physical form; and this phenomenon is fairly unpredictable within itself. In addition, the difference in skin/ nipple sensitivity may also be affected to the detriment.

Potential problems

Complications of breast implant surgery initially include bleeding problems and infection. The possible infections will require the use of antibiotics, or in extreme cases, the removal of the entire breast implant itself. Worse yet, “Capsular contracture’ is the most common problem with breast implants, when the body produces an inordinate amount of scar tissue around the alien body. This will mean both pain and the abnormally hard feel of the breast implant. The correction of this problem generally involves the removal of the implant and scar tissue, and then putting the implant back in again. In some terrible cases, however, the problem can return and this can lead to yet more additional painful surgery.

At the risk of being opinionated, just don’t bother. If a woman had been meant to have personal life buoys, they’d have been given water wings. Just ask any man who’s worth his salt. False ain’t good, baby! Surgery is not the way forward - self acceptance on the road to happiness is ...