Small Breasts
Small Breasts: Options for Breast Augmentation
If you are one of the millions of women who are unsatisfied with your small breasts it is very likely that you are already aware of the possibility of breast augmentation to address this issue. If you are considering a breast augmentation you should research the available procedures as thoroughly as possible and then speak to a doctor who can help you determine which augmentation procedure, if any, is right for you. The goal of choosing the correct technique is both to minimize the scarring and to achieve the desired result. The most common method of small breast augmentation is by means of an incision made on the lower portion of the breast, just slightly away from the natural crease where the breast meets the chest. This is so that any scar will still be covered, even by a small bathing suit. This technique is called an inframammary augmentation.
Another common point for incision is at the junction of the areola, which is where the colored skin around the nipple comes into contact with the surrounding skin. This type of technique for small breast augmentation is known as a periareolar augmentation, and you can expect the incision to be a part circle that stretches a little less than half the distance around the lower part of the areola.
In other cases of small breast augmentation a transaxillary or axillary incision can also be made in armpit. When this type of breast augmentation is performed the doctor will usually use an endoscope. An endoscope is a surgical instrument that uses fiber optics to allow the doctor to see inside the incision to aid in the placement of an implant. There is another method where the implant is inserted through an incision in the belly button. This is less commonly employed as it is a more complicated surgery.
Breast augmentation does involve surgery and as such you should carefully consider your options before electing to undergo one. If you are concerned about safety you should know that every year in the United States alone thousands of women undergo breast augmentation surgery and experience no major complications. This does not mean that breast augmentation is not without risks. Occasionally infections occur, or incisions fail to heal properly and implants have to be removed. However in a recent study of women ten years after their implants showed that nearly 96 percent of women with saline-filled breast implants would have decided to make the same choice again. This study was performed at the University of Minnesota in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
You will need to consider that many of the changes to the breast that occur following a breast augmentation are considered irreversible. If it becomes necessary or if a woman who has undergone breast augmentation elects to have the implants removed, there may be dimpling, puckering or wrinkling of the skin of the breasts. Breast augmentation involving implants may also affect the ability to produce milk for breast feeding.
