Is Bigger Boobs better or a booby trap ?
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Question : Is bigger better or a booby trap?
Rebekah KendalThu, 19 Apr 2007
Let’s play a little game. I say Pamela Anderson; you say…? Over her illustrious career, Pammie has become famous, not for her thespian skills or lifesaving abilities, but for her ever-increasing bust. Almost a caricature, she may look like Barbie on oestrogen, but she is also proof that our society is obsessed with ‘bigger’ mammaries, albeit obviously fake ones.
This trend, initially viewed with a certain degree of tight-lipped disdain by those who live in the real world, has trickled down through the bronzed, manicured machine that is Hollywood and infiltrated suburbia with a vengeance.
No longer seen as the domain of the rich, famous or chronologically challenged, cosmetic surgery has reached unprecedented levels of acceptability in middle to upper class South African society — and the most popular of procedure is breast augmentation.
Yip, for a mere R25 000 (or so), you too can get a pair of perky prosthetics. But before you spend your life savings (medical aid won’t pay) or accept that birthday/anniversary gift, it is perhaps a good idea to examine how much it is actually going to cost you and then you can decide whether you are willing to make the necessary compromises.
Not everyone is a good candidate
There are many motivations for breast augmentation, however not everyone is a good candidate for the surgery. Cape Town plastic surgeon Dr Paul Skoll says that he will not perform the operation on anyone who is unfit either medically or psychologically. This includes anyone with a serious medical illness, a blood thinning disorder or a psychological disorder such as body dysmorphic disorder.
Furthermore, Dr Skoll advises against anyone who is young and still growing having the surgery. While medical and psychological disorders are obvious barriers to surgery, Dr Skoll suggests that he would also be unwilling to operate on anyone with unrealistic expectations.
He meets with each patient at least two or three times before surgery and assesses whether or not they are ready for the operation. Breast augmentation is not a quick fix – it (alone) won’t fix a low self-esteem or make you happy. Those looking for improvement rather than perfection are more likely candidates. Those who pin too much on the outcome of the surgery are likely to become depressed after the surgery.
“There is an old adage in plastic surgery,” says Dr Skoll, “If you refuse a patient surgery, they will be cross with you for 20 minutes; if you do inappropriate surgery they will be cross with you for 20 years.”
What exactly does the op involve?
So what exactly does the operation involve? It normally takes between one and two hours and, barring any complications, you will be able to go home on the same day. For the first few days you will feel moderate to intense pain, however, within two weeks you should be back at work and after a month you should be able to exercise again.
“I always say that breast augmentation is an operation of choices,” says Cape Town based plastic surgeon Dr Dirk Lazarus.
“The incision can be made in the crease under the breast, around the areola or in the armpit. The implant can be placed under the breast (on top of the muscle) or deeper, under the muscle. There are a variety of shapes, sizes, textures, fills, makes, profiles etc, and the correct choice of implant needs to be made.”
Silicone versus saline
In the early 1990s there was a silicone scare in America — there were theories that silicone implants caused Human Adjuvant disease and for a while it was banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, it later emerged that the theories were baseless and it was ‘exonerated’.
Silicone implants are regarded by many as superior to saline implants because they have a more natural feel and don’t slosh and leak.
Risks
Many patients go home delighted with their new breasts and experience very few problems. However, the operation is not without its risks.
Infection — this can sometimes be treated with antibiotics, but it may mean that the implant needs to be removed for several months.
Capsular contracture — this is one of the most common complications following breast augmentation. A thick scar develops around the implant, making the breast hard and, at times, painful. The risk of capsular contracture increases over time.
Sensory changes — can be temporary or permanent. The nipple may become oversensitive, under-sensitive or numb.
Implant rupture — this can happen under extreme pressure. In the case of saline implants, the implant will deflate within a few hours and the salt water will be reabsorbed by your body. In the case of silicone implants, the silicone gel may be contained by the scar around the implant or it may migrate to other parts of your body. In either case, you will require an operation to replace the broken implant.
On the positive side, there is no evidence that breast augmentation either increases your risk of contracting breast cancer or delays diagnosis.
There is also no evidence that the implants will affect fertility, pregnancy or even the ability to breastfeed, as the implants are placed behind the breast.
Don’t expect perfect breasts
It is important to remember that breast augmentation will not ensure that you have perfect breasts for the rest of your life. If you have your breasts enhanced when you are relatively young (as seems to be the trend), your breasts will still droop with age and the weight of the implants will only add to this.
Depending on your original size and the size of the implants, there are also instances where the implants will be obvious — either visually or to the touch.
Furthermore, don’t expect your breasts to look like the perky pair you saw in a magazine. The doctor can only work with what you have. According to Dr Skoll, the biggest determinant of the result is what you start off with.
So, there you have it — the bare facts revealed. If you are still keen to have your breasts enhanced — and it has nothing to do with your boyfriend, your agent or the fact that all your friends are getting it done — then perhaps it is time you started saving those pennies.About the Author
Rebekah Kendal writes for http://lifestyle.iafrica.com
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