The duration of improvement is variable, and implants may have to be removed or replaced in a number of years. Women considering breast augmentation should be aware that special techniques are necessary to get a reliable mammogram of a breast with an implant, and experienced technicians are not available at all mammography facilities. Ultrasound examinations may help to detect breast lumps or evaluate the status of an implant. Because of safety concerns, silicone gel-filled implants have been withdrawn from general use pending further research. Patients contemplating implants may want to discuss current silicone research with the surgeon at the time of surgery.
Breast lift combined with implant surgery can enlarge as well as firm sagging breasts.
The technique involves removing excess skin and repositioning the breast tissue and nipples. Women with small, sagging breasts are the best candidates for breast lift. Breasts of any size can be lifted, but results in larger, heavier breasts are less enduring. The procedure takes from one to three hours, and it is usually performed in an outpatient setting, but a one to two day inpatient stay is not uncommon. The patient may receive a general anesthetic or local anesthetic with sedation.