Breast Augmentation: Is the Size Right?

When breast augmentation gained popularity in the 80's and 90's, many women wanted oversized implants, “the bigger the better”. With these oversized implants popularized by media, the public’s perception was that ideal breasts were supposed to look large, taut and high.

Today, breast augmentation is more popular than ever. But unlike in the earlier years, patients are going back to a more natural look, with the aesthetic ideal for the female breast looking more natural in shape, soft, supple, and in proportion to the rest of a woman’s figure.

Many breast augmentation patients are women in their 30’s and 40’s (especially moms). Many mothers lose volume in their breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Breast augmentation restores a natural, more youthful breast contour. Even women who have not had children are choosing smaller implants for a more realistic look.

Patients considering breast augmentation should consider the advantage that smaller implants are much more likely to be soft, supple and even undetectable (by touching). With very large breast implants, this is not the case.

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The New Cohesive Gel Implants

Cohesive gel implants are silicone gel implants. But unlike their predecessors, the filler in cohesive gel implants has a higher amount of "crosslinker," resulting in a firmer, gummy-bear consistency that does not wrinkle or deflate like saline, nor leak as easily as the more fluid filler of earlier-generation silicone implants.

Dr. Mark Solomon, a plastic surgeon and a spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons described it by saying that even if you cut through it, the gel does not leak out.

The cohesive gel implant has a more stable shape, and works well when implanted above the pectoral muscle. This eases post-operative pain. However, because of the firmer shape, it is necessary to make a larger incision to insert the implant, which is most often made under the crease of the breast. Cohesive gel implants are not recommended for those seeking especially large implants.

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Rhinoplasty: the most frequently performed surgical procedure among teenagers

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), the most frequently performed surgical procedure among teenagers in 2003. It can be performed when the nose has completed 90 percent of its growth, which can occur as early as age 14 or 15 years old for girls and a little later for boys. It is best to have rhinoplasty after they have completed their growth spurt.

Most experts agree that for appropriately selected teenage patients, cosmetic plastic surgery can have a positive impact on physical and emotional development. Having the surgery should be something the teens want for themselves and not something other people want for them. Their social and emotional adjustment is also important to consider.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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The Art of Augmentation Rhinoplasty

Previously, I wrote about the technical expertise required for augmentation rhinoplasty. However, not only does the plastic surgeon need to be an expert on the "science" of this operation, he must also be an artist. There is so much artistry involved in the planning and execution of this operation. The best plastic surgeons carve an implant especially for each patient in the right size and shape to create a new nose that will look natural. Your surgeon must have a fine aesthetic sense such that the surgical results of your nose operation will appear natural and unnoticeable. The new nose should look like it "fits" together with the rest of your features.

With this need for surgical skills, aesthetic judgement, sense of beauty, and an ability to visualize the end result, untrained doctors find out that augmentation rhinoplasty isn't so easy after all.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Augmentation Rhinoplasty

As I mentioned before, one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures is augmentation rhinoplasty (commonly called nose lifts). This is specially true for Asians. Many Filipinos, especially those who reside in countries like the United States, the U.K., and countries in Europe, where nose bridges are commonly very high, get a boost of self-confidence and feel more attractive when they have their noses surgically enhanced. Indeed, since the nose occupies the prominent central area of the face, it determines to a major extent whether the face is considered attractive or not, and a higher nose bridge makes a big difference in the overall balance and appearance of the face.

A big difference, yes, but unfortunately, not always a positive difference. Augmentation rhinoplasty is a deceptively simple operation. Thus, many doctors who have not had special training in plastic surgery think they can easily do it well. After all, what could be so difficult about placing an implant to increase the bridge of the nose?

As any well trained and experienced plastic surgeon can explain, rhinoplasty is one of the most delicate plastic surgery operations. Everyone has a different nose and the plastic surgeon should evaluate the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, your skin, and your age since these factors influence his decisions about what techniques to use for the surgery to get the desired result.

Although rhinoplasty usually takes only an hour or two, this operation is difficult to learn and difficult to perform well. A skillful surgeon knows where to make incisions so that they will be practically invisible after healing. With proper technique, scar tissue doesn't interfere with achieving the desired results. A skillful surgeon also knows where to make incisions to minimize the amount of bleeding during the operation. The surgeon can have better results when there is less bleeding because he can clearly see what needs to be done. An experienced surgeon also knows how to minimize intra-operative swelling. Swelling can make it hard for the surgeon to see what the nose's final shape will be and what needs to be done during surgery.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Authentic Plastic Surgeons

Mere anatomical and physiological familiarity with a general body region does not automatically give a doctor the license to practice plastic surgery in that area. The principles of plastic surgery are special and the conceptual application of these principles requires indoctrination from years of training and experience. Once indoctrinated, the plastic surgeon can apply these concepts in any area of the body if he has had basic training in general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery.

During his surgical training , the surgeon must seek training in as many areas of surgical endeavor as possible. Only when equipped with the knowledge of general principles common to all fields of surgery can the surgeon be admitted to specialized training in plastic surgery. Authentic plastic surgeons have at least five to six years of approved surgical training, including a two to three year residency in plastic surgery.

No surgeon should call himself a plastic surgeon unless he can do both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines