Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffA woman's reasons for choosing breast augmentation are highly personal.
Breast augmentation might help you:
- Enhance your breast appearance if you feel your breasts are too small or you're concerned that one breast is smaller than the other
- Adjust for a reduction in the size of your breasts after pregnancy
- Reconstruct your breast after having breast surgery for cancer or other conditions
- Improve your self-image or self-confidence
Discuss your goals with your surgeon so that you can develop a realistic expectation of what breast augmentation can do for you.
References
- Breast implant surgery. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm064176.htm. Accessed May 14, 2012.
- Risks of breast implants. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm064106.htm?utm_campaign=Google2&utm_source=fdaSearch&utm_medium=website&utm_term=breast%20implants%20and%20breast-feeding&utm_content=1. Accessed May 14, 2012.
- McCarthy CM, et al. Silicone breast implants and magnetic resonance imaging screening for rupture: Do U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommendations reflect and evidence-based practice approach to patient care? Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2008;121:1127.
- Breast augmentation procedure steps. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation.html?sub=Breast%20augmentation%20procedure%20steps. Accessed May 14, 2012.
- Breast augmentation before and after. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation.html?sub=Breast%20augmentation%20before%20and%20after. Accessed May 14, 2012.
- Breast augmentation costs. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation.html?sub=Breast%20augmentation%20costs. Accessed May 14, 2012.
- Preparing for breast augmentation surgery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation.html?sub=Preparing%20for%20breast%20augmentation%20surgery. Accessed May 14, 2012.
- Breast augmentation recovery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation.html?sub=Breast%20augmentation%20recovery. Accessed May 14, 2012.
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in women with breast implants: Preliminary FDA findings and analyses. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/BreastImplants/ucm239996.htm. Accessed May 7, 2012.


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