For many years, women have been getting implants without fully understanding what they were and how they differed from breast augmentation. With all the conflicting information available on the internet, most of us were rightly confused. So, how do the two differ? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to one over the other? Let’s find out.
What is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation refers to any procedure that increases the size and restores the natural shape of your breasts. Breast augmentation surgery is one of them. It involves the placement of saline or silicone gel implants inside your chest to add volume to your breasts.
According to doctors of breast augmentation at Austin Face & Body, there is another way to enlarge breasts. The other way is with fat transfer breast augmentation. This method uses liposuction to take fat from another part of your body and inject it into your breasts. We use this method if you want a more subtle increase in the size of your breasts, or if you have a certain amount of sagging skin that needs tightening.
What are Breast Implants?
Breast implants are prosthetic devices placed under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle to increase its size (augmentation) or to rebuild breast tissue after mastectomy. It is also applicable for other damage to the breast (reconstruction).
There are two basic types of breast implants: silicone and saline. Both are designed to have a natural feel, and both can be placed either above or below your chest muscles.
- Silicone Implants
Silicone gel-filled implants are pre-filled with silicone gel that feels similar to natural breast tissue. They typically have a more natural look and feel than saline, but they may require regular monitoring with an MRI or ultrasound.
- Saline Implants
Saline implants are filled with a saltwater solution that’s similar to amniotic fluid in the human body. Saline implants can be placed in smaller incisions because they’re inserted empty and then filled once they’re in place.
The Difference
Breast implants and breast augmentation are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing.
Breast implants are medical devices that are inserted behind the chest tissue or under the chest muscle to increase (augment) breast size or to rebuild (reconstruct) breast tissue after mastectomy. Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to insert implants into the breasts to make them larger.
Thus, while all breast augmentations use breast implants, not all breast implant procedures are augmentation surgeries. Breast reconstruction is another type of surgery that uses breast implants.
Conclusion
In the end, breast implants and breast augmentation do rely on overlapping techniques, and both are significantly helpful to patients undergoing reconstructive surgery. Their success rates also trend very closely together. Some experts even disagree about which method is more effective for certain situations. With so many similarities between breast implants and augmentation, it’s natural that patients would wonder about any differences between the two—but for many, the final out come is always what matters most.
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