Cleveland and Akron-area Breast Implants – Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jason Leedy
Here at our facility, serving Akron, Cleveland, and beyond, breast implants are available for patients wishing to increase the size of the bustline, or those who are receiving breast reconstruction surgery. Dr. Jason Leedy utilizes safe and effective breast enlargement techniques and a variety of implant shapes and sizes that are designed to conform to the individual's body type. Breast implants can not only make you appear more youthful and vibrant, they can also provide a more proportionate body frame and healthier self-esteem.
- Breast Implants
- Candidates for Breast Implants
- Types of Breast Implants
- Which Implant is Right for Me?
- Risks
Breast Implants
Breast implants are the most effective way for patients to achieve a fuller, more voluminous bustline. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures. At your initial consultation with our plastic surgeon serving the Cleveland and Akron area, the breast implants that will best suit your individual goals will be decided upon, including size, texture, type, and shape. Dr. Jason Leedy will go over all aspects of the breast augmentation procedure, and answer all of your questions and concerns. Dr. Leedy is an experienced breast augmentation surgeon, and will help you decide which implant will best meet your needs.
Candidates for Breast Implants
Candidates for breast implants include women who are in reasonably good physical and psychological health, and have realistic expectations of results. Women who are experiencing breast sag or droop, those who are self-conscious because of small or disproportionate breast-size, and those who simply seek to add volume and new contours to the bustline can often benefit from breast implants. Patients considering breast implants should take care to make sure that they are personally comfortable with altering the size and shape of their breasts. Patients who have unrealistic expectations of results and those who have been pressured into surgery by others are generally not good candidates for the procedure.
Contact our plastic surgeon, serving the Cleveland and Akron area, to find out if breast implants are right for you.
Types of Breast Implants
Saline
Saline breast implants are are made of a silicone outer shell which houses a salt-water solution. Proven to be safe and effective, saline implants can be molded into a round or teardrop shape in order to conform to your natural body contour. Saline breast implants can typically be filled with the salt-water solution after placement within the breasts. This allows for the implants to be inserted through slightly smaller incisions. In the event of an implant rupture, the saline is naturally absorbed by the body.
Silicone
In November of 2006 the FDA approved the use of silicone gel breast implants for primary breast augmentation. Silicone implants had been unavailable for 14 years prior to the change, and during that time numerous studies were performed which demonstrated the safety of these implants. The FDA was satisfied with the safety profile of these implants and therefore reintroduced them last year. This now allows women an additional choice when selecting the type of breast implant which is best for them.
Silicone breast implants are composed of a silicone shell housing a thick, silicone gel. Many people consider silicone implants to look and feel more natural than saline implants, largely because they are less prone to cause a rippling appearance. They are often preferred for use in patients who are very thin or those who are undergoing breast reconstruction surgery. These implants are restricted for use in patients 22 years of age or older. Silicone gel implants can rupture and if they do it may not be noticeable. The gel of today’s implants is thicker than before and is less likely to leak out in case of a rupture. For this reason the implant companies recommend that MRIs be performed every few years to monitor for implant rupture. Since the silicone gel implants are pre-filled they do require a slightly longer incision for placement.
Which Implant is Right for Me?
The choice is yours. If you are older than 22 years of age, silicone implants are an option. If you are between 18 and 22 then only saline implants are available. During your consultation you will be given an example of both a saline and silicone implant to examine. You can feel the implants in your hand to give you a sense of what the implant will feel like after your surgery. If Dr. Leedy feels strongly about the appropriate implant for you he will give you his recommendation, but the choice is ultimately yours.
Risks
Although breast implants are typically regarded as safe, effective cosmetic enhancement procedures, there are still risks involved. Some of the risks associated with breast implants are:
- Capsular contracture – scar tissue that can form around the implant, giving the area a feeling of hardness, or distorting the shape of the breast.
- Implant leak – the leaking of the breast implant's inner fluid as the result of tears or ruptures to the outer shell. Saline breast implant leaks are generally more noticeable because the salt-water solution is easily absorbed by the body. Because of the thickness of silicone, a leak in a silicone implant may not be discovered until examined by a physician. Patients with silicone implants are advised to have annual breast exams to make sure the implants are functioning properly, and to call a doctor immediately if they believe something may have gone wrong with the implant.
- Implant rippling – indentations in the implant that can often be felt through the skin.
- Interference with mammograms –the placement of breast implants can make it difficult for a radiologist to x-ray all necessary angles of the breasts. Therefore, special mammograms are often required for patients who have breast implants.
Our page devoted to breast augmentation and enlargement has even more information on risks and benefits of breast enhancement with implants, as well as more details on how the actual procedure is performed and what recovery will be like. Dr. Jason Leedy will explain all aspects of breast implants with you at your initial consultation, including how you can work together to minimize the risks of complications.
Contact Our Plastic Surgeon
For patients in the Cleveland and Akron area considering breast implants, our plastic surgeon can help you reach your goals by offering skilled and compassionate care. Dr. Jason Leedy will work with you to achieve a fuller bustline that is more proportionate to your body frame. Contact the Cleveland Plastic Surgery Institute today to set up a consultation.
