Breast augmentation, technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast for a number of reasons:
By inserting a salt-water-filled implant or silicone-gel filled implant behind the woman's own breast tissue, it is possible to increase the apparent size of the breast. In general, the implant can be placed either in front of or behind the chest wall (Pectoral) muscles, but either way, it is behind the breast tissue. The implant being located behind the woman's own breast tissue means that she can still nurse an infant, she can self-examine to check for lumps, and she can have mammograms done.
Many women are choosing to have the implants inserted through a small incision at the navel, the so-called belly-button technique. With this method, there is less time under anesthesia, less discomfort, less chance of losing the sense of touch in the nipple, and of course no scars around the breast. A very small incision is made inside the rim of the navel; and then using an endoscope, the salt-water (saline) implant is inserted through a narrow tunnel under the skin, into the loose tissue behind the breast. The result of this type of enlargement looks the same as after the older methods, but without the tell-tale scar on the breast. Because the implant is not touched by any instruments during insertion, the manufacturer's lifetime replacement warranty applies. This through-the-navel technique has been done since 1991; it requires special equipment and training to perform, and in 1992 Dr. Dowden was the first in Ohio to be trained in this technique. At the present time there is no method for inserting the silicone-filled implants via the navel. Not all women are suitable candidates for this through-the-navel method, but most are.
Every procedure has positive aspects and negative aspects. There are advantages and disadvantages of breast enlargement, which must be considered when deciding whether the procedure is correct for the woman. In addition, patients should be aware that every operation has potential complications, which can occur in a small percentage of patients even in the best of hands.
Further, there are additional advantages specific to doing the breast enlargement in front of the muscle through the navel:
To view a large number of before-and-after photos click here: Proceed to breast augmentation photos.
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Keywords: Breast implants through the navel; Transumbilical breast implants; Belly-button breast implants; Through-the-navel breast enlargement; Through-the-navel breast augmentation; Trans-umbilical breast augmentation; Trans-umbilical breast enlargement; Belly-button breast enlargement; Belly-button breast augmentation; Breast enlargement through the navel; Breast augmentation through the navel; Navel breast enlargement; Navel breast augmentation; 'Scarless' breast enlargement; 'Scarless' breast augmentation.
Finding a Surgeon Near You:
If you are interested in breast enlargement through the navel and want to find a board-certified Plastic Surgeon in your area who is qualified to do it, call the referral service of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at (800)-635-0635, or check:
http://www.plasticsurgery.org. If you have been given a surgeon's name by a friend or acquaintance, you can check to see if he/she is actually certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery: The American Board of Medical Specialies maintains a complete listing of ALL the legitimate Boards in the USA, and by inputting the name at the ABMS website you will be informed by what Board, if any, the surgeon is certified.
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Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
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(Mayfield Heights) Cleveland, Ohio 44124
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Last Update: 7:12 PM on 06/01/2008
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