Breast Implants: What You Need to Know
Breast Implants are a popular and relatively easy way to enlarge and reshape your breast so that you can look and feel your best. Here we’ll cover the basics of what you need to know if you are considering Breast Implants.
Quick Overview: Breast Implant surgery is usually 1-3 hours long, outpatient, and performed under general anaesthesia. Most patients can return to work in about 2 weeks, and are fully recovered in about 4 weeks when you can resume your normal activities.
There are two main types of breast implants: Saline or Silicone. 
Saline breast implants come in different shapes to achieve a desired look, and can even be textured. Saline breast implants have been approved by the FDA for a long time and are easier to diagnose if there is a problem (i.e. leakage) as you will be able to see it. Also, saline is basically salt water, so if the implant should ever rupture the saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body. These implants also tend to be less expensive.
Silicone breast implants are enclosed in a shell. Silicone is a common material found in many medical implants as well as several other products we use every day. These implants tend to look and feel more natural as they hold their shape better than saline, however, if there is ever a rupture of the casing there is risk that the silicone gel can leak out, and you will not be able to see or feel it. For this reason it is recommended to have an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) performed once every two-three years to ensure that the implant is intact. Silicone breast implants tend to cost more than saline implants but are better looking in general.
Other things to consider are the location of the incision and placement of the implant over top or underneath the breast muscle. You can choose between under the breast, under the arm, navel, or nipple incisions. Obviously under the breast is easier for the surgeon to access the body however the under-arm incision will mean that if there is scaring, it will be harder to see, the same for navel. Placing the implant over the breast muscle is easier for the surgeon to achieve desired results but more noticeable and potentially can wrinkle the surrounding skin than placing it under the breast muscle.
You will need to discuss your goals with your surgeon to determine which implant, incision, and placement are ideal for you.
As always there are risks to all surgeries, but these can be minimized if you follow your pre- and post-operative instructions carefully.