Breast augmentation has become, if not the most popular, at least one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures sought in Beverly Hills. In fact, the popularity of breast implant surgery has moved beyond Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and Southern California, to the rest of the United States. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), in 2003 nearly 255,000 women in the United States underwent breast augmentation; nearly twice the number performed in 1998.

In this educational article about breast augmentation, as well as in other breast related articles provided on www.beautifulfigure.com, board certified plastic surgeon and renowned breast augmentation specialist Dr. Sean Younai reviews some of the pertinent topics about breast augmentation (or enlargement), saline and silicone breast implant placement or exchange, breast lift or "mastopexy," breast reduction surgery, and the treatments for complications of breast augmentation or "augmentation mammoplasty."

Why do women seek breast augmentation?
• Some women never developed normal shaped, or normal sized breasts as the rest of their body matured. Frustrated with the lack of results from breast enlargement firming creams, pills, exercises, or machines, these women turn to breast augmentation surgery to achieve the proportional figure that they had always desired.
• Other women were unfortunately born with abnormal or asymmetrical breast deformities such as Poland's Syndrome, which results from the failure of breast gland and pectoral chest muscles to development on one side. Similarly, others were afflicted with tubular or tuberous breast deformity which causes the constriction and narrowing of the base of the breast along with the enlargement of the areola. Breast implants and breast augmentation surgery has been able to give these women normal-looking and beautiful breasts.
• Many women have lost breast volume, fullness, and shape with pregnancy, breastfeeding and nursing. While happy with being blessed with childbirth, these women feel that in return they have lost their youthful appearing breasts. These fashion-conscious women of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and Hollywood have sought breast augmentation as a means of regaining their proportional figure, so once again they can fit into form-fitting tops, bras, and other clothes.
• Obesity afflicts 65 percent of all adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). Bariatric or Gastric Bypass surgery has become a very popular treatment for morbid obesity. After such massive weight loss surgery, women lose significant breast volume and are left with empty and sagging breasts. Breast augmentation along with breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, has been the answer for those women who seek to regain a normal figure and breasts after massive weight loss.
• Breast Augmentation with breast implants has been a viable and safe option for breast reconstruction, which is done on many women who have lost their breasts to breast cancer. Breast Reconstruction with breast implants utilizes breast implant expanders to first enlarge the breast skin envelope before the final saline or silicone breast implant is placed.

What information should you consider before proceeding with breast augmentation? During your consultation at the California Center for Plastic Surgery (www.beautifulfigure.com) , Dr. Younai will review your options for different types, shapes, textures, and sizes of saline or silicone breast implants, as well as, different approaches for breast enlargement.

Breast implants can be inserted via an armpit incision (transaxillary), areolar/nipple incision (periareolar), breast fold incision (inframammary), or belly button incision (transumbilical). While an armpit or transaxillary incision scar might not be very noticeable, it usually results in the breasts being too far apart, causing lack of a strong cleavage. It also carries a higher risk for implant displacement and breast asymmetry.

An inframammary or periareolar approach can usually produce the nicest cleavage and the most precise placement of breast implants.

While the transumbilical approach is marketed by some plastic surgeons as "scarless breast augmentation," indeed it is not so! I have personally consulted women who were not pleased with the belly button scar; especially since they were no longer able to wear cut-off tops. The transumbilical route of breast implant insertion also carries an increased surgical risk of possible damage to internal organs if the inserting metal rod is misguided.

In Conclusion, breast augmentation has become very popular, not only in Beverly Hills, but also throughout southern California and Los Angeles. There are many factors and issues to be considered before embarking upon breast augmentation. Therefore, you should educate yourself about breast augmentation topics by visiting our educational web site: www.beautifulfigure.com