Friday, February 19, 2010

Gel Implants: Essential Things You Should Know

When it comes to breast augmentation, one of the leading products being recommended is gel implants. According to studies, a good population of plastic surgeons favor the use of this product because apparently, gel poses fewer health risks in case the augmentation does not go that well. However, there are also studies that show that these implants tend to lack the “natural” feel of normal breasts, and can sometimes develop a lumpy texture. If you are indeed thinking about getting these implants, it is important that you know which statements are facts, and which ones are not true at all. Here are some truths that you might want to factor in your decision-making process should you decide to get gel implants. 1. Clinics really do favor the use of cohesive gel breast implants -- or gummy bear breast implants, as they are sometimes called. Earlier kinds of gel implants have proven to be unsatisfactory to many patients, particularly because the feel and the look is not natural. Many patients expressed dissatisfaction because these earlier gels were often times too firm, and often looked flat or too fake. With newer technology though, the gummy bear breast implants can retain a more conical shape (for women) or square-like shape (for men). And this almost eliminates the unsightly lumps and bumps that previous implants had. Although these might not be as pliant as the saline implants (which are filled with liquid,) gummy bear breast implants look far better. These days, the plastic surgeon has the option to choose the actual shape of the implants -- from conical-shaped ones, to more rounded level ones, and even larger sets, depending of course on the patient’s specifications and what the health care provider thinks is appropriate to the person’s physique. Additionally, gummy bear gel implants usually retain their shape longer, which means that there are fewer instances of the implants distorting due to gravity or excessive external handling. And that in turn, means that there are fewer chances of health risks for the patient. 2. If you are worried about the costs, gummy bear implants are by far the most expensive ones you can get. The plastic surgeon has to make sure that the implants are anatomically suited to your body, and that can increase your bill considerably. However, with fewer complications associated with gel implants, you might save a lot of money down the line from not having reconstructive surgery for botched jobs or having fewer maintenance surgeries afterwards.