The reasons behind the procedure are varied. “Many women have breast augmentations, because they have lost the breast fullness and volume as a consequence of pregnancy and childbirth. In these cases, the woman’s breast shape is more or less defined, and breast implants will restore the volume and shape. Breast implants do not affect breast feeding,” says Azhar Aslam, head surgeon at Linia Cosmetic Surgery. Others opt for a breast reduction.
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“Heavy breasts are well known to create problems such as shoulder and neck ache, posture and difficulties in sporting activities, especially because all sporting activities involve bouncing and movement of the breast, which is difficult to control. Following our very successful 2012 Olympics, there has been an extreme rise in the number of women who want to be active in sports; and consequently, the number of active women or professional athletes seeking breast reductions has risen. Breast reduction however can result in significant scarring, but experienced surgeons can perform this with minimal scar technique. Therefore, choice of surgeon and correct procedure is crucial.”
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Breast augmentation made the news this year due to the possible danger of French Poly Implant Prosthèse or ‘PIP’ implants. There was global concern after it was revealed that they contained industrial silicone, rather than medical-grade fillers and that they may be more prone to rupture and leakage than other implants. It is thought that almost 50,000 women in the UK could have these implants. You can check if you have PIP implants by checking your medical notes, which you can get free from your clinic or GP. If you had a PIP implant on the NHS you will receive a letter. Whether you had your implants done privately, or on the NHS, your doctor will remove them if he agrees there is medical need.
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