Dr. Callaghan will examine your breasts taking into consideration factors such as
the size and shape of your breasts, the quality of your skin and the placement of
the nipples. If your breasts are sagging, a breast lift may also be recommended.

Breast implants are in no way linked to breast cancer or disease, nor do they
interfere with breast feeding. They can make it more difficult to read
mammograms. Women at increased risk of breast cancer will need to consider
this prior to making a decision about whether to have implants. Saline filled
implants can be placed under the chest muscle so that they will interfere less with
mammograms, but other factors also need to be considered. Dr. Callaghan will
discuss this with you fully.

Breast augmentation is usually performed on an outpatient basis so it is important
to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you the
first night following surgery.

Individual factors and personal preferences will help you and Dr. Callaghan
determine your appropriate breast size, the location of incisions, and whether the
implants will be placed on top of or underneath the chest muscle.

In 1992, the FDA decided that silicone gel-filled implants would not be generally
available for cosmetic breast enlargement. Currently, all women in the USA
undergoing breast augmentation receive saline-filled implants which consist of a
silastic shell filled with sterile saltwater.

Cohesive silicone gel implants are now available in Canada. Health Canada has
determined that cohesive silicon gel implants may be released for use, only after
your surgeon applies and registers on your behalf. The new cohesive gel does not
seep, run or shift. Silicone gel implants may have some advantages over saline
filled implants, depending on a patient's specific tissue characteristics. (elasticity,
thickness) Silicone gel implants have been available in Europe for several years
and have an excellent safety record. Dr. Callaghan will discuss the merits of each
implant type and help you decide which one is best for your needs.)

At the surgery, once the incision is made, Dr. Callaghan creates a pocket into
which the implant will be inserted. This pocket is made either directly behind the
breast tissue or underneath the breast and pectoral muscle which places the
implant beneath a double layer of coverage for better camouflage in thin patients.
After surgery, some bruising and swelling will occur initially, but this will disappear
quickly. Patients are provided with a special elastic support garment to control
breast shape and implant position.Most residual swelling will resolve within a
month. After breast implant surgery, it is often possible to return to work within
just a few days, or a week.

Some potential complications of breast augmentation include blood accumulation
that may need to be drained surgically, and infection. Although rare, an infection
that does not subside with appropriate treatment may require temporary removal of
the implant. Changes in nipple or breast sensation may result from breast
augmentation surgery, though they usually are temporary.

When a breast implant is inserted, a scar capsule forms around it as part of the
natural healing process. The capsule may sometimes tighten and compress the
implant, causing the breast to feel firmer than normal. This is called capsular
contracture. Capsular contracture can occur to varying degrees. If it is severe, it
can cause discomfort or changes in the breast's appearance. In such cases, more
surgery may be needed to modify or remove the scar tissue, or perhaps remove or
replace the implant.

Breast implants are not lifetime devices. They cannot be expected to last forever.
Surgery will be required to replace your implants, if they rupture. The manufacturer
currently provides a replacement implant as part of their lifetime warranty and
product support.

Except in the event of implant deflation, the results of your breast surgery should
be long-lasting: the lifetime of implants is not known precisely, but is estimated to
be 15 - 20 years.





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