This reporter needs to know what implants are really about

[Guest guest]

" When you see someone with crooked teeth, you might

think, now why don't they get that fixed? " Bash said.

" Breast surgery is on the way to that. You see someone

with an A cup and think, why don't they get that

fixed? "

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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/scottsdale/articles/0827sr-biz27retailZ\

8.html

Shopping for a breast implant? Here's how to find

right doctor

Maggie Galehouse

The Arizona Republic

Aug. 27, 2005 12:00 AM

SCOTTSDALE - Every year, more women decide that what

God or biology gave them could be better by being

bigger.

Breast augmentation is one of the top five cosmetic

surgeries in the country - along with liposuction,

nose jobs, face lifts and eyelid surgery. More than

264,000 women had the procedure in 2004, an increase

of more than 50,000 since 2000, according to the

American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Here in sdale, where plastic surgeons are as

ubiquitous as drugstores, thousands of women every

year opt for breast enhancement. advertisement

But if you Google " plastic surgeons " and " sdale, "

you get about 15,600 hits. And with 14 pages of

plastic and reconstructive surgeons listed in the

Yellow Pages, plus other ads on TV and billboards, the

choices can be overwhelming. How do you know which

surgeon to choose?

We asked Deborah Bash, a cosmetic surgeon at

sdale's Mayo Clinic who has breast implants

herself to offer some advice to women shopping for

surgeons and new breasts. Here's what she said:

• Find a surgeon who is certified by the American

Board of Plastic Surgery, which is recognized by the

American Medical Association. " There are many other

boards not recognized by the AMA, which do not

necessarily have the high standards required by that

organization, " Bash said.

• Remember, you get what you pay for. Most

augmentations cost $4,000 to $7,000. " Ask yourself if

you really want to go to the cheapest person for your

surgery, " Bash said. " Don't scrimp on safety to save

dollars. The prices vary depending on the type of

anesthesia used, the type of implant, and whether the

procedure is performed in a hospital or a doctor's

office. " In fact, Bash said, ask the surgeon if the

procedure can be done in a hospital. If not, it may be

because the hospital does not think the surgeon is

qualified.

• Insist that your doctor tell you the risks. There

will be scars, and you will need to have new implants

every 10 years or so, said Bash, who had her first set

of implants replaced in 1999. " They are manmade and

will wear out with time. Just like you have to replace

an artificial hip joint or a pacemaker, you have to

replace a breast implant. And we don't know what it

will cost in 10 years when you need to replace it. "

• Have realistic expectations. " Women have to realize

that a breast augmentation augments what you already

have, " Bash said. " If your nipples point out, they'll

still do that. They'll do the same things, but your

breasts will be bigger. You can't have perfection or

take away the risks. "

• Think about the kind of implants you want. Right

now, the only available implants are saline, Bash

said. But silicone implants got conditional reapproval

in the United States last month when the FDA approved

a version made by Mentor Corp.

Silicone implants were banned in 1992 after leaking

silicone was blamed for long-term illnesses. Since

then, silicone has only been available to women for

breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and to women

who received silicone implants before 1992, Bash said.

Mentor Corp.'s silicone implants will only be

available under certain conditions, so women

considering augmentation should stay tuned.

Although silicone is about twice the cost of saline,

silicone implants have a much more natural feel, Bash

said.

The popularity of breast augmentation shows that

society's expectations are changing, said Bash, who

compared it to the current standard of having

perfectly straight teeth.

" When you see someone with crooked teeth, you might

think, now why don't they get that fixed? " Bash said.

" Breast surgery is on the way to that. You see someone

with an A cup and think, why don't they get that

fixed? "

Reach the reporter at maggie.galehouse@scottsdale

republic.com or (602) 444-6868.