Breast Augmentation Trends: BA for a Day?
There’s an interesting new trend in breast augmentation that gives women a boost in size for just a day. A recent article in The New York Times outlined the procedure, calling it “temporary breast enlargement.”
Here’s how it works. A plastic surgeon injects saline solution directly into the breasts, increasing their size by one or more cups. The body absorbs the liquid over the next 24 hours while the patient enjoys fuller breasts, typically for an event or occasion.
Is this a great new option for women? Is it silly or perhaps even dangerous? Here are the pros and cons.
Saline Injections May Work for Some
In general, the procedure is low risk. When performed by an experienced plastic surgeon who knows the structure of the breasts, saline injections can produce significant enhancement with minor bruising the main possible complication. The body absorbs the fluid over time and the process is harmless.
It may make sense for some women to choose temporary breast enlargement for a special occasion. The New York Times article quoted a bride who had the procedure for her wedding day as an example. For someone who doesn’t want larger breasts permanently—or for a woman who can’t have traditional breast augmentation surgery for some reason—saline injections could be an option.
Temporary enlargement can also be a way for a prospective patient to envision what she might look like a cup size or two larger. According to The Times, saline injections were originally given for just this purpose. Another plastic surgeon interviewed for the article maintained, however, that saline injections will not make the breasts look and feel exactly the same way implants do. It’s important for a patient to know the differences.
Temporary Breast Enlargement Comes at a Cost
There are several drawbacks to keep in mind when it comes to saline injections. One is that the absorption process starts right away, so the effect is not just temporary, it’s fleeting. A great deal of the fluid will disappear within the first 12 hours, and the remainder will vanish after about 24 hours. A bride can expect more generous curves to fill out her wedding dress, but by the first full day of the honeymoon her figure will be all hers again.
Another consideration is that temporary breast enlargement is not a procedure a woman should elect more than once or twice. Causing the skin to stretch and shrink time and again is counterproductive when it comes to maintaining youthful elasticity, as any woman who has borne multiple children can attest.
But the real eye opener associated with saline injections for temporary breast enlargement is the price tag. One plastic surgeon interviewed for the newspaper charges $3,500 for the procedure. For not much more, women can have breast implant augmentation for a much longer lasting result.
