Breast augmentation surgery: a women's health issue.

Surgery to increase breast size is a common procedure. In this paper we examine the reasons why women choose to undergo the procedure, the history of breast enhancement, current surgical approaches, possible complications and their treatment. Driving forces behind the choice to have augmentation surgery appear to be related to feelings of low self-esteem and self-confidence. Although there is a large literature related to breast augmentation, little of it is research-based. The research that there is focuses on complications and their treatment, with an emphasis on capsular contracture. Few of the studies are long-term, although complications have been noted as long as 25 years after initial implantation. There is a need for research into the experience of women undergoing augmentation mammaplasty but, perhaps more importantly, there is also a need to examine ways in which women can be helped to accept themselves as they are.