Fellow American Maxi Mounds holds the record for largest breasts from breast augmentation, thanks to polypropylene string implants. This type of implant, designed by Dr. Gerald W. Johnson, features components that absorb fluid, allowing it to expand after implantation. Expansion and the body’s reaction to the implant results in an increase in breast size, almost continuously. Polypropylene string implants have been linked to several health problems, and are no longer available. The FDA banned them a few years ago.

Maxi Mounds’ breasts, back in 2005, weighed a massive 40 pounds. How much do you think Hershey’s breasts weigh?

With that kind of dramatic increase in size, most women would experience adverse side effects to their health, we’re sure. We wonder if Hershey and Mounds have had to deal with stretchmarks, shoulder and back pain, sleeping problems and difficulty performing daily tasks?

So What Exactly Is It?
The Keller Funnel is a nylon cone with a hydrophilic coating on the inside. When placed in a sterile solution, this coating allows the device to become highly lubricated, which makes the implant easier to propel into the body through an incision made in the armpit, partially around the areola or in the mammary fold. It can be used for all sizes, shapes and textures of pre-filled implants.

The woman, only referred to as C in news reports, believes that the NHS should fund her breast augmentation because the surgery is for psychological reasons – not for purely cosmetic reasons as the primary care trust (PCT) states it is. Lawyers for C state that it would protect her emotional well being and help her make the necessary steps toward realizing her feminine identity. Not funding the procedure would be a form of sex discrimination and a violation of C’s human rights. However, PCT argues that even if the surgery were to be funded, there was no evidence to prove that it would actually be beneficial.

C, who suffers from gender dysphoria, has had hormone therapy to help modify her body become more feminine. However her transformation and the development of her breasts remain less than adequate, making her the victim of insults from strangers. She hopes to undergo gender reassignment surgery for her genital area after breast augmentation. Her request, initially refused in 2006, is backed by doctors.

We’ll find out what happens by the end of the week.

Update: C’s request was turned down by a judge.

The surgical room is cleaned and sterilized thoroughly. After the patient is placed under general anesthesia, the chest area is isolated and sterilized. Sterility is vital to prevent infection. A diluted solution containing lidocaine is injected into specific areas of the chest to minimize bleeding. An incision is made partially around the edge of the areola from 3 to 7 o’clock. Because it is ideal for the resulting scar to be as discreet as possible, the incision should be placed right in the area where the areola meets the paler skin on the rest of the body.

Gently pushing the areola and nipple aside, space is made in the breast tissue to accommodate the implant. Then, to ensure that the positioning and the created space are adequate, a “sizer” is inserted and filled with fluid to the desired volume (a sizer is an empty implant shell). At this time, any odd indentations appearing in the breast, particularly in the inframammary fold, are also corrected. It is important that the size fit correctly before the real implant is placed.

Once this is completed, the sizer is removed and the cavity is wiped with gauze to ensure there is no bleeding. Minor bleeding is stopped with a cauterizer. An antibiotic is administered in the cavity and the implant is inserted. In this case, the implant was a round cohesive gel type.

Again, the positioning of the implants is checked to ensure optimal results. A subcuticular stitching technique is performed using monocryl dissolvable sutures to close the incisions. Once they are dressed, the actual procedure is completed and the patient is taken to another room for recovery.

Inventory of the instruments and gauze is taken intermittently throughout the procedure.

Dr. Behnaz Yazdanfar has performed hundreds of breast augmentation procedures in her professional career.