Breast Augmentation
During your breast augmentation consultation, your surgeon will take the time to understand what you would like to change about the appearance of your breasts. While you may know that you want to be “bigger,” your goals may involve much more than simply increasing breast size. You may be looking for improved shape, greater fullness in the upper portion of the breasts, enhanced cleavage, better symmetry, or a combination of these changes.
With a variety of implant options and surgical approaches available, your surgeon will guide you through each decision and help you choose the options best suited to your anatomy, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals. The goal is not simply to make your breasts larger, but to create a balanced, natural-looking result that complements your overall figure.
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that enhances breast size and fullness and can improve breast symmetry through the placement of saline or silicone gel implants. The procedure can be tailored to each patient's individual anatomy and desired outcome.
Women choose breast augmentation for many different reasons. Common goals include:
- Increasing confidence and feeling more comfortable with their appearance
- Achieving a more balanced figure or improving the fit of clothing
- Restoring breast volume and shape after pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Restoring lost breast volume following weight loss
- Creating a fuller, more youthful appearance
- Improving breast symmetry and overall proportions
Ideal Candidates
The best canditates for breast augmentation are in good physical and emotional health and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve.
Breast augmentation may be appropriate for individuals with the following goals:
- Increasing confidence and feeling more comfortable with their appearance
- Achieving a more balanced figure or improving the fit of clothing
- Restoring breast volume and shape after pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Restoring lost breast volume following weight loss
- Creating a fuller, more youthful appearance
- Improving breast symmetry and overall proportions
Types of Implants
Both saline and silicone gel implants provide natural-looking results that can improve the overall look of a woman’s breasts. It is not correct to say that one type of implant is better than the other, since they both usually produce safe and enduring results. The type of implant that is used during surgery will depend on your preference. Your surgeon can advise you regarding which implant he thinks will be most beneficial for you based on your goals.
Saline Implants
Saline implants consist of an outer silicone shell that is filled at the time of surgery with a sterile saline solution (salt water). Since saline implants are empty when they are placed, they usually can be inserted through a smaller incision than silicone implants. Once in place, they are filled to their optimal volume. An advantage of saline implants is that minor size differences between the breasts can be improved upon by placing different amounts of fluid in one side compared to the other. Another advantage of saline implants is that if later on a woman would like her implants to be a little fuller, extra fluid can be added in a simple procedure, usually done under local anesthesia. Also, saline implants are less expensive than silicone gel implants.
Silicone Gel Implants
Silicone gel implants also consist of an outer silicone shell, but the shell is filled with a cohesive silicone gel. Silicone implants come in both a round shape and an anatomic shaped device called a “gummy bear implant.” These form-fitted implants provide additional fullness in the upper chest for some patients. Silicone gel implants are pre-filled before surgery and may require a bigger incision for placement. They do provide a more natural feel than saline implants, and they usually have less rippling.
* The FDA indicates cosmetic silicone gel implants for patients 22 years of age and older.
Procedure
Breast augmentation surgery is performed on an outpatient basis with the patient under general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes 1-2 hours to perform. During surgery, one of the following incision techniques will be used.
Inframammary
An incision is made in the crease on the undersurface of the breasts, a great place to hide a scar on the breast.
Periareolar
An incision is made around the areolas (the darker skin around the nipples) of the breasts.
Transaxillary
An incision is made in the underarms, where the scars can be hidden under the arms high up in the armpit.
Location of the Implant
Once the incision is made, a space is created to hold the implant. The implants are placed either beneath the breast gland (also called sub-glandular or sub-mammary) or under the muscles of the chest wall (also called sub-muscular or sub-pectoral). Sometimes it is necessary to do both, called a “dual plane” technique. Your surgeon will help you understand the difference and, more importantly, which method will be better for you.
What else do you need to know?
A breast augmentation is frequently combined with other procedures, such as a breast lift, liposuction, and abdominoplasty, also known as a “mommy makeover.” During your consultation, feel free to ask your surgeon about these other procedures that may enhance your results.
Costs
The total cost of a breast augmentation is determined by various factors, including:
- Facility fees
- Anesthesia fees
- Surgical fees
- Breast implant fees
- Prescriptions for medication
- Post-surgery garments
Feel free to contact the surgical coordinator for pricing and to request more information about this or other cosmetic procedures.
Since breast augmentation surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by insurance.
Potential Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks, such as scars, infection, bleeding, asymmetries, postoperative discomfort, and adverse reaction to anesthesia. Although significant complications are uncommon, patients should understand that any surgery, performed for any reason, has risks and should not be taken lightly.
During your consultation and pre-operative appointment, we will take the time to thoroughly explain your procedure, discuss potential risks, and answer any questions you may have so you can feel confident and well-informed about your decision.
Recovery
After surgery, bandages and a specialized compression garment are applied to the chest. Although pain and swelling may be present, these symptoms can be alleviated by prescribed medication. Patients can usually return to work within a week, but strenuous activity and exercise should be avoided for the first 4 to 6 weeks following surgery.
Results
Breast augmentation surgery is a very rewarding procedure that typically produces noticeable results that will continue to improve over the coming months. Scarring is usually hidden so it is inconspicuous, and the results of breast augmentation are expected to be long lasting.
To find out more about breast augmentation surgery, we welcome you to schedule your consultation by calling Mancoll Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery at (757) 305-9185 or filling out our online contact form. Mancoll Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery is proud to have been voted Coastal Virginia Magazine's Best Cosmetic Surgery Center for 12 consecutive years!
