Breast Augmentation

Increasing your breast size is a plastic surgery procedure known as breast augmentation or augmentation mammoplasty. A breast implant will be placed behind your breast tissue or muscle during this procedure. 

Whether you’re unhappy with the shape, symmetry, or fullness of your breasts or you want to enhance your natural features, breast augmentation could help improve your self-image and confidence. 

Our plastic surgeons specialize in breast augmentation and are highly trained and board-certified with clinical experience to ensure a tasteful, safe result and quality care.

Types of Breast Implants

You will be able to achieve the look you want as your surgeon will assist you in choosing the best implant, size, and positioning.

Breast Implant Shapes & Textures

Currently, the breast implants we use are smooth, not textured. These implants come in a round shape and can move within the breast implant pocket, maintaining a softer feel and moving more naturally.

Implant Positioning

Your surgeon will offer various options for positioning breast implants. The options may include:

Sub glandular breast implants are placed over the pectoral muscle and behind the glandular tissue.

Submuscular breast implants are placed fully or partially behind your pectoral muscle and behind your glandular tissue.

Saline vs Silicone Implants

We offer two types of breast implants: silicone and saline.

Both breast implants have an outer shell made of silicone rubber, but the filling is the main difference. Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel that is thicker and feels more like natural breast tissue than a saline implant. For saline implants, your surgeon will put them in place empty and then fill them with a sterile salt water or saline solution.

Saline implants for breast augmentation in women ages 18 and older have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and silicone implants have been approved for breast augmentation in women ages 22 and older. However, both of these implant types are available for breast reconstruction to women of any age.

What To Expect At Your Breast Augmentation Consultation

It will generally take 30 minutes to one hour to fully assess you and your needs during your breast augmentation consultation.

Your plastic surgeon will likely measure and examine your breasts during your first appointment, take photographs and provide implant samples that you can try. You will want to bring a soft bra and form-fitting T-shirt to the appointment.

We will also discuss with you:

How you would like your breasts to appear and feel, if you have any past medical issues and mammograms, the different breast implant types and sizes, as well as surgical techniques, what the likely outcomes, recovery, and potential risks of the surgery are, and a cost estimate.

Size, Shape, and Profile

In addition to choosing the type of breast implant, your doctor can help you choose the perfect size, shape, and profile you want to achieve. The size of the implant is generally determined by the CCS of silicone or saline they contain. The size of breast implant selected for your procedure is determined by how much tissue you currently have, and what your goal is for size.

Breast implants are usually made in either teardrop or round shapes. Both are used quite often as each woman has different philology and goals. In your consultation your surgeon will discuss the breast implant profile that fits your dreams. The breast implant profile refers to the your silhouette from the side view. Our patients can choose in low, intermediate, high, or extra high breast implant profiles. In general, teardrop breast implant shape gives a more natural profile, and add volume to the upper areas of the breasts.

Every woman is unique and built differently, so it is not a “one size fits all” approach when it comes to breast implants. Our highly skilled surgeon will help you choose the perfect implant with their years of experience and artistic eye. With various shapes and a bunch of different sizes of implants, it may feel overwhelming to choose the right fit for your goals. During your consultation your goals will be clearly understood so the outcome is achieved.

Ideal Candidates

The decision to get breast augmentation is a deeply personal decision.  You should make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons, and have realistic expectations.  You need to be physically healthy, and have breasts that are developed.  That means that you need to be at least 18 years of age to get breast implants.  18 years old or older for saline implants, and 22 years or older for silicone implants. 

If you’re not happy with the appearance of your breasts as they seem too small or they are asymmetrical, it is likely to help from not only a physical appearance perspective, but is likely to have a positive impact on your body image. 

Clinical research has shown:

Analyses revealed a significant improvement in body image, self-esteem and depressive symptoms, 6 months after surgery. Correlations between body image and self-esteem and between depression and self-esteem were also demonstrated.

How To Prepare For Surgery

We will give you specific instructions when we meet with you so that you can prepare for surgery. They may include:

  • Stopping smoking, if you smoke, no smoking, if you smoke, well in advance of surgery (ideally before your consultation).
  • Avoid any recreational drugs, if you use them, and certain medications like aspirin and certain anti-inflammatories for some time before surgery.
  • Avoid eating or drinking anything after midnight before your surgery.

Breast Augmentation Surgery

Before Surgery Begins

  • As you are prepared for surgery, we will: Draw guidelines on your skin for the incision and implant placement.
  • Apply monitors to your skin for blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation.
  • Insert an IV that can deliver fluids, a sedative, general anesthesia, and pain medication to your body.

Types of Breast Augmentation Incisions

Usually, our surgeons prefer to make incisions in one of two places, either around the areola (a periareolar incision) or along the breast crease (an inframammary incision).

These two locations will offer not only the best control over the implant pocket we create but are also very well hidden on the breast.

During Breast Augmentation Surgery

Typically, a breast augmentation surgery will take one to two hours. Your surgeon will perform your breast augmentation by:

  • Making an incision. Incision sizes and locations can vary based on the implant you choose, your individual body, and preferences that you or your surgeon have.
  • Creating a pocket for your implants. We will carefully separate your breast tissue based on the position that you and your surgeon choose for your implant.
  • Inserting your breast implants. Surgeons put empty saline implants into the breast and then fill them with saline. Silicone implants come pre-filled.
  • Ensuring a symmetrical look. To achieve the look you want, the surgeon will visually inspect your breasts and might make adjustments to the pocket or implant position during the procedure. If saline implants are used, then they will be sealed.
  • Closing your incisions. So that there are no stitches to remove, we usually use dissolvable stitches (sutures), skin adhesive, and/or surgical tape.

After Surgery

Bandages and a surgical bra will be applied to your breasts. You will rest for one to two hours in a recovery room. You will need someone to drive you when you are ready to go home. Before you leave, we will prescribe medications to help manage your pain and prevent infection.

Risks Associated With Breast Augmentation Surgery

Most patients won’t have complications or problems during breast augmentation surgery. Some of the risks, however, that can occur soon after surgery include infection, bleeding, fluid build-up if the wound reopens, and nipple and breast sensation changes.

Some problems that might occur in the future include :

  • Challenges with breastfeeding,
  • A breast implant leak or rupture occurs (a saline implant would deflate, but it will be harder to notice with a silicone implant*),
  • Any scar tissues that form around the implant, making your breast feel hard (capsular contracture),
  • Mammograms that require additional views,
  • Additional surgery to address any issues, and
  • Sagging breasts over time, which might require breast lift surgery.

*We will perform an ultrasound, a physical exam, or an MRI scan if you experience breast pain or notice a change in breast shape to determine the condition of a silicone implant and the need for further treatment.

What To Expect After Surgery

How Long Does The Pain Last After Breast Augmentation?

After breast augmentation surgery, you might notice acute pain and swelling for several days. It could be a few weeks before your swelling and soreness is gone.

 Generally, both the location of an implant and the size of the implant can be factors in how much pain you’ll feel. Implants placed under the muscle (submuscular) can result in more pain than those placed over the muscle (sub-glandular). 

Some people can manage the swelling and pain during breast augmentation recovery with ice and over-the-counter medication, while others might need stronger medication.

How Long Does It Take For Implants To Drop?

It will take around three months for your skin, breast tissue, and muscles to relax and for your breast implants to settle. If your tissues are firmer than average before surgery, it can take a couple of months longer. Additionally, one implant may settle slower or faster than the other.

Recovering From Breast Surgery

You must follow your plastic surgeon’s after-care instructions to recover smoothly.

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Today’s breast implants no longer have an expiration date, easily lasting ten years or more. It’s not uncommon for some manufacturers to offer lifetime warranties or for patients to outlive their implants. 

Over time, your breasts may start to look different due to hormones, aging, weight fluctuations, and gravity. There is also a chance that your implants could rupture, so for these reasons, you may need or want more surgery in the future.

What To Expect After Surgery

How Long Does The Pain Last After Breast Augmentation?

After breast augmentation surgery, you might notice acute pain and swell for several days. It could be a few weeks before your swelling and soreness is gone.

Generally, both the location of an implant and the size of the implant can be factors in how much pain you’ll feel. Implants placed under the muscle (submuscular) can result in more pain than those placed over the muscle (sub-glandular).

Some people can manage the swelling and pain during breast augmentation recovery with ice and over-the-counter medication, while others might need stronger medication.

How Long Does It Take For Implants To Drop?

It will take around three months for your skin, breast tissue, and muscles to relax and for your breast implants to settle. If your tissues are firmer than average before surgery, it can take a couple of months longer. Additionally, one implant may settle slower or faster than the other.

Recovering From Breast Surgery

You must follow your plastic surgeon’s after-care instructions to recover smoothly.

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Today’s breast implants no longer have an expiration date, easily lasting ten years or more. It’s not uncommon for some manufacturers to offer lifetime warranties or for patients to outlive their implants.

Over time, your breasts may start to look different due to hormones, aging, weight fluctuations, and gravity. There is also a chance that your implants could rupture, so for these reasons, you may need or want more surgery in the future.

Let's Get Started

Call 801-250-7077

Let's Get Started

Call 801-250-7077​