Dr. D’Arcy Honeycutt is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Breast Augmentation.
Q. What is breast augmentation?
A. Breast Augmentation is a procedure done to enhance the size of your breasts by using breast implants.
Breast augmentation is not only a medical decision, it is a personal one. Many women find the procedure has helped their appearance and self confidence. The next step is to decide if the procedure is right for you.
Q. How should one prepare for breast augmentation surgery?
A. To prepare for breast augmentation, a woman should stop smoking. She should be near her ideal weight and plan no pregnancy for at least six months. She should be done breast feeding 3 months. We provide our patients with a list of medications that cannot be taken 2 weeks prior to surgery. We also require certain labs. The patients are provided their scripts at their preop. Other labs may be required depending on their medical history. I have strict policies regarding smokers. I ask my breast augmentation patients to quit smoking. Patients inquiring about breast reduction, breast reconstruction, face lift, abdominoplasty and mastopexy MUST be done with smoking three months prior to even scheduling a consult. A nicotine test will be done one month prior to the surgery date.
Q. How is a breast augmentation surgery performed?
A. Breast implants can be placed under the breast tissue or below the chest muscle. Breast implants are surgically implanted using the periareolar incision, with the incision made along the edge of the colored area of the nipple. The scar here is nearly invisible. An infra-mammary incision may also be used placing the incision in the skin fold below the breast.
Q. What are the possible immediate post-operative effects in breast augmentation surgery?
A. 16-25% of patients need/want surgery again, due to hardness or malposition. Complications, which are uncommon include hematoma-bleeding in the pocket, pneumothorax, asymmetry, infection, lymph node enlargement and stretch marks.
Q. What are the risks associated with breast augmentation?
A. Capsular contracture, wrinkling, calcification in scar tissue, thinning of overlying issue, gel bleed/benign tumor/granulomas, extrusion, blood clots, inability to breast feed, implant failure/rupture, asymmetry.
Q. What is the recovery time for breast augmentation?
A. 1 month. No lifting or bouncing for 1 month; sex is OK – Breasts not involved; Dressings-gauze and tape or 72 hours then you may shower; massage/displacement exercises – start 2 weeks post-op (smooth implants only)
Q. How much does breast augmentation cost?
A. $4500 saline; this includes the physicians fee, facility fee, anesthesia, garment and the implants. Silicone would be about $1300-$1600 more.