Breast augmentation is about finding the right fit for you. After all, you want to be happy with the way you look. But maybe you feel that your breasts are too small. Or maybe your breasts never looked the same after having children. Breast augmentation can give you the look and shape you want.
You have a lot of options with breast augmentation, and undoubtedly you’ll have many questions as well. Here are some of the questions I get asked most frequently:
1. What results can I expect from breast augmentation?
Breast implants feel just like natural breast tissue, giving you a natural look that enhances and complements your body’s shape. The scars from the surgery are barely noticeable, so unless you choose to share that you’ve had surgery, most people will never be able to tell.
2. What if my natural breasts are sagging as well as small?
If the sagging or excess skin is minor, the implants alone may take care of the problem. But if the breast skin is too loose, a breast lift (mastopexy) may be necessary. I may recommend separating the two procedures, since combining the two into one surgery may cause an increase in complications.
3. Do you recommend silicone or saline implants?
I prefer silicone implants. They look and feel more like natural breast tissue, and studies by the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University have shown that silicone gel-filled implants are not associated with autoimmune disease or other health problems. But the decision is yours, and I can use either type of implant.
4. What size implant should I get?
This is a personal decision, but your natural frame ultimately determines how large you can go with the implants. If you work beyond your natural anatomy, your results might not look natural.
5. Will my implant go over or under the pectoral muscle?
Typically I place the implants below the muscle. This has been shown to have a lower incidence of capsular contraction (a hardening of the tissue surrounding the implant), and it gives an additional protective layer of tissue over the implant to hide any rippling that will occur over time.
6. What type of incision do you use?
I prefer inframammary incisions (in the breast fold). This gives me the most direct approach and allows me to be more precise. The scars are short and barely noticeable once they have matured. I’ve used all of the approaches, but I’ve settled on this one.
7. What should I expect during my recovery?
For the first three to four days, a pain pump will drop a local anesthetic into your wound. This considerably improves your comfort in the first few days. You’ll probably be able to return to work within a week or less. You can resume exercise within two weeks, although I’ll ask you to hold off on upper body exercises for four to six weeks. For the first two to three months, I’ll have you wear a sports bra or soft cup bra with good support. No underwire bras are allowed during that time.
8. What experience do you have with breast augmentation?
Over the years, I’ve worked closely not only with my patients, but also with the makers of breast implants. In fact, in 2008 I served as a Distinguished Member of NOVO, the National Council of Leaders in Breast Aesthetics, for Allergan, Inc., one of the makers of breast implants.
I’d be happy to talk with you in more detail about whether breast augmentation is the right fit for you. Call our office today to schedule your consultation.
