Breast Augmentation Surgery:

Breast augmentation surgery, or augmentation mammaplasty, involves using breast implants to increase the size of your breasts or restore breast volume that has been lost after weight reduction or pregnancy.

Breast augmentation can:

1. Increase fullness and projection of your breasts.
2. Improve the balance of your figure.
3. Enhance your self-image and self-confidence.

Breast implants may also be used for breast reconstruction after mastectomy or injury.

Breast Augmentation Cost:

A physician’s fee for breast augmentation may vary based on his/her experience, geographic location, and the type and cost of breast implants used.

Many plastic surgeons offer patient financing plans for breast augmentation surgery, so be sure to ask.

Breast augmentation cost may include:

1. Anesthesia fees.
2. Hospital or surgical facility costs.
3. Medical tests.
4. Post-surgery garments.
5. Prescriptions for medication.
6. Surgeon’s fee.

When choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for breast augmentation surgery, remember that the surgeon’s experience with breast implants and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.

Breast Augmentation Consultation:

During your breast augmentation surgery consultation be prepared to discuss:

1. Your surgical goals
2. Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments.
3. Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use, and previous surgeries.

Your plastic surgeon will also:

1. Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors.
2. Take photographs.
3. Discuss your options.
4. Discuss likely outcomes of arm lift surgery and any risks or potential complications.

Breast augmentation surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery, and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

Careful reviews of scientific research by independent groups such as the Institute of Medicine have found no link between breast implants and autoimmune or other systemic diseases.

Other important considerations:

1. Breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and future surgery may be required to replace one or both implants.
2. Pregnancy, weight loss, and menopause may influence the appearance of augmented breasts over the course of your lifetime.
3. Breast augmentation requires regular examinations of your breasts’ health and to evaluate the condition of your breast implants.

Breast Augmentation Preparation:

In preparing for breast augmentation surgery, you may be asked to:

1. Get lab testing or a medical evaluation.
2. Take certain medications or adjust current medication regimen.
3. Stop smoking.
4. Avoid aspirin, NSAIDS (Ibuprofen), and herbal supplements as they increase bleeding.

Types of Breast Implants:

Saline breast implants are filled with sterile salt water. Should the implant shell leak, a saline implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body. Saline breast implants provide a uniform shape, firmness and feel, and are FDA-approved for augmentation in women age 18 or older.

Silicone breast implants are filled with silicone gel. The gel feels a bit more like natural breast tissue. If the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell, or may escape into the breast implant pocket. A leaking implant filled with silicone gel will not collapse.

If you choose silicone implants, you may need to visit your plastic surgeon regularly to make sure the implants are functioning properly. Silicone breast implants are FDA-approved for augmentation in women age 22 or older.

Gummy bear breast implants are form-stable implants because they maintain their shape even when the implant shell is broken. The consistency of the silicone gel inside the implant is thicker than traditional silicone gel implants. These implants are also firmer than traditional implants, but are thought to be less likely to break.

Gummy bear breast implants are shaped rather than round. They have more projection at the bottom and are tapered towards the top. If a shaped implant rotates, it may lead to an unusual appearance of the breast. Placement of gummy bear implants requires a longer incision in the skin.

Round breast implants have a tendency to make breasts appear fuller than form-stable implants. Higher profile options can achieve even more projection because round implants are the same shape all over thus there is less concern about them rotating out of place.

Breast Augmentation Procedure Steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – Incision

Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas to minimize visible scarring. You and your plastic surgeon will discuss which incision options are appropriate for your desired outcome.

Step 3 – Breast Implant Insertion

After the incision is made, a breast implant is inserted into a pocket either under the pectoral muscle, or directly behind the breast tissue over the pectoral muscle. The method for inserting the breast implant depends on the type of implant.

Step 4 – Closing the Incisions

Incisions are closed with layered sutures in the breast tissue and with sutures, skin adhesive or surgical tape to close the skin.

Breast Augmentation Recovery:

During your breast augmentation recovery, you will be taken into a recovery area to be closely monitored following surgery. Your breasts will be wrapped in gauze dressings and an elastic bandage or support bra will minimize swelling and support the breasts as they heal. You will be permitted to go home after a few hours. Before leaving, you will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your breasts following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, and when to follow-up with your plastic surgeon.

You may be instructed to wear a support bra around the clock for the first week or two. It will be important to cleanse the incision sites and apply ointment as directed. Be sure to follow all instructions carefully. After a post-surgical breast augmentation recovery period of 24 to 48 hours and an additional reduced-activity period of a few days, you will likely experience soreness and swelling for a few weeks.

Exercise and normal activity can resume at the direction of your plastic surgeon.

Breast Augmentation Risks and Safety Information:

Breast Augmentation surgery risks include:

1. Anesthesia risks
2. Bleeding
3. Infection
4. Poor wound healing
5. Unsightly scarring
6. Fluid accumulation (seroma)
7. Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels and muscles
8. Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
9. Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
10. Pain, which may persist
11. Sutures may not absorb, but spontaneously surface through the skin, causing irritation, drainage and redness
12. Possible need for revisional surgery.

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It’s important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.