Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation, also commonly referred to as "breast implants, breast enhancement, breast enlargement, or boob jobs," is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. 

Whether you want more youthful, fuller, and perky breasts, or you want to have more even breasts, breast augmentation surgery with saline,  gel-filled, or silicone implants can transform and improve your overall body contour. 

Breast Augmentation FAQs

Where do you place the scars with breast augmentation surgery?

Our plastic surgeon places the incision under the breast at the base of the inframammary fold (IMF). This provides the surgeon easy access to the breast while hiding the scar under the breast. Although the scar is tucked under the breast, it is still visible on the skin.

How long is my recovery after breast augmentation surgery?

Breast augmentation is performed in an outpatient surgery setting under general anesthesia with the surgery taking approximately 2 hours. Patients are placed in a surgical bra and sent home the same day. You will be seen back in clinic within 1-3 days after surgery and then again in a couple of weeks. Plan on it taking several days to get back on your feet and around two weeks to return to your normal daily activities. In addition, swelling will be present for at least six weeks but may take up to several months to fully resolve.

How much pain can I expect to have from a breast augmentation surgery?

While each patient’s recovery is unique, pain and discomfort are present for 1-3 days following surgery, and then will gradually improve. We have many things we can do to help ease your recovery including long-acting local anesthetics during surgery and pain medications and compression garments after surgery to help your recovery be much more manageable.

When can breast augmentation patients return to regular work and workout routines?

Most patients feel ready to return to work and daily activities within one week and to a normal workout schedule after 4-6 weeks. Patients are advised to avoid vigorous exercise or heavy lifting for six weeks. Patients will need to wear a non-underwire bra for 6 weeks. 

Can breast augmentation help with breasts that appear deflated?

After pregnancy or breastfeeding or naturally with aging, the breasts can appear smaller and deflated. Breast augmentation surgery can improve the size and shape of your breasts.

Is it better to place the breast implant above or below the muscle in breast augmentation?

When your surgeon places a breast implant underneath the chest muscle, this covers the implant better making rippling after surgery less likely. When your surgeon places the breast implant above the muscle, this option may be chosen as it can lift your nipple and areola.

Is breast augmentation surgery permanent?

It is important to know that breast implants are not designed to last a lifetime, and patients may need to replace one or both implants over time. Breast implant manufacturers recommend that you can expect the breast implants to last around 10 years. We do have many patients who have had breast implants for much longer than 10 years and who have not needed to replace the breast implants. It is reasonable to assume a replacement surgery may need to be done during that time period. You might consider replacing your breast implants if you have tightening of the scar tissue around one or both implants (capsular contracture) that changes the shape and feel of the breast and can be painful for some patients. Some patients want to change the size of their breast implant to smaller or larger. In addition, having a breast implant leak or rupture would also indicate time to replace or remove the breast implants. 

What are common risks of breast augmentation surgery?

It is important to talk with your plastic surgeon about the risks of your surgery and how the risks can be minimized to provide the best possible outcome. The more common risks of breast augmentation include bleeding, infection, excess scarring, implant visibility and rippling, and implant rupture. One of the more frustrating, and sometimes painful, complications of breast augmentation is capsular contracture that occurs when excess scar tissue forms around the implant capsule, resulting in a firm breast implant. Treatment of capsular contracture typically requires additional surgery to exchange the implant or to remove it entirely along with the scar tissue. 

Is there an age requirement for breast augmentation? 

Women over the age of 18 are approved for saline filled breast implants. The FDA requires that women be over the age of 22 to be eligible for cosmetic surgery using silicone gel (sometimes called gummy bear) filled implants.

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