Should You Get a Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most popular types of plastic surgery and moving forward with breast augmentation is a personal decision. This procedure is completely customizable and allows patients to achieve their ideal breast size, shape, and body proportions through a personalized surgical treatment plan. If you’re interested in undergoing breast augmentation and want to determine if it’s right for you, an experienced plastic surgeon will work with you to confirm your eligibility and create your treatment plan.

All About Breast Implant Surgery

What Is Breast Implant Surgery?

Breast implant surgery is the most popular type of breast augmentation that uses breast implants to help women achieve their ideal breasts. Breast implants come in various shapes, sizes, and textures and create different projections.

A breast augmentation with breast implants can augment the breasts and correct cosmetic imperfections like asymmetry of the breasts, disproportional breasts (which is when one breast is larger than the other), and underdeveloped breasts. Patients can schedule breast augmentation surgery to address cosmetic imperfections or simply to achieve their ideal body proportions.

What Are the Different Types of Breast Implants?

There are two primary types of breast implants: silicone implants and saline implants. Both are FDA-approved and can effectively help women achieve their desired augmented breasts. When you schedule your initial consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, he can explain more about the differences between each and help determine which option is right for your breast augmentation.

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone implants are made of a stable silicone gel. These implants maintain their shape even if patients experience implant rupture, which is one of the reasons they are so popular. These implants also resemble and feel like natural breasts and normal tissue. They are available in a teardrop shape to resemble the appearance of natural breasts.

Most women who want the most natural-looking results after breast implant surgery choose silicone implants. They are also a good option for women who need to undergo breast reconstruction or those who need to replace saline implants inserted during a previous breast augmentation.

Saline Implants

Saline implants are made of a shell that the surgeon fills with sterile salt water during surgery to the patient’s desired size. In the event of breast implant rupture with saline breast implants, the body will absorb the sterile salt water, and it won’t cause any harm; but it must be repaired by a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Customizing Your Breast Augmentation

Understanding Textured Implants

Aside from choosing your desired breast implants, you’ll also work with your plastic surgeon to personalize other aspects of this cosmetic surgery. Breast implants for breast augmentation also come in different sizes, shapes, and textures.

Textured breast implants are often used in breast augmentation surgery because they reduce the risk of capsular contracture. Breast implants with textured surfaces don’t move around once inserted, and they settle well with the breast tissue. They may increase the risk of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, which is a rare form of lymphoma.

Adding a Breast Lift to Your Breast Augmentation

A breast lift is a popular type of breast enhancement cosmetic surgery that treats sagging breasts without increasing breast size. Many patients who are happy with the amount of breast tissue they have often schedule this procedure to reverse the effects of weight loss, breastfeeding, and pregnancy on the appearance of the breasts.

Patients who get breast implants removed often schedule a breast lift to promote the most youthful-looking results. It also enhances the results of implant removal. This procedure pairs well with breast augmentation because while breast implants will improve the size and shape of the breasts, the procedure doesn’t lift them higher on the chest wall like a lift does.

Implant Placement and Incision Site

Implant placement and incision site location are other aspects of your breast augmentation that you’ll need to decide with the help of your plastic surgeon. There are some common implant placement locations, including above the pectoral muscle and below it. Both have advantages, and your surgeon will give you details about each option and help you make the best decision for your body.

The incision site is the location through which the plastic surgeon inserts the breast implants during breast augmentation. Patients who get breast implants can opt for an inframammary incision in which the implants are inserted through the crease below the breast. There’s also the transaxillary incision, which is the area under the arm, and the periareolar incision, which is the area around the nipple.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation Surgery?

The best candidates for breast augmentation surgery are women with naturally smaller breasts who want to achieve the breasts they have always wanted but weren’t born with. It’s also an ideal option for women who want to reverse the effects that pregnancy and breastfeeding have had on their breasts and women who have had breast cancer and have undergone a mastectomy and want to achieve natural-looking breasts and boost their self-esteem.

Women who have had breast enhancement in the past and need new implants can also benefit from this cosmetic surgery. Ideal candidates should have realistic expectations about breast augmentation surgery, be in good physical health, and meet all the criteria of the patient decision checklist. They should also be non-smokers who are committed to living a healthy lifestyle both before and after breast augmentation surgery.

What Happens During the Breast Surgery Process?

Your Initial Consultation: Meeting With a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

The first step in the breast augmentation process is meeting with a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon who is a known expert in performing breast augmentations with breast implants in the area. Your surgeon will discuss your medical history, your current health, and any medications you’re taking. He will also perform a physical exam and evaluate your natural breasts and then discuss your goals and how you want your breasts to look after surgery.

Once the surgeon confirms that you are a good candidate for this procedure, he can begin designing your surgical treatment plan. During this appointment, you can see and feel the different breast implant types, sizes, and projections in person, ask questions about the surgery, and learn more about the potential risks.

Preparing for Surgery

There are some ways that you can prepare your body for surgery to ensure the best results and the quickest and healthiest recovery. You’ll need to eat a healthy diet, get exercise, stay hydrated, avoid certain supplements and medications as directed, and avoid smoking.

Your surgeon will give you complete directions on how to prepare for surgery so you know exactly what to expect and can take steps to avoid any potential risks during and after surgery. You’ll also need someone to help at home during those first few days so you can rest and recover and not over-exert yourself.

Your Procedure

A typical breast augmentation surgery takes one to two hours, and surgery times vary based on each patient’s surgical treatment plan and whether they choose to add additional cosmetic procedures to the surgery.

Some patients add a breast lift, facelift, tummy tuck, liposuction, or other cosmetic surgeries to this procedure to accomplish multiple goals during one appointment.

Your Recovery After Breast Augmentation

Recovery after breast augmentation typically takes six to eight weeks. You’ll need to spend the first several days resting and recovering so that your body can focus on healing. It’s important to note that some scar tissue is normal during healing, and your surgeon will discuss any concerns you have about this tissue after getting implants at your follow-up appointments.

As long as you follow all the surgeon’s instructions, attend all follow-up appointments, and focus on rest and recovery, you can expect a quick healing process and can enjoy your new breasts as soon as possible.

Can I Breastfeed After Breast Augmentation?

If you’re not done having children and intend to nurse in the future, be sure to let your surgeon know so he can help determine the best implant placement location.

Surgeons typically recommend that patients opt for submuscular placement because it doesn’t interfere with the glands and the ability to breastfeed.

Will I Need Breast Imaging After Breast Augmentation?

Surgeons recommend that those who get breast implants schedule regular imaging appointments to check the health of the implants. These checkups will give you peace of mind about the integrity of your implants and allow you to take steps to address any potential issues before they become more significant issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Recovery Like After a Boob Job?

After your breast augmentation, you’ll need to spend the first week resting and recovering. Recovery time varies among patients, but most can return to work one to two weeks after surgery. Patients who get breast implants will need to wear a surgical bra, avoid heavy lifting, stop smoking, and take steps to ensure they are in a good mental place.

Your surgeon will make a follow-up appointment after surgery to check on the incision site and ensure you are recovering well from the procedure. Following all the aftercare instructions and avoiding any activities and medication that could increase bleeding during those first two weeks will reduce the risks of complications and ensure you have a quick and healthy recovery after surgery and achieve your ideal breasts.

What Is Breast Implant Illness?

Breast implant illness is a condition in which the body responds poorly to the presence of breast implants in the body. This condition has systemic symptoms like chest pain, chronic fatigue, memory loss, hair loss, joint pain, digestive issues, difficulty sleeping, and a decline in overall physical health, and it can often mimic the signs of autoimmune conditions.

There’s no test to confirm whether a patient is suffering from this condition; the only option is implant removal. Healthcare providers will run different tests to rule out other medical conditions or autoimmune conditions before recommending that patients have their implants removed to alleviate symptoms and restore their quality of life.

What Is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is a group of thousands of board-certified plastic surgeons who have experience, skill, and credentials performing various surgical procedures, including breast augmentation. When you schedule this surgery with one of these experienced surgeons, you can feel confident about every aspect of your procedure.

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Breast implants typically last ten years, after which they’ll need replacement, but some implants will last longer. Different factors can affect the appearance and integrity of breast implants and change how the breasts look, including trauma to the breasts, aging, and weight loss.

During your consultation, your surgeon can give you more information about how long your chosen breast implants will last, so you are fully informed and know what to expect. When you commit to getting breast implants and know ahead of time that they will need to be replaced at some point in the future, you won’t have to be surprised when that time finally comes.

If you’re considering getting breast implants and want to learn more about this surgery, our experienced and world-renowned surgeon, Dr. Nir, can provide you with all the information you need so you can make an informed decision. Contact us today at Palms Wellington Plastic Surgery in Wellington, FL, to learn more about breast augmentation and to schedule your consultation with Dr. Nir.