Breast augmentation isn’t just a “boob job.” It’s a way to regain self-confidence after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. It’s a way to increase your sense of femininity and have the breast size you’ve always wanted or restore what you once had. Breast augmentation, or augmentation mammaplasty, enhances the size of your breasts and creates a pleasing contour that fits your unique body shape and goals for a natural and proportional appearance.
If you’re interested in breast augmentation, please contact Legacy Plastic Surgery today at 610-524-8244 to schedule your consultation. Our office in Exton serves patients from Paoli, the Main Line, Chester County, Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and nearby areas.
Many of our patients seek breast surgery to address sagging or deflation caused by extreme weight loss, pregnancy and breastfeeding, or aging, but genetics can also play a part such as uneven or naturally small breasts. Whether it’s size or sagging you’d like to address, our skilled plastic surgeons can help you identify the perfect breast enlargement or reconstruction option to suit you.
There are a variety of breast augmentation choices, and our plastic surgeons spend ample time with each patient as no body or breast is the same. Some details and choices to keep in mind include:
- Candidates for Breast Augmentation
- Types of Breast Implants
- Breast Implant Size
- Breast Implant Incision & Placement
- What to Expect Before, During, & After Breast Augmentation
- Schedule Your Consultation with Our Exton Breast Surgeons
CANDIDATES FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia. It’s essential for women interested in breast enhancement or any form of plastic surgery to be nonsmokers in good overall health. Dr. Kim and Dr. Wingate believe in a personal approach to breast surgery and will make sure you undergo the procedure that will give you the results you’re looking for.
Most patients who have small or asymmetrical breasts or have experienced deflation after having children, losing a significant amount of weight or the natural aging process are excellent candidates for breast augmentation. However, some may achieve better results through a breast lift or a combination of a lift and breast implants.
Those looking for breast enhancement should also:
- Be at least 18 years old for saline implants and 22 years old for silicone implants.
- Have realistic expectations for their results.
- Have the time available to recover comfortably at home.
- Be finished breastfeeding.
- Have help with childcare and home recovery for at least one week post-surgery.
The best way to determine if you’re a candidate for breast augmentation surgery is to schedule a consultation with one of our breast implant surgeons in Philadelphia.
TYPES OF BREAST IMPLANTS
You have more breast implant choices than ever before, and each implant offers unique benefits. Silicone and saline are the most common breast implants, but we also offer gummy bear implants and breast augmentation with fat transfer, which doesn’t involve an actual implant but uses your body fat to increase your breast size.
- Silicone Implants: Women interested in silicone implants must be at least 22 years old. This option involves a silicone shell that is pre-filled with silicone. Silicone implants are said to provide a more natural feel, rivaling natural breast tissue.
- Saline Implants: These breast implants are filled with sterile saline water (saltwater) after the silicone shell has been surgically placed above or below your pectoral muscle. Saline implant size can be adjusted during the breast augmentation procedure, giving our breast surgeons the freedom to ensure your breasts are the size and shape you want while also making sure they fit your frame. If your saline implant were to rupture, it’s immediately noticeable as the saline is naturally absorbed by your body, unlike silicone implant ruptures that require imaging.
- Gummy Bear Implants: This breast implant option gets its name because it maintains its shape in the event of an implant rupture. Gummy bear breast implants also consist of a silicone shell, but the gel inside is thicker than traditional silicone implants, which gives them a firmer feel. Breast augmentation at Legacy Plastic Surgery is highly-individualized. The type of implant that is right for you and your body will depend on several factors. Our breast surgeons believe there’s an implant type for every patient looking for breast enhancement, and we have up to 70 different options.
Breast implants are not meant to last a lifetime and will need to be replaced eventually. A majority of women don’t need to replace breast implants for 10 to 15 years if at all, and even then, breast revision surgery is typically performed after an issue arises.
BREAST IMPLANT SIZE
Breast implant procedures are a big commitment both physically and financially. The ultimate goal is a proportional and natural look. So much depends on the individual anatomy where very specific measurements are made such as the breast width, height, existing tissue thickness, and position. It’s essential to know what your final results will look and feel like, and one way to accomplish that is with breast implant “samples.” Dr. Kim and Dr. Wingate use implant sizing samples to help you determine what is possible with your breast augmentation.
Your anatomy plays a large role in the breast implant procedure. The thickness and amount of breast tissue you have, whether you’ve had kids, and if you want over or under the muscle placement, will determine the type of implant and implant size that will help us reach your goals safely.
BREAST IMPLANT INCISION & PLACEMENT
Breast implant type and size are just two of the decisions involved in breast augmentation. There are several options for the incision location and placement of the implants, including:
Incision Options
- Inframammary: Incision is made in the natural creases or folds underneath the breast, which is then concealed by the weight of the breast.
- Peri-areolar: Incision is made on the outer edge of the nipple and blends in with the darker pigment of the areolas.
- Transaxillary: Incision is made inside the armpit, which is often used for saline implants as they’re filled after placement.
Inframammary and peri-areolar are the most common breast implant incision sites. We will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each incision location to figure out the best course of action for your breast enlargement surgery. Any residual scarring is concealed as much as possible and will fade over time.
Placement Options
- Subglandular: The breast implant is positioned beneath the breast tissue and over the pectoral muscle. This placement choice may give an added benefit of your breasts looking lifted. Subglandular placement can involve a shorter recovery time and be less painful because the muscle is left unaffected, but it’s also closer to the surface of your skin, which could mean visible implant rippling in some cases, such as with saline implants. Silicone or gummy bear breast implants may be a better option in this case.
- Submuscular: The breast implant is placed both beneath the breast tissue and the pectoral muscle. Submuscular positioning may require a longer recovery period, and you could experience more pain.
WHAT TO EXPECT BEFORE, DURING & AFTER BREAST AUGMENTATION
Our breast implant surgeons spend time getting to know you. The best patient is an educated patient. We want you to be overjoyed with your breast augmentation results, and that begins with a thorough consultation. Our plastic surgery consultations have a $125 fee, which is then credited toward your procedure if you decide to proceed. Breast augmentation cost varies patient to patient, and we can discuss the financial details at this time as well.
During your first visit, we will analyze your overall health and history, current medications, any vitamins or supplements you take, and discuss your desired results. You can view our before-and-after photos of breast augmentation, and, if you’d like, you can speak with one of our former patients who had the same procedure. Once we’ve nailed down the implant type, size and surgical approach, we can move forward with your breast enhancement.
You’ll need to stop smoking and taking anti-inflammatories such as aspirin and ibuprofen several weeks before your procedure, as well as some vitamins and supplements that may interfere. You’ll also need to have someone available to drive you home after your breast surgery and stay with you for at least two days of your recovery, or at least one week if you have small children.
The breast implant (or fat transfer) procedure itself takes a little over an hour to perform on average, and you’ll be under general anesthesia. You will likely have mild to moderate pain and a general feeling of heaviness on your chest immediately following surgery. The bigger the breast implant, the more pain you’ll experience.
When you wake up, you’ll likely have a strap around your chest to prevent implant displacement. Our breast surgeon will advise that you wear a compression garment to help reduce swelling, which often subsides after three weeks but may take longer to dissipate fully.
The breast augmentation recovery process involves a type of timeline, including:
- The First 48 Hours: You could be up and moving around the evening of your breast augmentation, but no bending, lifting (including small children), or physical activity. You can shower and raise your arms to wash your hair, but again, no heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. We will see you for your first follow up appointment within this period, and you can take Tylenol, Advil or similar over-the-counter medication to help ease your discomfort. We try to stay away from using narcotics as much as possible.
- One Week Post-Op: Most of our breast augmentation patients return to work within one week. Your second follow-up at our office will be within 7-8 days of your implant procedure.
- Three Weeks Post-Op: If you’re a runner, you can resume jogging, but not regular exercise such as lifting weights. Visit us for your third follow-up appointment, all of which are free of charge.
- Six Weeks Post-Op: You can resume your regular exercise routine and come in for another appointment with our breast surgeon to ensure you’re healing well.
- Six Months Post-Op: All swelling should have subsided at this point, revealing your full breast augmentation results, which we’ll discuss and evaluate during your six-month appointment.
- One Year Post-Op: Our plastic surgeons encourage our patients to come in for free yearly checkups regardless of the type of plastic surgery procedure.
SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION WITH OUR EXTON BREAST SURGEONS
If you’re interested in breast augmentation, please contact Legacy Plastic Surgery in Exton, Pennsylvania today at 610-524-8244 to schedule your consultation. Our plastic surgeons and skilled medical staff serve patients from Exton, Paoli, the Main Line, Chester County, Philadelphia, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and other areas.
