Breast Enlargement/Breast Augmentation
Enhancing your figure

Breast enlargement – or augmentation mammoplasty, as it’s known in the medical world – is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breast. Women choose breast enlargement, or breast enhancement or breast augmentation, for a number of reasons:

• To enhance their body contour
• To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy or weight lose
• To balance a difference in breast size
• To achieve breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery

What does breast augmentation involve?
The purpose of breast augmentation is to increase a woman’s breast volume and shape. This breast implant surgery involves the surgical insertion of a saline or silicone implant behind each breast, usually, in part at least, behind the chest muscle .

Implant choice

Breast size and shape are important.  Implant type and size will be determined not just on your desired increase in size but more importantly on your breast anatomy, skin elasticity and body type.

Options for Breast Implants

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. They can be filled with varying amounts of saline which can affect the shape, firmness and feel of the breast. Should the implant shell leak, a saline implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body.

Silicone implants are filled with an elastic gel. The gel feels and moves much 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 may not collapse. If you choose these implants, you may need to visit your plastic surgeon regularly to make sure the implants are functioning properly. An ultrasound or MRI screening can assess the condition of breast implants.

Implant manufacturers occasionally introduce new styles and types of implants, so there may be additional options available.    Currently Saline implants are FDA-approved for augmentation in women 18 years of age and older.  Currently Silicone implants are FDA-approved for augmentation in women 22 years of age and older.

There are a few different methods that can be used to insert and position your implant. The incision can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest, around the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple) or in the armpit. You and your surgeon will decide which method is right for you, based on your anatomy and goals for augmentation. We will do our best to ensure that your scars are as inconspicuous as possible.

Breast augmentation surgery usually lasts one to two hours. It is performed as an outpatient procedure.

Plastic Surgery Associates also offers an alternate, less invasive method of breast augmentation, using an endoscope. Check with your doctor to see which procedure is best for you.

What should I expect after breast enlargement?
You’ll probably feel tired and sore for a few days after surgery, but you’ll be up and around the day of surgery. You should be able to return to work within a few days to a week, if your job isn’t too strenuous. You may feel a burning sensation in your nipples for about two weeks, but this will subside as bruising fades. Your doctor will prescribe medication to control any pain you feel.

The swelling in your breasts may take about a month to improve. As long as your breasts are sore, you should avoid physical contact. Follow your surgeon’s advice on when to resume exercising and normal daily activity.