Patients seeking breast augmentation may do so for a variety of reasons. A woman may desire larger breasts to feel more proportionate or simply to enhance the size of her breasts if she feels her current breast size is too small. Breast augmentation may also be performed in order to help women return to their previous size after pregnancy or to evenly balance the size of uneven breasts. Correcting these asymmetries can also help to strengthen a woman's self-confidence.



Breast augmentation is a surgery performed under general anesthesia. Many surgeons offer four incision options: transaxillary (through the armpit, done endoscopically), transumbilical (through the belly button, done endoscopically), inframammary (under the breast) and peri-aerola (around the edge of the nipple). Ask your surgeon each of these options with you to help you determine which location is best for you and to minimize the visibility of any scarring that may occur.

Many surgeons often use breast implants which are either filled with a saline solution or silicone gel. Silicone implants were recently FDA approved for all patients over the age of 22 seeking breast augmentation. There are pros and cons with both saline and silicone breast implants and your surgeon will help you determine which implant is right for you during your complimentary consultation.

Breast augmentation is a highly personal decision in which your goals should be realistically determined and discussed with your surgeon. Together you and your surgeon will determine what specific procedures will be performed as well as which type of implant will be used. Once your goals have been determined and realistic expectations have been discussed you will set a date for this procedure and will be given instructions on how to prepare for the surgery. A pre-operative appointment will be set up prior to surgery where we will go over your health history, take before photos, have you sign consents and paperwork and allow you to try on sizer implants once again to determine which implant size you prefer.

When the date for your breast augmentation has arrived, your surgeon will talk to you before taking you back to the operating room to make sure that you haven't changed your mind on implant size or incision location and to answer any last minute questions you may have. After the procedure, patients often experience soreness for a few days but are usually back to their normal lives within a few days and back to moderate exercise routines within a couple of weeks . Pain following the surgery can be minimized by medications prescribed by your doctor. All breast augmentation procedures are performed under general anesthesia to help minimize any discomfort or pain.

It is important to follow any instructions your physician may give you following your breast augmentation. Patients should be aware that soreness will be present after the operation and that moderate to heavy physical activity following the operation should be avoided for a period of time.

You may be a candidate for breast implant removal and replacement if you decide you want different size implants after having already received breast augmentation, or you experience capsular contraction (hardening of your breasts) or unevenness in size due to an implant deflation or mal-position.

Your surgeon may perform breast implant removal and replacement under general anesthesia and you may go home the same day. In most cases, the recovery from this procedure is reasonably quick since the implant pockets have already been made. Most patients return to work within a few days following the procedure and may return to normal activities within a few weeks.