Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in the United States. This popular procedure allows patients to enhance their breast size and shape to achieve or restore their ideal size.
At Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Marietta, GA, we serve Atlanta, Douglasville, Woodstock, Vinings, and the surrounding areas. Our renowned surgeons ensure that each of our patients is well-informed, comfortable, and happy with their results.
Have you considered breast augmentation surgery? We’ve compiled all of the information you need to know about the procedure.
What Is Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Also called augmentation mammoplasty, breast augmentation surgery uses breast implants to increase breast size and enhance shape. Patients whose breast volume declined after weight loss or pregnancy or who want larger, fuller breasts often opt for breast augmentation to improve the natural breast shape and size.
What Breast Augmentation Can and Can’t Do
Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, it’s critical to understand the procedure’s limitations and what you can expect from your results.
Breast augmentation can:
- Correct asymmetrical breasts
- Restore size and fullness to drooping breasts after pregnancy or weight loss
- Add volume and size to the breasts
- Improve your overall body shape
- Reconstruct the breasts after mastectomy or injury
While breast augmentation surgery can accomplish most breast size and shape goals, it cannot correct severely drooping breasts. A breast lift procedure is necessary to remove the excess skin and tighten the tissue to restore breast contour. A breast lift is often performed along with breast augmentation or can be a separate procedure.
There Are Different Types of Breast Implants
Breast implants fall into three categories: saline, silicone, and “gummy bear.” However, implants can be further specialized for shape and texture within those categories.
Saline and Structured Saline Implants
Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. They tend to be uniform in shape, firmness, and overall feel. They can come prefilled or be filled during your breast augmentation surgery.
Saline implants offer a safety advantage. In the case of a leak in the implant shell, the implant will collapse and the body will absorb the saline. Patients who like the safety aspect of saline implants but prefer a more natural feel can opt for structured saline implants instead.
Structured saline implants contain internal channels that restrict the movement of saline solution inside the implant to maintain form and feel. They offer the same absorption benefits as traditional saline implants.
Silicone Implants
Silicone implants are gel-based and designed to match the feel of natural breast tissue. They come in various shapes and degrees of firmness.
If a silicone implant leaks, the gel may stay inside the shell or could escape into the implant pocket. In the case of a leak, silicone implants do not collapse.
Since the body doesn’t absorb the silicone gel, and there’s no way to tell if the implant leaks, silicone implants require regular visits to the Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery team to ensure the integrity and function of the implants remain intact.
Gummy Bear Implants
Gummy bear implants also contain silicone gel, but the gel in these implants is thicker and firmer. Also known as form-stable implants, they retain their shape if the implant shell breaks.
Placing a gummy bear implant requires a slightly longer incision. Additionally, these implants are shaped to be fuller at the bottom and tapered at the top.
The Breast Augmentation Process
Undergoing breast augmentation surgery is a multi-step process that begins with choosing a surgeon you like and trust. The first step in your breast augmentation process is meeting with your potential surgeon.
The Breast Augmentation Consultation
Plan for your initial consultation to last 60-90 minutes. In this initial consultation, you’ll meet with our surgeon for an in-depth discussion about your motivations, needs, questions, and expectations from breast augmentation surgery.
Additionally, you’ll discuss specific concerns around your current breast shape and size and if there are any other concerns, like nipple size. Finally, our surgical team will measure your breasts and take photos of your chest for your medical records.
The consultation will also include time to try different implant sizes, shapes, and styles. You and your surgeon will discuss the ideal implant type, positioning, incision location, as well as the procedure for breast augmentation recovery.
Breast Augmentation Preparation and Procedure
We advise patients to stop smoking and cease using hormonal birth control about six weeks before their breast augmentation procedure. Tobacco use can slow healing, and hormonal birth control can cause blood clots.
Ten days before the procedure, we ask you to stop drinking red wine, taking ibuprofen, aspirin, and blood thinners, and cut out vitamin E supplements. Two days before the procedure, you’ll need to stop drinking alcohol altogether and take a bath in a special disinfectant soap.
The breast augmentation procedure takes about 90 minutes and is often performed on an outpatient basis. While you’ll discuss the incision site and implant placement with your surgeon before surgery, most patients choose their incision to be under the breast and partially under the pectoralis major chest muscle.
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Breast augmentation recovery typically begins with an hour in the postoperative recovery room before heading home. A long-acting anesthetic allows patients to remain virtually pain-free for the first 72 hours.
Most patients return to work within three to five days, with restrictions on their activity remaining for two weeks. We advise wearing a post-surgical bra at this time. Patients can expect to realize the full results of their procedure six to eight weeks after surgery.
Learn What Breast Augmentation Surgery Can Do for You
If you’ve considered breast augmentation surgery to reshape and resize your breasts, you owe it to yourself to schedule a consultation with the team at Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to learn what the procedure can do for you.
The acclaimed surgeons at Georgia Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery serve patients in Marietta, Atlanta, Douglasville, Woodstock, Vinings, and the surrounding areas. Schedule your initial consultation with us today.
