What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation every year is one of the top two or three cosmetic surgeries in the United States. It involves inserting silicone implants filled with either silicone gel or saline solution into pockets created during surgery behind the breasts. Breast augmentation can increase size, projection, and overall volume.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING BREAST AUGMENTATION?

This is really a question of how you see your figure and if that affects your self-confidence: this isn’t simply a case of having larger breasts. If you’ve never been satisfied with the size or shape of your breasts, you’re constantly reminded every time you try on clothes or even when you get out of the shower in the morning. Breast augmentation can change all of that, and it can give you more self-confidence. When buying a new bathing suit or dressing for a dinner party, having larger breasts or a shapelier figure can change the way you see yourself, and that can give you a big boost in self-confidence. Year in and year out, studies show that satisfaction after having breast augmentation is among the highest of any cosmetic procedure.

WOULD BREAST AUGMENTATION BE RIGHT FOR ME?

The decision to have breast augmentation is a completely personal one. If you’ve never felt your breasts were proportional with your overall figure, breast augmentation can change that. Asymmetrical breasts can be made symmetrical and larger, should you choose. Or maybe you’d just like to have larger breasts.

If you feel you have serious sagging, either from pregnancy and breastfeeding or from gain and loss of a good deal of weight, you should consider having a breast lift with breast augmentation. This will remove excess, sagging skin prior to adding implants.

One thing about your decision to have breast augmentation — it has to be for you and you alone. The decision to undergo breast augmentation should not be made for a spouse, partner, or anyone else. This needs to be something you want…for you.

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What Are The Different Types Of Breast Implants Used In Breast Augmentation Surgery?

There are three common types of breast implants that are used in breast augmentation surgery:

Silicone Gel

Silicone gel breast implants consist of a silicone outer shell filled with medical-grade silicone gel. Compared with earlier silicone, today’s gel is more “cohesive,” meaning it stays together and within the shell more if the implant develops a leak. Silicone gel was formerly more liquid in nature; today’s gels are more like gelatin.

The consensus is that silicone breast implants feel more like natural breast tissue when compared with saline breast implants. An obvious disadvantage is if the implant ruptures. This can allow some of the silicone gel to leak into the breast pocket that was created to hold the implant. When this happens, the patient doesn’t usually know, as the implant retains its shape. The leak will show up on the regular mammograms necessary with silicone breast implants. The ruptured implant and any leaked gel will need to be removed and the implant replaced.

Saline

Saline breast implants consist of a silicone outer shell filled with sterile saline solution. Unlike silicone breast implants, which are filled at the factory, saline breast implants are placed into the breast pocket empty and are then filled in place. This allows these breast implants to be placed through smaller incisions. It also allows some flexibility with size.

If a saline implant ruptures, the body simply absorbs the salt water. But when this happens the implant will fully deflate, leaving the patient with one flattened breast. And, while the saline will be absorbed, the ruptured shell will still need to be surgically removed and replaced.

Gummy Bear Implants

Although technically silicone, gummy bear breast implants are different and deserve their own description. Gummy bear breast implants are made with “highly cohesive” silicone gel — think of the consistency of a gummy bear. This gel is much thicker than the gel used in other silicone implants. If a gummy bear implant is cut in half, the gel will remain within the shell and not leak out.

Gummy bear breast implants are also created in a teardrop shape, which is closer to the shape of the natural breast.

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DO I CHOOSE HOW MY BREAST IMPLANTS ARE INSERTED?

When you opt for breast augmentation, beyond the implant type, you’ll also make many other decisions. One of these will be how you want the breast implants placed, meaning where will the incisions be made. Dr. Mehan and Dr. Johnson will discuss your options with you and help you make your choice, along with the other decisions, at your breast augmentation consultation. At Dominion Plastic Surgery, we place breast implants through three incision locations: periareolar, inframammary, or transaxillary. Here’s more information on each.

• Periareolar Incisions — As the name suggests, these incisions are made just outside the dark skin of the areola on the lower side. These incisions become almost invisible after healing. The implants can be placed above or below the pectoral muscle. Placing it below the muscle can limit the possibility of infection and lower the risk of capsular contracture. This incision type can limit the size of silicone implants.

• Inframammary Crease Incisions — This incision is made just above the crease on the underside of the breast. While this placement allows the scar to be hidden beneath a bra or bikini top, this incision type still creates the largest scar. In most cases, implants placed through this incision are placed atop the pectoral muscle; placement beneath the muscle dictates cutting the muscle. This incision can handle any size of implant.

• Transaxillary Incisions — These are made with a vertical incision in the armpit. Your Dominion surgeon may use an endoscope for better viewing of the breast pocket with this incision. This incision leaves no scarring on the breasts, and the line in the armpit will become virtually invisible with time. Implants can easily be placed behind the chest muscle without any cutting. Plus, nipple sensation and later breastfeeding is unaffected by placement through transaxillary incisions. Recovery can be a little harder with this incision.

HOW WILL I CHOOSE THE SIZE OF MY BREAST IMPLANTS?

It surprises some patients that breast implants are not sized like bras. Instead, they are sized by the amount of material filling the implant shell, in cubic centimeters. The most popular size for implants is between 350 and 400 ccs, equating basically from a small to large C cup in bra size. At Dominion Plastic Surgery, we have various tools to help you visualize how different implant sizes will look on your unique figure.