5 Things To Know Before Getting A Breast Augmentation

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation is single-handedly the most popular cosmetic procedure as revealed in their 2017 National Plastic Surgery Statistics, increasing 3% since 2016.

If you are considering a breast augmentation procedure, you will need to keep a few things in mind. This may be anything from the placement of incisions, implant shape and size, implant type, and more! Here are a few of our tips if you are considering the surgery.

Location of Incision. The three most common incisions during a breast augmentation include the transaxillary, inframammary, and periareolar incisions. The transaxillary is created near the armpit, the inframammary in the breast fold, and the periareolar is around the nipple. Depending on your anatomy and your personal preferences, our surgeons will work with you to help you determine which would be the best fit.

One of the most important considerations relates to the ability to breastfeed after a breast augmentation procedure, as the location of your incision may affect your ability to do so. For women who would like to breastfeed in the future, the vast majority of surgeons will normally recommend incisions to be placed either in the breast fold (inframammary) or near the armpit (transaxillary), as opposed to the periareolar incision (around the nipple). This is because periareolar incisions run a small risk of damaging the areola complex, which can hinder your ability to breastfeed.

Type of Implant. The most common implants used to augment the breasts are saline and silicone implants. Saline implants are made of a silicone shell filled with a salt-water (saline) solution, which is very similar to the fluid that already exists in our bodies. This implant is usually less costly and requires smaller incisions, however, feel slightly firmer as opposed to silicone implants.

Silicone implants are made from a silicone shell filled with medical grade silicone gel, which is very comparable to the way breast tissue naturally feels. Gummy bear implants are the newest type of silicone implants that accurately reflect the natural shape and feel of natural breasts. During your consultation, your surgeon will take a variety of factors into consideration, such as your natural breast shape and size, breast tissue, and general anatomy before recommending which implant option would work best.

Breast augmentations do not fix sagginess. For patients who want to correct the appearance of sagging breasts, the appropriate procedure to do so is with a breast lift or mastopexy. The increased volume of a breast after a breast augmentation will only dramatize the appearance of sagging, whereas a breast lift will tighten the skin and tissue, removing excess skin and reposition low nipples. This procedure is extremely popular especially among patients who have experienced pregnancy, weight changes, and nursing as it provides improved firmness and shape. Patients who would like to augment and lift their breasts can benefit from a combination of both procedures to restore a youthful appearance to the breasts.

Your posture can be affected. Just like the weight of natural breasts can affect your posture, so can augmented breasts. The weight of equal volumes of breast implants, whether they are saline or silicone, are extremely comparable to that of natural breast tissue. This means that a natural D cup and an augmented D cup are almost undetectable in terms of weight. If you choose an implant size that is proportional to your natural body frame, you will not see much impact on your posture. On the other hand, large implants in proportion to your frame have the possibility of affecting your posture and you will definitely feel the effects of the additional weight on your chest.

It’s difficult to go from small to large in one-go. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you must set realistic goals before undergoing a breast augmentation. If you are naturally a small A cup, it can be difficult to achieve a DD after a single procedure. This is because your body and skin need an adjustment period during dramatic changes so that the skin does not expand too quickly, which can lead to unwanted side effects. Your surgeon may recommend enhancing your cup size by a few sizes at first and then increasing the size of the implant over the course of a few years to limit the possible complications that may occur otherwise.