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Cosmetic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Roger T. Brill, MD, FACS PA
352-331-7987 800-428-8419
Breast Augmentation
There are many reasons why women consider breast augmentation surgery, ranging from the desire to have larger, more shapely breasts, to recovering breast shape and volume lost due to childbirth and age, to Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy. Breast Augmentation surgery can increase breast size and shape. It can also bring a sense of balance and symmetry to your body as well as bolster your self esteem and confidence.
The actual procedure, called Augmentation Mammoplasty, involves surgically inserting a breast implant under either the fatty tissues of the existing breast or under the breast muscles, depending on the look you want to achieve.
Breast augmentation surgery is a very specific surgery that can fulfill your desire to have larger, fuller breasts. However, this surgery alone is not appropriate for those who have severely sagging breasts. This condition may require a separate procedure, known as the Breast Lift because it literally lifts the breast back to its original state before gravity and age took their toll. There is the option of using the breast lift technique along with the breast augmentation procedure, if the desired intention is not only to correct the sagging, but also increase fullness. Sometimes people have a very tuberous shape to their breasts (pointy) and that as well will require added efforts either in one surgery or more depending on what you start off with. Dr. Brill will consult with you on the various possibilities available to you.
A Good Candidate
The decision to undergo breast implants surgery, as it is commonly referred, is one that you should carefully consider. As with any cosmetic surgical procedure, be sure that your motivations are centered around fulfilling and enhancing your own sense of innate beauty and self-image. Breast augmentation surgery can be a good option for those who are:
Physically healthy
Have realistic expectations
Have fully developed breasts
Feel the necessity for larger, fuller breasts
Wish to restore their breasts to pre-childbirth condition and reverse the natural sagging produced by age and fluctuations of weight gain and loss
Have uneven, asymmetrical or misshapen breasts
In order to create the best possible results from your breast augmentation surgery, it is important for Dr. Brill to consult with you to discuss your desires and expectations, as well as how breast augmentation surgery will impact your health, lifestyle and general well-being. It is a good idea to prepare by considering the following before your consultation:
At the consultation, Dr. Brill wil also evaluate your current health and examine the condition of your pre-operative breasts for size, shape and irregularities and photograph your breasts. Based on the information gathered, Dr. Brill will discuss your surgical options and recommend a course of treatment. He will disclose the risk of common complications associated with breast augmentation surgery and the use of anesthesia, cover what to do the day of surgery and cover post-operative care and recovery.
In the weeks before surgery, you may need to have laboratory testing or medical evaluations according to what Dr. Brill thinks you need like a mammogram pre and post surgery to document any changes in breast tissues (especially if you’re over about 35). You will need to avoid the consumption of alcohol, drugs and abstain from smoking for a certain period surrounding surgery to achieve the best possible outcome.
Procedure Detail/Expectations
After careful examination and thought, Dr. Brill will decide on the location of the incision. Dr. Brill is able to do the surgery through any of three choices (fold, areola or armpit). No matter where the implant is located, it will be in a hidden area to minimize visible scarring and will mostly be determined by the type and size of the desired implant and your anatomical structure.
Another important decision is the type and size of your implants, depending on your desired breast size and shape. It is important to be honest and clear with me regarding the results you want to achieve, so that I can determine the best ‘fit’ for you based on your anatomical scale and proportion and skin elasticity. Go to my blog on doctormeade.com about silicone vs saline to read some hard facts that may help you make your selection.
Breast Implants Options:
There are several types of prosthetic implants available today, including the most popular implants made from saline and silicone gel. Both types of implants are comprised of a shell which is then filled with either saline, (sterile salt water) or silicone gel. Both offer the option of varying size and shape, which will affect the nature of the implants such as firmness and shape. Saline and silicone have their advantages and disadvantages, but both have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration as being safe to use. However, if an implant were to rupture, the results are dissimilar depending on the type of implant. Since saline is essentially water, it can be absorbed and expelled naturally by the body. In the case of silicone, however, the elastic gel may or may not leak out of the shell, but if it does, the silicone gel will leak into the breast implant pocket, creating an uneven, unnatural look. In either condition, the implant will need to be removed and/or replaced.
Inserting and placing the implant:
The implant is inserted through the incision and placed either under the breast muscle (sub muscular), or behind the fatty tissue of the breast, over the breast muscle (sub glandular). Silicone implants are inserted fully inflated or filled, which oftentimes necessitates a larger incision, whereas the saline implant is inserted in a deflated state and then inflated after it has been placed in the breast pocket. Once the implant has been inserted and placed correctly, the incision is closed with layered sutures and surgical glue. You’ll be given a post surgical instruction form that details how to care for your incisions. You can expect the scars to completely heal and begin to disappear after six to eight months.
Although you will notice immediate results, your tissues will continue to recover even further as swelling subsides and scars begin to fade, and you will find that your results will continue to unfold over time.
Important facts about the safety and risks of breast augmentation:
Ultimately, the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery is yours alone. After careful consideration of both the risks and benefits of surgery, you’ll have to weigh the risks against the potential benefits to make an informed decision that you can live with. Dr. Brill and his medical team assisting you will go over the plan of care and all potential risks of surgery and will make themselves available to answer any and all of your questions. Below is a listing of some of the risks associated with breast implants surgery:
Other important considerations:
As with any prosthesis, breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime. Replacement surgery may be required due to any number of factors, including weight gain or loss, pregnancy and fluctuations in hormones, among others. Once again, check with Dr. Brill for all potential risks so you can make an informed decision.
Recovery:
Recovery from Breast Augmentation Implant surgery is a very individualized process, but there are some common effects one can expect. Bruising and swelling are, of course, normal even though plenty of my patients regularly don’t even see any bruising. That’s not always the case but I don’t want anybody imagining a really bruised result, that’s just not how it is. Recovery time is different for everyone, but a minimum of 4 days of resting with very little physical activity is recommended. In addition, observance of 10 -14 days without strenuous physical exercise is essential, in order for the incisions to heal and swelling to reduce. Limiting your fluid intake and mild exercise such as easy walking is recommended. Finally, it is important that no heavy lifting and no lifting above the head be performed from 4-6 weeks after surgery. Here are some important questions to ask before surgery:
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where will I recover directly after surgery?
You will be followed by a Registered Nurse through out your recovery in our surgical facility.
Will I be prescribed any post-surgery medications?
You will have a prescription for them before you even go to surgery.
How often do my bandages need to be changed and when will they be removed permanently?
Remove bandages permanently on postoperative day 2. No bandage changes are necessary.
How soon will I need to return for a follow-up visit?
1 day post op and then several over the course of several months to make sure you are healing appropriately.
Be careful, after any surgery, it is important to closely monitor how you feel, especially directly after surgery. Varying degrees of pain are certainly to be expected, however, if you experience any kind of tightness or shortness of breath, pains deep in your chest or an irregular heart beat you should call immediately. To avoid complications, it is of paramount importance that you strictly follow my post-surgical instructions and be careful!
The results of your breast augmentation surgery will be long-lasting. You will find it easier to wear certain styles of clothing and swim wear. Like many women who have had breast augmentation, you may also have a boost in self confidence.
Cost / Insurance
Cost depends on many varying factors, including the type of implants being used and the location of the procedure. Remember that higher cost is not indicative of higher quality; but, it can also be said that you get what you pay for. We typically try to stay in a very fair price range and deliver exceptional results. There are many patient testimonials that we’d be glad to put you in touch with if you’d like. Costs you can expect to consider when doing this surgery:
Surgeon’s fee
Facility fee
Anesthesiologist
Cost of implants
Medications
Laboratory tests
In addition, we offer financing plans, so be sure to ask my office manager, Joy Ingram about it! Getting a Breast Augmentation is a big decision and it’s important to become fully informed. Dr. Roger Brill will answer any questions you may have about Breast Augmentation surgery. Click here to contact Dr. Brill and setup a consultation today!
352-331-7987 or 1-800-428-8419
