Achieving this goal involves multiple steps:
Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed plastic surgery procedures in the United States. Perhaps this is because of the high satisfaction rates after the surgery - most women not only look better after surgery, but often feel more confident and comfortable with their appearance. The most important aspect of breast augmentation is matching the surgeon’s skills with the patient’s desires.
Achieving this goal involves multiple steps:
The Consultation
This is the time when you make your desires known and our plastic surgery team helps you decide the best way to meet your goals. Options will be pointed out, and the ultimate choice – incision placement, implant placement above or below the muscle and implant type and size - will be a team effort. This is also the time when you can view before and after photos, and you will be given comprehensive written information to review at your leisure.
The Surgery
After having returned for your pre-op visit, at which time the size and type of implants, as well as the placement technique will be finalized, you are ready for surgery. The surgery will be performed in our private, fully-accredited ambulatory surgery facility, most often under deep sedation or general anesthesia. Most saline implants are placed beneath the muscle, as this provides less implant visibility, less interference with mammograms, and less risk of hard implants (due to contracture of the scar tissue). The surgery can vary in length depending on the incision and approach you choose, but usually is around one to two hours in length.
You then spend a short time in our recovery room and are able to go home later in the day. Most patients find they are quite comfortable after surgery and medication for pain is available if and when needed.
All surgical procedures carry the possibility of risk and uncertainty. Side effects and possible risks of breast augmentation include: infection, bleeding, scarring, swelling, asymmetry, soreness, numbness, bruising, change in nipple sensation, breast sensitivity, capsular contracture, and removal or replacement of the implants. It is important to discuss your medical history during your initial consultation. A thorough discussion with your physician of risks and benefits as well as your expectations will be completed prior to your surgery.
After Surgery
Any discomfort is usually mild and rapidly improves over the first few days. Most patients are able to return to work and light activities within a few days, although heavy lifting and upper body workouts should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks. Breast augmentation is not for everyone and rare complications such as scarring and infection will be discussed with you. There are a number of different choices to be made and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Who is a Candidate?
Women desiring breast augmentation typically fall in one of two categories - women who never developed a significant amount of breast tissue or women who may have been quite happy with their size, until pregnancy. The latter is probably the more frequent situation. It is very important in this situation to determine if a lift is necessary or desired. This is an important component of the pre-op consultation and the use of before and after photos are very helpful in this subset of patients. By spending the appropriate amount of time with patients at each stage of the procedure, our staff has made breast augmentation a surgery in which the overwhelming majority of patients are pleased with the results.
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Options for Breast Implants: |
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Before and After Pictures (Actual Patient of J. Eric Lomax, M.D.)
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