A breast augmentation is a highly customizable procedure that uses breast implants to enhance the size, shape, and/or symmetry of your breasts to bring you closer to your desired figure. Current breast implants consist of a silicone enclosure containing saline or cohesive silicone gel. The implant may be placed either directly behind the breast tissue or below the pectoral muscle of the chest, usually via minimally visible incisions along the underside of the breasts. Breast implants come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and levels of projection, and a thorough consultation will allow us to tailor your results to your individual goals.
Real Patient Results
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Who is a good candidate for a breast augmentation?
Candidacy for this procedure is guided by each patient’s individual anatomy and needs. Modest asymmetry may be improved with a breast augmentation alone, but we may advise combining implants with a breast lift if you have more significant breast shape concerns, such as ptosis (droopiness), areolar size or shape issues, or considerable asymmetry. Your surgeon will discuss these details and create a tailored surgical plan for you. You should be in good overall health before pursuing cosmetic surgery.
What will my breast augmentation surgery be like?
Breast augmentation surgery is performed under general anesthesia in our fully accredited in-house operating facility and takes approximately one hour. Implants are typically placed via an incision along the inframammary fold, where the underside of the breast meets the chest. Following surgery, our attentive medical team will monitor your initial recovery in the calm, comfortable setting of our in-house recovery room.
How long is the recovery from a breast augmentation?
Following surgery, our dedicated nurses will instruct you and your caregiver on dressings, pain management, and positioning before leaving the clinic. You can expect mild to moderate bruising and swelling, peaking at around 72 hours and slowly resolving over the first few weeks. You’ll be able to remove your dressings after 48 hours. Slight breast asymmetry is quite commonly seen in the early stages of healing. Many patients experience a feeling of heaviness or tightness on their chest during these stages.
We will see you again in-clinic for postoperative care with our nurses, typically around one week after surgery and subsequently as needed to support your recovery journey. Your nurse will review modified positioning, restriction of arm movement, and incision care with you. You must refrain from strenuous physical activity, heavy lifting (including lifting and carrying your children), and excessive movement/engagement of the pectoral muscles for about 3-4 weeks after surgery. In cases where the ideal implant placement is above the muscle, recovery tends to be faster.
As with any surgery, the healing process can vary from patient to patient and your final results will depend on many individual factors. It is important to be patient with your body and allow yourself time to rest and recuperate. It can take several months for your implants to fully settle into the results you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come.
Vectra® 3D Results
Your Questions Answered
We strive to ensure our patients are thoroughly informed and equipped with the resources they need to make the best decision for themselves. Your consultation will include a discussion of your goals, your health history, education on your procedure(s) of interest, and a detailed explanation of potential benefits, risks, and complications. Your surgeon will perform a full exam of the proposed surgical area. We will demonstrate and discuss the types of implants available. You will also have the opportunity to explore your potential results using our advanced VECTRA® 3D simulation technology. For more information, you can also review our guide to the surgical process from consultation to recovery.
Prior to booking, you should ensure you have a responsible adult available to care for and assist you after surgery. This includes preparing meals, caring for your pets or children, cleaning, and assisting with postoperative care. You must be accompanied for at least 48 hours following your procedure, and we recommend having someone there to help for the first week and to drive you to your post-op appointment(s).
As with any procedure, post-operative complications after a breast augmentation are rare but possible. These can include bleeding (hematoma), infection, seroma, asymmetry, contour abnormalities, capsular contracture, rippling of implants, rupture of implants, unsatisfactory scarring, and the potential need for revisional surgery. Our skilled surgical team prioritizes your safety and meticulously works to minimize these risks. You may experience altered sensations such as numbness or tingling for several weeks or months, which are normal and should resolve with time.
Patients who would like to avoid the use of implants may wish to consider a breast augmentation with fat grafting. Note that fat grafting typically offers more subtle volume enhancements than what can be achieved with implants. Patients should research fat grafting prior to their consultation, as it may not be appropriate for everyone.
