Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation offers a variety of benefits that go beyond simply increasing cup size. Many women choose breast implants to enhance their self-confidence and feel more comfortable in their own bodies. Some of the key benefits of breast augmentation include:

• Enhanced proportions and symmetry. Breast implants can help to balance your figure, creating a more symmetrical and proportional look that complements your natural body shape.
• Restored volume. Pregnancy, weight loss and aging can lead to a loss of breast volume. Breast augmentation can restore fullness and firmness for a youthful, natural appearance.
• Improved self-esteem. Many women report feeling more confident in their own bodies after breast augmentation, leading to a boost in overall self-confidence and self-image.
• Customizable options. With a variety of implant sizes, shapes and placement options, breast augmentation allows for a highly personalized approach to achieving your aesthetic goals.
• Natural-looking and long-lasting results. Experienced cosmetic surgeons like Dr. Koehler and Dr. Gardner are able to achieve very natural-looking breast augmentation results that can last for years to come.

Women have a choice between saline or silicone breast implants, and your surgeon will discuss the pros and cons of each implant type so you can make the decision that’s right for you. Currently, saline implants are FDA approved for women 18 years of age or older and silicone implants are FDA approved for women 22 years of age or older.

Saline implants have been termed by many as the “safest” implant. The outside surface of this implant is made of solid silicone and the inside is filled with sterile salt water at the time of surgery. If the implants were to leak, your body would absorb the water and will cause you no harm. If a saline implant is leaking, it generally goes flat over several days. The implant shell would need to be removed and another implant placed.

Silicone implants are considered to be the most natural feeling implants. These implants have significant advantages for women with thin tissues, where a saline implant might ripple or feel very unnatural. We offer Silicone Gel Implants and Form Stable Silicone Implants, also termed “Gummy Bear Implants.” Although the gummy bear implants are relatively new to the United States, they have been used in Europe since 1995 and in Canada since 2000. There are a number of profiles and shapes for both saline and silicone implants.

After reviewing your anatomy, your surgeon can make recommendations based on the look you want and your individual body shape. If you decide to choose silicone implants, you should be aware that the FDA recommends (but does not require) that you obtain an MRI of your breasts 3 years after placement of your implants and every 2 years thereafter. You should know that insurance does not typically cover MRI imaging of breast implants.

Dr. Koehler or Dr. Gardner can place the necessary surgical incisions in different locations, depending on your preference, anatomy, the implant type and your goals for surgery. Most commonly, our surgeons use an inframammary incision for silicone implants, which can be hidden discreetly in the natural crease underneath the breast. For saline implants, the surgeon places the incision either in the armpit (transaxillary endoscopic approach) or in the inframammary crease. Other incision choices can be discussed further during your consultation.

Every procedure at Eastern Shore Cosmetic Surgery begins with a comprehensive consultation and physical evaluation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have about breast augmentation in general or your specific procedure. Your surgeon will also discuss decisions like the type of implant you should choose and will explain in more detail what you can expect from your breast augmentation surgery and recovery.

At this point, you and your surgeon will decide together whether or not breast augmentation could be right for you and what your next step should be.

If you decide that you would like to move forward with breast augmentation, the next step will be to schedule your procedure and begin preparing. We will provide you with detailed pre-op instructions that you should follow as closely as possible to ensure a smooth, seamless procedure and recovery.

We also recommend taking some steps to prepare your recovery space at home and stock up on supplies like any medications your surgeon has prescribed, healthy foods, plenty of fluids, pillows, blankets, books or other entertainment you might want to keep you occupied while you recover.

You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home from your appointment, as well as to help around the house and with children or pets for the first week or so after getting breast implants.

To start your breast enlargement, your surgeon will make a small incision, through which he can create a surgical pocket and properly place the implant. The implant may be situated between the muscle and the existing breast tissue, known as subglandular placement, or below the muscle, known as submuscular placement. Once the implant is centered and positioned correctly, your incisions will be closed and you can begin your recovery. Our surgeons perform breast augmentation as an outpatient procedure, so you can expect to return home the same day as your surgery.

Most people are able to return to regular activities within a week after surgery, although you should plan on taking it easy for the first few weeks after your breast augmentation. Any initial discomfort that you may experience can typically be managed with oral pain medication. Your dressings will be removed 7 to 10 days following surgery. 

We recommend getting up and slowly walking around the house to promote healthy circulation during your initial recovery period. However, you will need to avoid more strenuous physical activity until your surgeon clears you to begin reintroducing exercise into your regular routine. Typically, breast augmentation patients can begin resuming normal exercise approximately 6 weeks after surgery. Rest assured that we will provide detailed instructions and will be here for you every step of the way.

Although you’ll notice an immediate change in your breast size following your procedure, your final results will initially be disguised by some swelling. It typically takes up to 3 months for breast implants to fully settle into place, so don’t be worried if your implants don’t look or feel exactly like you’d hoped right away. Your results should continue to improve, with final breast augmentation results typically developing by the 6-month mark. 

Over time, well-healed incisions should be hardly visible, and you can expect to enjoy your new look for many years to come.