BREAST AUGMENTATION Bluffton
Breast size is important to many women.
Some individuals feel that small breasts not only limit their fashion choices, but can also cause dissatisfaction with body image. Breast augmentation to increase fullness and projection of the breasts improves the balance in a woman’s figure and can enhance her self-image and self-confidence
If you’re considering Breast Augmentation for yourself or your child, this information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. It can’t answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Please be sure to ask your doctor if there is anything you don’t understand about the procedure.
Are you self-conscious of your Breast?
Breast augmentation enlarges a woman’ s breasts through the surgical placement of breast implants. In general, it is a cosmetic procedure strictly performed to fulfill your personal desire for fuller breasts or to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy.
In any case, breast implants allow women the choice of fuller, natural appearing breasts and a more balanced figure.
Weniger Plastic Surgery is a leading provider of Breast augmentation in the Bluffton area. We offer minimally invasive procedures that produce natural-looking results. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out if Breast augmentation is right for you.
What is a Breast Augmentation or “Implants”?
Breast augmentation is the surgical placement of breast implants to increase fullness and projection of the breasts or to improve symmetry of the breasts. Clinically referred to as augmentation mammaplasty, the procedure is used cosmetically to:
- Enlarge a naturally small breast, most commonly the result of heredity
- Restore breast volume lost following pregnancy, as a result of breast-feeding or due to weight loss
- Achieve better symmetry when breasts are moderately disproportionate in size and shape
Breast augmentation does not however correct sagging breasts. In cases where a woman desires to enhance breast fullness and at the same time improve the position and shape of sagging breasts, a breast lift may be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation.
Breast augmentation is a highly individualized procedure — one that you should choose to undergo to fulfill your own desire for enhanced breast size, not the desire of others. Permanent breast enhancement can only be achieved surgically. There is currently no medical treatment of any kind for breast enhancement with the proven results and satisfaction of breast augmentation.
Dr. Weniger did an amazing job on my breast augmentation! I am very happy with the results, would definitely recommend him to other people!
Adult women of any age can benefit from breast augmentation to enhance small breast size or restore fullness. However, it is recommended that breasts be fully developed prior to breast augmentation. You should also be aware that breast augmentation does not generally interfere with a woman’s ability to breastfeed.
A woman who is motivated by her own personal desire to enhance breast contour is most likely to be satisfied with the results of breast augmentation surgery. Good candidates are defined as:
- Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing.
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for improving their body image.
If you are interested in receiving additional information or setting up an initial consultation, please contact Weniger Plastic Surgery’s main office at (843) 757-0123.
Breast augmentation or augmentation mammoplasty is an optional, cosmetic procedure that is used to increase the size of the breasts for added aesthetic appeal. This surgery can be performed to provide a modest, inconspicuous increase or dramatic change depending upon the preference of the patient. Many women opt to undergo breast augmentation due to naturally small breasts, while others do so following the birth of a child or substantial weight loss. This procedure can help to restore volume to sagging and deflated breasts especially as they result from prolonged breastfeeding, age and dieting and weight loss.
During this procedure saline or silicone implants, sized according to the patient’s choosing, are placed beneath the chest muscle to create the illusion of fuller, larger breasts. Saline implants are silicone shells that are filled with a sterile saline solution. Silicone implants are also constructed from silicone shells, however, these are instead filled with a plastic silicone gel. Silicone implants are reputed to be more natural in appearance and feel, however, there is a greater health risk posed by their contents when a bag becomes ruptured. Conversely, if saline implants rupture the basic contents are simply absorbed and processed by the body. Presently, the FDA allows the legal of sale of two brands of silicone implants, both of which have been deemed safe for use in breast augmentation procedure.
Find answers to Breast Augmentation FAQs here.
My Breast Augmentation
Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort, and Savannah GA
Your plastic surgeon performs breast augmentation using implants made of medical grade, biocompatible, textured or smooth silicone shells filled with sterile saline solution. Should the implant rupture or leak, the saline is safely absorbed by the body and poses no health hazard. Implants may be pre-filled prior to placement, or slowly filled at the time of surgery through a self-scaling valve. Implant placement, type and size will be determined based on your breast anatomy, body type and desired increase in size, as well as your plastic surgeon’s judgment. Implant manufacturers occasionally introduce new styles and types of implants; there may he additional options available to you.
Breast implants have not been shown to impair breast health. Careful review of scientific research by independent groups such as the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM) has found no proven link between breast implants and auto-immune or other systemic diseases in women. Implants can, however, create subtle or more noticeable changes in the look and feel of your breasts. Capsular contracture, a condition that causes the naturally-forming scar tissue around a breast implant to contract, occurs in a variable percentage of patients and can make the breast feel firmer than normal. While this condition can be addressed surgically, correction is not always permanent.
You should be aware that breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and future surgery may he required to replace one or both implants. Pregnancy, weight loss and menopause may influence the appearance of augmented breasts over the course of a woman’s lifetime. Breast augmentation requires maintenance over time, including regular examinations for breast health and to evaluate the condition of your implants.
A mammogram may be recommended prior to your procedure to ensure breast health and serve as a baseline for future comparison. Following the procedure, mammography is technically more difficult. Obtaining the best possible results requires specialized techniques and additional views. You must he candid about your implants when undergoing any diagnostic breast exam.
A Breast Augmentation Consultation at Weniger Plastic Surgery (Located in the Hilton Head/Savannah GA Area) A consultation with your plastic surgeon is the first step to learn how breast augmentation can enhance your breasts’ appearance and improve your body image. A consultation is designed to fully educate you about breast augmentation in a non-pressured environment and will include:
- A discussion of your goals and an evaluation of your individual case
- The options available in breast augmentation surgery
- The likely outcomes of breast augmentation and any risks or potential complications
- The course of treatment recommended by your plastic surgeon
Read more about Savannah Breast Augmentation procedures.
Breast Augmentation FAQs
What are the risks and complications involved with having breast augmentation?
As with any surgery, there are risks involved. Dr. Weniger will discuss with you the risks and complications during your consultation. Having a qualified plastic surgeon perform your surgery minimizes the likelihood of complications.
One of the most common complications is capsular contracture, where the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. The breast can begin to feel hard with this squeezing of the soft implant. Treatment for capsular contracture varies from removal or “scoring” of the scar tissue to removal or replacement of the implant. Other possible risks associated with breast augmentation are deflation, shifting, asymmetry, and infection.
Is breast augmentation painful?
Pain of varying intensity and duration can occur, but depends mostly on the individual. In addition, placing larger implants in smaller, tighter breasts causes more discomfort. During this period, Dr. Weniger will prescribe a pain medication and a muscle relaxant to assist with any discomfort. After surgery, most patients feel tired and sore for a few days. However, most are able to return to work within 3-5 days. Their breasts can remain swollen and sore for a month or longer, but this is usually minimal. As the skin adjusts to the new breast size, the new tightness in the breasts will improve. By three to six weeks, most women are back to their full exercise routine.
Will I lose sensation in my nipples?
It is possible for the feeling in the nipple to increase, decrease or stay the same after implant surgery. Changes in sensation of the nipples are usually temporary. Most patients have a temporary decrease in sensation which returns to normal after a few weeks.
What size and shape is recommended?
Dr. Weniger will recommend the ideal shape, size and texture and position of the implant during your consultation. Dr. Weniger believes that each patient’s operation must be tailored to that patient’s body characteristics and desires.
Will I still be able to breast feed?
There is no evidence that breast implants will affect your ability to nurse.
How will my breasts look if I choose, later on, to have the implants removed?
Some women who choose to have their implants removed should find that their breasts are the same size as before implantation. Sometimes the breast appear smaller and flatter than before their surgery. Other body changes such as pregnancy, weight gain or loss can alter the appearance.
What is the difference between saline and silicone implants?
The implant, itself, is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or saline solution. Due to concerns about the safety of silicone gel-filled implants, the FDA has determined that only women in approved studies can opt for silicone implants. In general, silicone implants are reserved for breast reconstruction (after mastectomy), breast lifts, and for people who already have breast implants but who are changing to new implants. The specific criteria to be enrolled in these studies can be explained to you by Dr. Weniger. Saline-filled implants are available to breast augmentation patients on an unrestricted basis, and are therefore used in the vast majority of cosmetic breast augmentation. Capsular contracture (scar tissue around the implant) is less common and less severe with saline implants than with silicone.
Are mammograms still possible with implants?
Mammography is possible with implants, but will require additional special views. In patients with implants placed below the muscle, mammography has been proven to work just as well in detecting breast cancer as it does in patients without breast implants.
Is there a higher risk for cancer in women with implants?
While multiple studies have been performed, there has been no evidence shown that breast implants are associated with a higher cancer rate.
What happens if the implant does rupture?
If a saline implant ruptures, it will deflate and the salt water will be absorbed into the body. If this happens, the implant will need replacement.
How long will the scars last?
The scars can be noticeable for a few months, but usually fade very nicely. The area under the breast tends to heal exceptionally well. Therefore, although all scars are always permanent, breast augmentation scars are some of the best hidden scars in all of plastic surgery.
Will breast augmentation improve nipple asymmetry?
No, it will simply enlarge the breasts. Dr. Weniger can talk to you about your specific asymmetries and how this will be affected by your breast augmentation.
My doctor has said that because my nipples are small, he would not do an incision around the nipples for my breast augmentation and recommends an armpit incision instead. Does this makes sense?
I agree with not doing an incision around the nipples on almost all patients, and that leaves two options. You could either go through the armpit or underneath the breasts. If you do not have much of a fold, I think the armpit incision can be a good option if done carefully with an endoscope. On the other hand, for most patients, an incision under the breasts is probably a better option, and this option has been shown to have the least chance of the nipple numbness and the least chance of bacterial contamination and therefore, might eventually lead to less chance of capsular contracture.
How should breast reconstruction be approached when a radiation therapy is involved?
While, this question could really be answered in a series of book volumes. To try to keep it simple though, lets suffice to say that reconstruction after radiation should probably always be done with the patient’s own tissue, such as a tummy flap or back tissue flap. Sometimes an implant is needed underneath the breast as well. In contrast, the patients who do not have radiation can usually be good candidates for a tissue expander and an implant , without bigger flap surgery.