Breast augmentation is a plastic surgery procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of the breasts. It has helped women all over the world enhance the size of their breasts and feel more confident about their appearance. It remains one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. Our plastic surgeon, Dr. Andrew Cohen, understands that each woman’s body is unique and that every individual will have personal cosmetic goals. With this procedure, he can give the breasts a more balanced and proportionate shape and size with results that look beautiful and natural.
Dr. Cohen customizes each breast augmentation procedure to address the unique cosmetic concerns of the patient. Women who choose to undergo breast augmentation with implants often seek to:
Breast augmentation can be particularly beneficial for women who have had one or more children and have experienced a loss of volume due to pregnancy, weight fluctuations, or breastfeeding. Some women may opt to incorporate breast augmentation into a comprehensive Mommy Makeover plan for a more complete body rejuvenation.
Most women who choose breast augmentation desire to increase the size of their breasts, improve the shape of their breasts, or achieve a more balanced, proportionate figure. Those who want to elevate the position of their breasts or reduce sagging may be better suited for a breast lift. Depending upon the personal goals of the patient, Dr. Cohen may recommend combining these two procedures for a breast augmentation with lift.
Most women who choose breast augmentation desire to increase the size of their breasts, improve the shape of their breasts, or achieve a more balanced, proportionate figure. Those who want to elevate the position of their breasts or reduce sagging may be better suited for a breast lift. Depending upon the personal goals of the patient, Dr. Cohen may recommend combining these two procedures for a breast augmentation with lift.
Prospective patients must be at least 18 years of age for saline breast implants and over 21 years of age for silicone implants. There is no age limit for breast augmentation, but patients must be in good overall health to be eligible. Those with certain pre-existing medical conditions or patients who smoke tobacco products have an increased risk for post-operative complications and may not be good candidates for breast augmentation. Candidates should maintain realistic expectations in regard to what breast augmentation can accomplish. The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Variables such as breast implant type, size, volume, shape, and surgical technique can seem overwhelming at first. As a result, Dr. Cohen uses the preliminary consultations as a time to get to know you, understand your expectations, and help you make educated decisions about your surgery. Before the day of your breast augmentation, Dr. Cohen will design a custom-tailored surgical approach that can best achieve results that look and feel natural while providing the aesthetic outcome you desire.
Breast implants can enhance the contours of the breasts, add or replenish lost volume, and/or improve symmetry between the breasts. Oftentimes, women with smaller breasts can achieve a more proportionate silhouette with breast implants. There are two main types of breast implants: saline and silicone. Dr. Cohen has used all implant options available in the United States under FDA guidance. He is an Allergan® implant provider, as he believes this manufacturer provides the best options for sizes, shapes, and implant warranties. In addition, he feels the capsular contracture rates and implant rupture rates for Allergan are superior to the other companies.
Each type of breast implant has unique benefits and can be sized according to the patient’s desires. There is no one “best” option for all patients. Breast implants can also be placed over or under the muscle, depending upon the patient’s goals. Finally, the type of incision used to place the implants plays a role in how the final results will appear.
Learn more about silicone and saline breast implants.
A breast implant profile will determine how far the implant projects from the breast. There are differences in the profiles of the silicone and even the saline breast implants, and there are multiple profile options that Dr. Cohen typically prefers.
When using silicone gel implants, the three profiles that he recommends are either a full profile (SRF) or a moderate (SRM) profile or the extra full profile (SRX). The full profile augments the upper pole of the breast and gives nice cleavage. The moderate is more natural looking and has more of a gentle slope to the upper pole. For the saline implants, there is also the option of moderate versus the full saline implant. The full profile will give a more projected appearance with enhanced cleavage.
We will always choose the profile size that makes you the most comfortable. Dr. Cohen is here to give you a great result, and he encourages patients to bring pictures so that he will know what kind of result you are looking for.
On the day of surgery, you will be given general anesthesia by board-certified anesthesiologists to ensure your safety. To begin your breast augmentation, Dr. Cohen will place an incision either around the areola, underneath the breast, around the areola extending to the inframammary crease, or through the underarm. These locations allow for post-operative scarring to be well-concealed. Dr. Cohen will then create a pocket for the breast implant underneath the pectoralis muscle (known as submuscular) for the most natural appearance. In some cases, he may recommend placing the implants over the muscle (known as subglandular). These details will be discussed with you prior to your surgery. Dr. Cohen prefers under the muscle for most patients, as he has found less chance of hardening or breast encapsulation with the implant under the muscle.
Depending on the type of breast implant you are receiving, Dr. Cohen will typically utilize the Keller Funnel® technique, which is a no-touch method of inserting the implants. This can allow for smaller incisions and a reduced risk of certain complications, such as capsular contracture. Once the implants are in place, Dr. Cohen will close the surgical sites. The entire procedure takes approximately one hour.
Dr. Cohen has worked on his techniques for breast augmentation for the past 20-plus years. He has developed a technique to block the nerves in your breasts to allow for less post-operative pain. This technique—called the “Cohen Quick Recovery”—has been beneficial to all of our patients and involves the use of medication to numb the breast and muscle, which produces less pain when the implant is placed under the muscle. Our team also will provide patients with a prescription for antibiotics, pain medications, a muscle relaxant, and an anti-nausea pill. These have been essential for quick healing after a breast augmentation.
The recovery from breast augmentation may look slightly different from patient to patient, but in general, you can expect some degree of swelling, bruising, and soreness after surgery. Any pain or discomfort you experience can usually be well-managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Most patients can return to work within the first week after surgery. Light exercise, such as walking, is recommended as soon as you feel comfortable after surgery, as this can help facilitate the healing process. More strenuous activities and exercise should be avoided for four to six weeks. The majority of your recovery from breast augmentation takes place in the first six weeks, and your scars will continue to fade for several months.
The specific results achieved with breast augmentation will vary for each patient as treatment will be specifically tailored to the individual’s needs. However, results can typically be expected within about two or three months from the time of their breast augmentation procedure. Patients must understand that the placement of the breast implants, the type of breast implants, and the current state of your body will all be contributing factors to your results timeline and your recovery.
Breast augmentation is considered safe when performed by a board-certified and experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Cohen. He always makes safety a priority when performing any plastic surgery procedure. However, much like any surgical procedure, there are risks that come along with breast augmentation that may include: infection, breast pain, and capsular contractor or the distorted shape of a breast implant due to scar tissue. Dr. Cohen will take every precaution to minimize your risks, and he will go over them with you prior to surgery to help you understand what to expect.
Dr. Cohen is unique in that he treats many patients who have experienced tissue hardening, which is referred to as capsular contracture. To prevent this from happening, he has perfected his techniques by using the inframammary incision. In addition, using the Keller Funnel, washing out the pocket with triple antibiotics and betadine, and the use of PhaseOne (Hypochlorous Solution) in the pocket all have contributed to our low rates of capsular contractions, or hardening of the breast.
With the development of innovative technologies, there are now other methods to enhance your breasts without needing to insert implants. Fat transfer is a beneficial technique that involves extracting fat via liposuction from areas of excess on a person’s body and re-injecting it into an area in need of rejuvenation. By utilizing this method to add volume to the breasts, the need for breast implants may not be needed. As the injected fat heals, the fat transfer can serve as its own natural breast augmentation. Dr. Cohen has extensive experience performing fat transfers on a variety of areas including the face, breasts, and body.
He utilizes the Puregraft system to wash the fat cells which has shown to increase the viability of the cells. This is a method of washing the fat in a closed system which produces a fat graft with higher tissue viability and lower presence of contaminants as compared with grafts prepared by other methods. Dr. Cohen has found this technique very useful for breast asymmetry in patients with or without breast implants. Fat transfer is a very common procedure that Dr. Cohen has been using for the past 5 years.
For more information about how breast augmentation can help you achieve your cosmetic goals, please contact our office today to schedule a consultation.
