WHAT IS BREAST AUGMENTATION?
Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the world to give women with small or unevenly-sized breasts a fuller, balanced appearance. In some cases, a breast augmentation can even give the breasts a lifted look.
Dr. Boudreault offers his highly trained aesthetic eye and true understanding of the female form to create an enhanced and optimally attractive, natural look. He takes his time with each patient to discuss the procedure and assess each individual patient’s goals to help them turn their personal vision into reality. It is always important to choose a plastic surgeon with the highest board certifications, to educate the patient well and to recommend a breast implant size that is most appropriate for the patient’s body proportions in order to best achieve the patient’s goals.
UNDERSTANDING BREAST AUGMENTATION
HOW IS A BREAST AUGMENTATION PERFORMED?
At Illuminate Plastic Surgery, breast augmentations are performed using only highly-rated and FDA-approved implants that are either entirely silicone or a silicone shell filled with saline (salt water). Various incisions can be made to minimize scar visibility such as in the armpit (transaxillary), in the crease hidden underneath the breast (inframammary fold), or the border of the dark skin around the nipple (periareolar). A pocket is then created to accommodate the implant, which can be placed underneath the breast tissue or the chest wall muscle. The choice for incision placement, position of implant either under or above the muscle, and implant type and size are mostly chosen by the patient. Dr. Boudreault thoroughly educates all of his patients in making his recommendations for each of these individual choices, as he believes an educated patient becomes a satisfied patient. His countless happy patients’ breast augmentation results and reviews speak for themselves.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THE PROCEDURE?
A breast augmentation is typically performed in about 1 hour, under general anesthesia at our AAAASF surgery center in Palo Alto. It is common for the breast augmentation procedure to be combined with other breast surgeries, such the breast lift, fat transfer, nipple/areola reduction, and correction of an inverted nipple so that the optimally desired outcome is achieved with a recovery period that is consolidated all in only one timeframe. As patients are waking up after the breast augmentation surgery, they frequently ask Dr. Boudreault if he’d even started yet, because the procedure feels that quick.
HOW LONG IS RECOVERY TIME?
Recovery time should be considered as time off from work and time off from exercise. Usually, a weekend recovery (two days) is enough time before returning to work. Generally, patients will have bandages over their breasts for one week. After this first week, patients can begin to wear a wireless bra, if they feel comfortable. After two weeks you can do light cardio (heart rate less than 90); after three weeks, moderate cardio (heart rate 90-120); after four weeks, normal cardio (heart rate >120). It’s a good idea to minimize heavy-lifting, planking, pushups, and other chest exercises in order to avoid displacement or malposition of the implants for up to eight weeks.
HOW SOON WILL I SEE RESULTS?
You will immediately notice your newly augmented breasts after surgery. The implant generally looks high post-op, but in 6-12 weeks time, the implants settle down to where they ultimately will rest. Follow-up appointments are needed within the first few days after surgery and a week after the surgery to remove bandages and outside sutures. Most patients do not require narcotic pain medication and do well with Tylenol and NSAIDs (Advil). Patients are encouraged to massage their implants (see video above) and occasionally wear a breast band to help their implants settle.
HOW MUCH DOES BREAST AUGMENTATION COST?
For silicone gel implants, the average cost is between $7,500 and $9,000. For saline implants, the average cost is between $6,500 and $8,000. This estimate includes anesthesia and facility fees. If you would like to enjoy your Breast Augmentation results soon but would like to space out payments in smaller monthly increments to be paid overtime, our patients can apply to finance their procedure through CareCredit or Alphaeon. Many patients have also applied for credit cards with longer terms at 0% interest.
CONCERNS TREATED
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Breast Augmentation Q&A with DR. B. – Pre-Op
All About Breast Augmentation – The #1 Cosmetic Surgery in the US
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