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Breast Augmentation
Many women wish to increase the size and/or fullness of their breasts to make them more proportional to the rest of their body. Women of all ages come to our office desiring to enlarge their breasts for a number of reasons. Women with a genetic predisposition to smaller breasts often want to better fill out clothing or swimwear; alternatively, those who have lost breast volume after weight loss or breastfeeding typically seek to regain fullness and enhance cleavage. In many cases, breast augmentation is usually the optimal way to increase your breast size, which can improve the way you look and feel about yourself.
To learn more about breast augmentation, please read through the detailed information provided below. If any questions come to mind, or if you are interested in scheduling a consultation with Orange County plastic surgeon Daniel C. Mills, MD, FACS, please contact Aesthetic Plastic Surgical Institute today.
Quick Facts About Breast Augmentation Procedures
- Sedation: General anesthesia
- Procedure Length: Approximately 4 hours in total (including about one hour and 15 minutes for the procedure itself, as well as time allotted for pre- and postoperative care)
- Potential Benefits: Enhanced breast volume; improved shape/symmetry/proportion; correction of defects
- Recovery: Most regular activities can be resumed within three to four days; more vigorous activities are generally safe to continue after six weeks
- Cost: Varies upon specifics of procedure
- What Is Breast Augmentation?
- Breast Augmentation Benefits
- Breast Augmentation Candidates
- Breast Augmentation with a Lift
- Complementary Procedures to Breast Augmentation
- Breast Implant Options
- TransAxillary SubPectoral Augmentation (TASPA) Method
- Choosing a Breast Augmentation Surgeon
- Breast Augmentation Consultation
- Breast Augmentation Procedure
- Breast Augmentation Recovery
- Breast Augmentation Risks
- Breast Augmentation Scars
- Breast Augmentation Cost
- Breast Augmentation & Breastfeeding
- Breast Implant Longevity
- Additional Breast Augmentation FAQs
What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation, also commonly referred to as breast enlargement, is a surgical procedure that utilizes the placement of implants to add volume to the breasts. The addition of saline or silicone breast implants can increase the size of the breasts as well as improve shape and symmetry, giving them a more balanced appearance and enhancing the body’s overall proportions. Breast augmentation is customized for the individual patient’s needs. The type and size of the implants, as well as the technique utilized and the particulars of implant placement, will be discussed during the consultation process. Once you and Dr. Mills choose the best options for your goals, he will create a personalized treatment plan.
What Benefits Can Breast Augmentation Offer?
From enhancing one’s overall figure to correcting breast-related aesthetic concerns, there are several reasons women consider breast augmentation. Depending on an individual’s specific needs and goals, Dr. Mills can customize the breast augmentation procedure to help:
- Increase the size and fullness of the breasts
- Restore lost volume caused by weight loss, pregnancy, and/or breastfeeding
- Improve the shape and symmetry of the breasts
- Achieve a more youthful breast appearance
- Make the breasts more proportionate to one’s body frame
- Correct certain congenital defects
- Rebuild the breast mound as part of a breast reconstruction
In addition to these physical enhancements, breast augmentation can also have a positive psychological impact on patients. Following treatment, many women tend to experience a boost in confidence that carries over into both their personal and social lives.
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
Good candidates for breast augmentation generally include individuals who relate to one or a combination of the following:
- Desire a larger bust
- Have concerns about breast shape
- Have noticeable breast asymmetries
- Have lost breast volume as a result of pregnancy/breastfeeding, weight loss, or other factors
- Want to improve overall body proportions
- Wish to improve the fit of certain tops, bathing suits, and other articles of clothing
In addition, patients must have a firm grasp on what can realistically be achieved with breast augmentation to be considered a good candidate, and they must be in good health with no unmanaged medical issues that may inhibit proper healing. All of these elements can be thoroughly discussed during a consultation with Dr. Mills to determine proper candidacy.
Will I Also Need a Breast Lift with My Augmentation?
A breast lift—or mastopexy—may be necessary if there is a moderate to significant amount of breast drooping present. While implants alone can provide a minor lift, they mainly add fullness to the superior pole; they will not be able to significantly elevate the position of breasts on the chest wall. The only way to do this is by removing excess skin and raising/reshaping breast tissue during a mastopexy; if breast tissue is out of place, it will only be like a weight on a slinky, pulling the breast tissue down. Dr. Mills can use GALAFlex®, which is a surgical, suture-type mesh that will eventually dissolve, and can be used as a demi-cup to add structure to the breast and address lost tissue, as evidenced by the signs of drooping.
Dr. Mills typically performs breast augmentation and breast lift surgery in two separate stages, though it is possible to combine these treatments in certain instances. The most appropriate surgical plan for your needs can be determined at the time of the consultation.
Complementary Procedures to Breast Augmentation
In addition to breast lift surgery, breast augmentation can be complemented by a range of different procedures depending on your unique needs. For instance, tummy tuck surgery or liposuction can help sculpt and define the physique; alternatively, facial contouring procedures like rhinoplasty or blepharoplasty can be incorporated into a comprehensive Mommy Makeover. Dr. Mills can create a personalized plan for your treatment based on your unique cosmetic goals.
What Is the Transaxillary Subpectoral Augmentation (Taspa) Method?
Several surgical approaches are available for breast augmentation, including the periareolar method, where incisions encircle the nipple, and the inframammary technique, where incisions are placed along the breast crease. That said, Dr. Mills generally prefers the TransAxillary SubPectoral Augmentation (TASPA), which involves making a small incision in the armpit to place a breast implant beneath the chest wall muscle. Dr. Mills feels that a TASPA generally yields the most natural-looking result with minimal scarring.
Dr. Mills is internationally renowned for the TransAxillary SubPectoral Augmentation technique and has given lectures around the world on the subject. He is extensively experienced with TASPA, having performed it for more than 30 years and utilizing the approach for thousands and thousands of patients. This approach not only allows for exceptionally natural-looking results, but also addresses a concern that many women share when considering breast augmentation: the noticeability of residual scarring. Since the incisions are made in the armpit, TASPA typically results in scars that are quite inconspicuous. By using this advanced incision technique, it essentially looks as though breast surgery was not performed.
What Can I Expect During the Breast Augmentation Consultation?
After selecting your implant size and type and scheduling your surgery, you will meet with our preoperative coordinator. She will go over your instructions in detail, ensuring that all required lab tests and health screenings are completed according to your medical history and surgical plan. If you smoke, you will be advised to stop at least two weeks before surgery and refrain for two weeks afterward. Additionally, certain medications, supplements, and herbal remedies should be discontinued two weeks prior to surgery and for two weeks postoperatively. This appointment is also an opportunity for any final questions to help you feel fully prepared, both physically and mentally, for surgery and a smooth recovery.
What Is the Breast Augmentation Procedure Like?
On your surgery day, you should allow approximately four hours for preoperative surgical admission, surgical time, and post-surgical recovery. The procedure itself, however, will take about an hour and 15 minutes. Our surgical team – including Dr. Mills, a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist, a registered nurse, and a surgical technician – will be with you throughout your surgery and recovery.
Furthermore, we ask that you have a responsible adult accompany you to and from the surgery center. This individual should be accessible by phone while you are in surgery and should be at our facility when you are ready to be discharged. After your surgery, you should have someone with you for the first 24 hours.
What Should I Know About Breast Augmentation Recovery?
Recovery time will vary from patient to patient, but the majority of women should expect to take approximately three to four days off of office-based work to rest during the initial stages of recovery. Although office jobs can usually be resumed at this time, Dr. Mills advises that any work or activities that involve heavy lifting or strenuous labor be avoided for at about six weeks to provide ample time for healing.
You will have an office visit the day following your surgery, as well as several postoperative visits within the first week. These appointments are extremely important and we encourage you to come to our office regularly for the first week or so, for additional help with your postoperative regime. Your postoperative regime includes displacement exercises to keep the breast pocket open, which should result in softer and more natural-looking breasts. Dr. Mills and his medical staff will assist you in the displacement exercises during these initial postoperative visits.
At first, these exercises may be a little difficult, but we will take as much time as you need to feel comfortable with the exercises. It is often helpful to have a friend or spouse assist with the exercises, so we encourage you to bring them to your follow-up visits. Dr. Mills strongly feels that these exercises are critical to yielding the best result, while minimizing potential complications.
At your first postoperative visit, Dr. Mills will remove your surgical bra and wrap before assisting you with your exercises. Dr. Mills will determine what postoperative garment you should wear at this time. After this initial visit, you will be able to shower. You will usually have two sets of sutures, which will be removed at postoperative days 7 and 14, respectively. You will be advised not to use deodorant for the first two weeks, but can use a non-scented liquid deodorant after that time, treating the suture line with care. In the first couple of weeks, Dr. Mills will continue to monitor your progress and advise you in your postoperative regime and instructions. It is exceptionally important that you come to all recommended postoperative visits in order to minimize postoperative risks and complications and to help you achieve optimal results.
Within a short time following surgery, you will be able to resume your normal routine and enjoy your new shape. If you want to show off your new shape by summertime, we recommend that you schedule your surgery in the spring (or before). Springtime is the busiest time of the year in our office for that very reason.
What Risks and Complications Are Associated With Breast Augmentation?
The most common complication associated with breast augmentation is capsular contracture. This condition, which involves a tightening of the scar tissue around the implant, may result in varying degrees of breast firmness, pain, and a change in breast appearance. While the national average for capsular contracture is 10%, in his 20-year paper, which showed the complications in a peer-reviewed article for the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Dr. Mills had only a 2% rate of capsular contracture. Other risks include implant rupture or leakage; changes in nipple or breast sensation (both temporary and permanent); adverse reactions to anesthesia; and the “waterfall effect,” which is characterized by breast tissue sagging over an implant.*
In addition, a rare complication involving a type of cancer called Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) has been described, but only with textured breast implants, and Dr. Mills has not used a textured implant in the last five years. There is also a disease process known as breast implant illness (BII) that Dr. Mills can talk with you about during the consultation. It is important to note that both of these phenomena are exceedingly rare, and much research has yet to be done.
Will My Breast Augmentation Scars Be Noticeable?
With Dr. Mills’ use of the TASPA breast augmentation technique, residual scarring from the procedure is concealed under the armpit. Since there are no incisions created directly on the breasts, there will be no scars in these areas whatsoever. Other breast augmentation techniques, such as those that utilize incisions under the breast or around the areolas, will result in some level of scarring in the breast areas; however, even with these techniques, Dr. Mills is extremely careful with the creation and closing of incisions and works diligently to ensure that the noticeability of scars is kept to a minimum. He will also provide instructions on ways you can help the scars heal as well as possible during recovery. With the proper care, the appearance of scars should fade to some degree over time.
What Does Breast Augmentation Cost?
The cost of breast augmentation will depend on several factors, including the skill and experience of the plastic surgeon, the type of implants selected, and the surgical technique used to place the implants.
Because breast augmentation surgery is customized for each patient, the price will not be the same for each individual. For eligible patients, Dr. Mills offers plastic surgery financing plans through PatientFi™, which can be adjusted to suit virtually any budget. A member of our staff will be happy to discuss these options with you and determine whether you are a candidate.
Will I Be Able to Breastfeed After Breast Augmentation?
If you are able to breastfeed prior to breast augmentation, you should still be able to do so after treatment when implants are placed safely and correctly by a board-certified plastic surgeon. The misconception that implants interfere with one’s ability to breastfeed stems from the fact that not every woman is capable of producing a sufficient amount of breastmilk for nursing in the first place. If a patient has not attempted to breastfeed before undergoing augmentation, she may wrongly attribute her inability to nurse to the presence of implants. With this in mind, it is important to note that when an incision is made through the breast ducts, such as a nipple/areolar incision, this may interrupt more ducts than if contact was never made with these ducts. This is one of the reasons why Dr. Mills does not generally use that surgical approach. For more on this topic, please see Dr. Mills’ blog post regarding breastfeeding and implants.
How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Modern breast implants are designed for long-lasting durability, often remaining intact for a decade or more. However, even high-quality implants can occasionally experience issues such as ruptures, leaks, or, more rarely, capsular contracture or more serious concerns. Women who encounter these problems may be candidates for breast implant exchange surgery.
Our team has found that implants generally do not leak until they have been in place for six years or longer. Dr. Mills uses ultrasound technology to detect leaks and ruptures; in his professional experience, this strategy is much more effective than a mammogram. If you are a patient of Dr. Mills, you can receive ultrasounds at our practice at no cost.
How to Choose a Breast Augmentation Surgeon
The first important step in breast augmentation surgery is choosing an experienced, qualified surgeon with whom you feel comfortable and confident. Here are a few tips that can help you know what to look for as you search for the best breast augmentation surgeon for your needs:
Take a Good Look At the Surgeon’s Credentials and Background
Research the prospective surgeon’s experience and credentials. Check to see if they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS); find out how many years they have been in practice; and try to get an idea as to how many breast surgeries they have performed or how long they have been offering the procedure. Also, look at the surgeon’s memberships and professional affiliations, the awards and honors they have received, and see if their overall philosophy of care aligns with your expectations. Not only is Dr. Mills board-certified, but he has served as President of both The Aesthetic Society® and the California Society of Plastic Surgeons.
It is also important to recognize that someone who calls themselves a “cosmetic surgeon” may not have officially completed a plastic surgery residency. This makes it especially critical to scrutinize the doctor’s credentials to determine whether they are a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Read Patient Reviews and View Before-And-After Photos
Many practices have patient testimonials and reviews of the plastic surgeon available directly on the website, and there are often reviews published through third-party sites, as well. By reading about other patients’ experiences with a specific practice, you can typically gain a clearer picture of the kind of care you may receive. By the same token, plastic surgery before-and-after photos featuring the surgeon’s previous patients can also give you an idea of the results that can be achieved. If there is not a breast augmentation photo gallery available on the website, you can feel free to ask the practice to see before-and-after photos when you visit the office. Also, look carefully at the surgeon’s before-and-after photos to make sure that standardized photography has been used, without excessive changes in lighting and angles.
Meet With the Plastic Surgeon and Evaluate Your Rapport
Once you have narrowed down your selection of prospective plastic surgeons, you can meet with them in a one-on-one consultation before making your final decision. During the consultation, you should feel that the surgeon is being honest, attentive, and thorough. The surgeon should answer all of your questions and go over the procedure in detail, illuminating all risks and benefits, and giving you a clear idea of the treatment and recovery process. Remember, this is a collaboration between you and the surgeon. You should feel both comfortable in the surgeon’s care and confident in their ability to help you achieve your goals both safely and effectively.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation
Are breast implants safe?
Can breast implants affect mammograms?
What do breast implants feel like?
How much do breast implants weigh?
How painful is breast augmentation?
How can I reduce swelling after breast augmentation?
How should I sleep after breast augmentation?
What type of bra should I wear after breast augmentation?
How long do breast implants last?
How do I know if I have an implant rupture?
What if I change my mind about breast implants later in life?
Schedule Your Consultation
Dr. Daniel C. Mills has literally performed thousands of these procedures and is internationally acclaimed and known for breast augmentation, especially for his use of the Transaxillary Breast Augmentation approach. In fact, this operation is one of Dr. Mills’ favorite procedures to perform. He wants this to be a great experience for you and his staff will do everything we can to serve you.
We look forward to meeting you in consultation to develop a surgical plan that best suits your needs. Please contact Aesthetic Plastic Surgical Institute to schedule your one-on-one consultation.