| Dr. Steven L. Ringler is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Breast Augmentation.
Q. What is breast augmentation?
A. Breast augmentation enhances breast size and shape with a surgically placed breast implant. Desired breast shape, size and projection in addition to a woman’s natural breast tissue, frame and body size are all evaluated to establish enhanced, natural, proportional and beautiful breasts. Saline or silicone gel implants are two of the options for women desiring breast implants.
Q. How is a breast augmentation surgery performed?
A. The placement of your implants may be beneath your breast tissue, partially beneath the pectoral or chest muscle, or a combination of the two. The incision pattern for your surgery will be discussed with you during your consultation with your doctor. Scars are a normal outcome of surgery and are generally concealed in the breast crease, around the nipple/areola or in the underarm area.
Many women who prefer using saline implants for their augmentation are able to benefit from a very minimally invasive approach whereby the implant is inserted through a tiny incision under the armpit (transaxillary). This is my preferred method of breast augmentation in order to minimize scarring. We are not able to use this approach with silicone gel implants.
Q. Who is a good candidate for breast augmentation?
A. Although the mean age is about 35, women of various ages from 18-60 elect breast augmentation for many different reasons: Breast asymmetry from birth, lack of proportional development, loss of volume after babies and sagginess that may develop from gravity may all be reasons for choosing breast enhancement. These factors generally define good candidates for breast augmentation procedures:
• You can clearly define why you would like a breast augmentation
• You understand what breast augmentation surgery can and cannot accomplish
• You accept the risks of breast surgery and your responsibilities as a patient
• You are healthy, emotionally secure and stable
• You accept that implants are not for life and that you may need follow-up and
eventual implant replacement.
• You are looking for a proportional, natural and restored breast result
• You have realistic expectations and are willing to accept minor asymmetries
Q. What type of anesthetic is used for breast augmentation?
A. Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia
Q. What are the risks associated with breast augmentation?
A. Breast implants are not lifetime devices. They all end up needing to be replaced at some time because like all man-made material, the shell will eventually break down. Less common risks are: scar formation around the breast implant, called "capsular contraction" is a risk of breast implants. Early leaking or deflation is another. Much less common are risks from the anesthesia, bleeding, or infection. To minimize risks, you want to be sure that you have a board certified plastic surgery perform your surgery, and one that is happy to discuss potential complications and risks. That said, breast augmentation is one of the most, if not the most, common requests for women seeking plastic surgery today.
Q. What is the recovery time?
A. Women can generally return to normal activities of daily living usually between 24-48 hours with minimal restrictions. For full sports activity - running, jogging, high impact aerobics it usually takes 4 weeks.
Q. How much does breast augmentation cost?
A. There are variables in terms of area of the country that you live in, the type of implant being used, either saline or silicone gel, (saline tend to run about $1,000 less) and the facility charge of the hospital or surgical facility and physician charge. A range would be between $4,000 - $7,500 depending on the other factors.
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