Find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in San Antonio
An Interview with Dr. Sheryl Garton Pilcher MD on Breast Augmentation
Dr. Sheryl Garton Pilcher, MD 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 is performed to enhance a woman’s breast size, firmness, and/or perkiness.
Q. How is a breast augmentation surgery performed?
A. It involves placing a silicone or saline implant above or below the chest muscles and pushing the native breast tissue forward. It can be done through a small incision either under the breast fold, along the inferior areola or in the armpit.
Q. Who is a good candidate for breast augmentation?
A. Woman who feel their breasts have never really developed to be proportioned to the rest of their body and/or woman who’s breast shape and size have changed after pregnancies or weight fluctuations are optimal candidates. Women who have significant breast asymmetry can also benefit from this surgery. Implants can also be used with breast lifting procedures.
Q. What type of anesthetic is used for breast augmentation surgery?
A. This procedure is generally performed under general anesthesia. Long acting local anesthetics are also used to help alleviate post operative pain.
Q. What are the risks associated with breast augmentation?
A. There are complications that can occur with all surgeries including, bleeding,infection,and anesthesia or medication reactions. Some of the more common risks specific to the implants are deflation or leakage, asymmetry,visibility and palpability and hardening known as capsular contracture.
Q. What is the recovery time for breast augmentation?
A. Recovery time can be variable depending upon a patient’s pain threshold but, patients usually return to work and daily activities within a few days (a long weekend). Full healing and return to exercise takes about 4 to 6 weeks.
Q. How much does breast augmentation cost?
A. Breast augmentation pricing varies with geographical locations. Our practice fees are approximately $5000 for saline augmentation and $6200 for silicone augmentation. The silicone implants themselves are more expensive and different implant styles may vary in price.
