Ans.: The surgeon most qualified to perform breast augmentation surgeries are certified Plastic surgeons. It is important to get information regarding the surgeon's training. Can the surgeon perform this procedure in a major hospital in your city? What do other patients say about the surgeon's ability to communicate and his level of care post-operatively? What I try to emphasize most to anyone considering breast augmentation is that you TRUST your plastic surgeon, and that you and your plastic surgeon have EXACTLY the same idea of how you want your breasts to turn out. Finally, you must feel they can accomplish the result you desire; the result that will make you happy.

Is it necessary to wait until after having children before having breast augmentation surgery? No, it is a matter of choice for each woman. More than half of patients perform the surgery before having children and the majority of them have no problems breast feeding afterwards. The incisions used are small and the surgeon attempts to minimise the amount of disruption of the glands to the nipple/areola (which occurs especially following the peri areolar approach) The underlying breast implant does not harm the breast fed baby in any way.

Ans.: Breast augmentation can be performed on 18 years old and older, and older. You are NEVER too old to improve the appearance of your breasts.

Ans.: It can be feasible for breast implants to have a negative affect in regards to breast-feeding ( following a peri areolar approach).A postpartum lift may be needed since pregnancy can change the look of augmented breasts.

Ans.: When a woman has breast implants there is generally a partially obstructed view of some breast tissue and, therefore, there is a theoretical possibility of interference with breast cancer detection (detection of a lump). In practice, however, women with implants do not have a higher chance of a missed cancer detection.

Women with breast implants should have their mammograms performed by a mammography technologist who is experienced in performing mammograms on women with breast implants. Be sure to tell your technologist that you have breast implants so that they will know to take additional views of the breast and additional care with the implants. With or without breast implants, the major reasons for non-detection are a) not performing self-examination, b) not having regular mammograms and c) denial.

Ans.: Because it is a cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation is usually not covered by insurance; however if it is used after a mastectomy (removal of breast following a diagnosis of Ca Breast) for the purpose of breast reconstruction some companies may offer some sort of coverage.

Ans.: Nowadays, implants typically contain a silicone shell and are generally full of a saline solution. Only in particular cases are silicone gel-filled implants used as they are restricted by the US FDA. Styles of implants include difference in size, shape and consistency. The implants shape can be contoured like a tear-drop or round. The consistency can be silky or grainy. Which style is best suited for you depends on personal situation. Your surgeon can help you with deciding.

Ans.: A generally new sort of implant that has an inner substance close to the texture of a gummy bear are called gummy bear implants. They are technically recognized as cohesive gel implants and designed like this to lessen the wrinkling effect. Also, they are known to keep their shape and reliability should they leak or break.

Ans.: The many possible sites incisions are put are: periareolar (around the nipple); inframammary (within the crease beneath the breast); or axillary (below the armpit). Depending on a few factors, your incisions will be determined with the help from your surgeon.

Ans.: The size that a patient decides to achieve is a very personal decision. Many a time the patient wishes to achieve a "natural look" to simply improve the proportionality of the upper and lower body. Some patients, however, want a "round" look. For these patients a "natural look" is not a priority and they are not concerned if other people know that they have had a breast augmentation. There are a lot of things to consider when thinking of implant size and because of that, your surgeon is there to help you make the right choice.

Yet, many patients find that size choosing is the most hardest decision. An idea to to help you decide may be to begin looking at photos in magazines to help yourself better determine the shape and size that you think is eye-catching. Another idea may be to get a few different sized bras and fill them with padding to see which size you feel most comfortable in. Often discussing "cup size" is useful but one must be careful since "cup size" depends on the manufacturer of the bra.

Ans.: When deciding on the extent of the implant, it is imperative that you consider what amount your own body can make room for. Those that do not have tissue that exists and opt for an extremely big implant may have results that can effortlessly be noticed and felt through the skin. Also, breasts that have very big implants can become droopy too early just like naturally big breasts do.

Ans.: Two choices for the implant placement is subglandular (above the chest muscle) and submuscular(below the chest muscle). There are benefits to them both and picking the correct one is figured out with the help of your surgeon.

Ans.: Not meant to last forever, implants may over time need surgery to remove and/or be replaced. They can give way any given moment even though there are people who consider they have a life span of about 10 years. There are a few implant manufacturers that give some form of guarantee that could consist of replacing the implant if required.

Ans.: With every sort of surgical procedure there are dangers linked and the same goes for breast augmentation. The dangers might include bleeding, infection, mammography interference, capsular contracture, deflation, breast or nipple sensation changes, or implant removal and/or implant replacement.

Ans.: Yes, according to the US FDA, it is possible for silicone to migrate away from the breast. The free silicone may cause granulomas to form in areas in and around the breast, as well as other areas of the body that the silicone has migrated to, such as the abdomen, arm, armpit, and chest wall. Usually, the free silicone stays within the scar capsule, and does not migrate to other areas.

Ans.: Yes, a small percentage (1%) of patients have permanent nipple/areola sensation loss after breast augmentation surgery. Many patients have temporary loss or hyper-sensitivity of the nipple/areola complex. The surgeon takes great care during the operation to avoid injury to the nerve supply to the nipple/areola complex.

Ans.: A breast lift (mastopexy) is an operation used to treat ptotic (sagging) breasts. A consultation with us can help answer this question for you. In general, evaluating the position of the nipple/areola complex in relation to the fold under the breast (infra-mammary fold) will help determine the need for lifting. Different types of breast lifting operations are available depending on the severity of the sagging. A breast lift can be combined with breast implants if indicated to give an excellent result.

Ans.: Tubular breasts, otherwise known as constricted breasts, are associated with some breast tissue deficiency especially medially (around the cleavage area). The appearance of the breasts can vary greatly from a very severe deficiency of breast tissue to mild deficiency. Often times, the patient will have different size and shape between the right and left breast. This is a correctable condition. Often, implants can be used to improve the size, shape and symmetry of the breasts.

Ans.: Breasts with Breast Implants are likely to feel firmer than those breasts that are natural. However, the majority of patients think that it's a good thing. Factors that may impact how breasts naturally feel after breast augmentation are: the placement of the implants, the implant's surface and filler, the feel of the skin and the amount of current tissue that's left.

Ans.: There is always some type of anesthesia used for the procedure, yet depending on the patient, they might have some sort of pain. Unfortunately, most patients experience a moderate to significant discomfort post-operatively. This seems to be increased with sub-muscular breast augmentation compared to sub-glandular breast augmentation. Many patients are unable to sleep because they are not used to sleeping on their backs. Soreness of the back and neck may be related to this difficulty finding a comfortable position. Some patients choose to use 2 pillows and sleep in a reclined position. In about a couple of days, with medication prescribed for pain by your surgeon, the hurt should go away.

Ans.: Though short-term, the breast or nipple can have some sensitivity after breast augmentation. A few patients feel an enhanced sensitivity, others may feel a decrease, and a tiny amount of patients may have lost all feeling in their breast or nipple. There have been some unusual situations where these types of experiences are permanent, having a lasting affect on breast-feeding as well as a response sexually.

Ans.: Every patient is different in their recovery. Most patients are able to resume the majority of their normal activities 4-6 weeks after the procedure. After the stitches are removed, the patient is allowed to shower.The stitches are all inside but for the ends which usually come out 5-7 days after surgery. Special exercises to massage the implants will be reviewed with you by us and our staff.

Ans.: Normally, the bra will need to be worn for 2-4 weeks. There are reasons why the bra is important and following the surgeon's directions will give you the best possible results. Each patient is different and so the recovery will also be different.

Ans.: Doctors do not recommend heavy weight lifting or strenuous exercise until 6 weeks after the procedure. Patients may walk and do leg exercises soon after the procedure.

Ans.: It is recommended that you take one week off from work after breast augmentation surgery and continue to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for 4 weeks after the surgery. We also ask the patients to not drive for 2 weeks after the surgery.

Ans.: After breast augmentation, the scars will become pale within several months to a full year.

Ans.: Noises such as buzzing, cracking, squeaking, gurgling or sloshing coming from the breasts after augmentation is common amongst some women. It's a result of air bubbles in the implant pocket, a build up of fluid or the implants just trying to settle. Within several weeks, the noises should stop.

Ans.: Some women may notice a decreased size and/or shape in their breast, pain and/or tenderness in the breast, numbness, tingling, burning, swelling, or hard knots (also known as nodules). Sometimes silicone implants can silently rupture, meaning that the patient has no idea she has experienced a rupture. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) with equipment specifically designed for imaging the breast may be utilized for evaluating patients who have a "suspected" rupture or leakage of a silicone gel breast implant.

Ans.: This is scar tissue that forms around the breast implants causing the breasts to harden. This hardening may be associated with tenderness and pain. This is the most common complication with breast augmentation. Sub-muscular breast augmentation helps to deter capsular contracture. Massage may be useful, especially for implants placed above the muscle. If severe capsular contracture occurs, it may be necessary to remove the scar tissue and replace the implant (preferably in a sub-muscular position).

Ans.: This is when the two breasts communicate in the midline (cleavage area). Cleavage does not occur naturally, and this may occur following an overzealous attempt to "increase cleavage" or "create a cleavage" by dividing the soft tissue or muscle fibers at the medial edges of the breast. This can be occur with implants placed over or under the muscle. It is a correctable problem.

Ans.: One of the main reasons of a disappointing breast augmentation is rippling. It's when waves or notches appearing on the shell of the implant and could be felt or visible through the skin. It us typically necessary to take the implant out and replace it, but some times the rippling is only short-term. It can happen for a few reasons, such as: the subglandular placement of the implant (specially in patients that have little or no tissue coverage and thin skin), implants that are textured, or the underfilling of the implant.

Ans.: If I develop a capsule and the implants have to be removed, will I be able to have them put back again?

Most of the time, patients wish to have implants replaced after removal of capsules (capsulotomy).

If I have to have the surgery re-done later in life, will the incision be made in the same place as the original?

Usually, yes. The incision would be made in the same area.