Breast Augmentation

Looking for some facts and figures on the most popularly performed elective cosmetic procedure to increase your bra size, the Breast Augmentation or Breast Enhancement?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammoplasty) was the leading cosmetic surgical procedure performed in 2009. Along with the FDA decision to approve silicone breast implants for cosmetic surgery several years ago, 50% of all breast augmentations performed in 2009, were silicone implants.

Cosmetic surgery procedures, as a whole, are on the rebound after seeing a drop in numbers for 2007 and 2008.

What makes the Breast Augmentation procedure so attractive?

• The cost of having a breast augmentation can be relatively lower compared to many other cosmetic surgical procedures, such as liposuction or rhinoplasty.
• Recovery time and “down time” is a few days and depending on what you do for a living, you should be able resume normal activities within a couple of days. The more vigorous type activities such as running and lifting weights vary with how fast your body heals. Always check with your surgeon before starting any vigorous exercise activity.
• Instant gratification. You get to see the results immediately!
• Increased self-confidence and self image. Getting your breast enhanced can make you feel better about your body.

Once you decide to have your breasts enhanced, you need to start looking for a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Many non-resident/fellowship trained physicians and surgeons are allowed to perform breast surgery and claim to be “Board Certified”. But, they don’t say “Board Certified” in what. Some may be board certified in OB/Gyn, General Surgery, or even Dermatology. Always be inquisitive, ask your surgeon/physician what his or her board certification is in.

What can you expect during your first “Breast Aug” consult? When you meet your surgeon for your first consult, they will go over your medical history, do a breast exam, take measurements and discuss what cup size you would like to enhance to, whether to use saline or silicone implants, putting the implants over or under your chest muscle, and how the implant will be inserted. There are several different methods widely employed for inserting implants, such as making a small incision around the base of your areolar, or the inframammary incision where the incision is made at the bottom of the breasts. These are just a couple of examples. There are more such as the “TUBA”, Trans-Umbilical Breast Augmentation; and the axillary approach through the armpits.

Each method has it’s benefits and each has it’s down side.

Your surgeon should have a Before and After book, ask to see this.

Your surgeon may even take pre-operative pictures and show you, via special computer software, what you can look like with your chosen cup size.

Costs vary widely depending on where you have your surgery. Be advised, do not base your surgeon on price alone!

Never, ever get your breasts enhanced because someone else wants you to, even if they are paying for it. Never, ever let someone, other than you and your surgeon, decide what size implants you receive.