Breast Augmentation
At Park Plastic Surgery in Rocky Mount, breast augmentation, or augmentation mammoplasty, involves using breast implants to increase the size of the breasts or restore breast volume that has been lost after weight loss or pregnancy. A board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Frederick K. Park offers the most up-to-date breast augmentation techniques and implants for women from Greenville, Wilson, Murfreesboro, and Weldon, NC, along with other surrounding cities.
What Does Breast Augmentation Achieve?
Breast augmentation can:
- Increase fullness and projection of your breasts
- Improve the balance of your figure
- Enhance your self-image and self-confidence
Breast implants may also be used for breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
Do I Need Breast Augmentation or a Breast Lift?
Breast augmentation makes the breasts fuller, it does not correct severely drooping breasts. If you want your breasts to look fuller and to be lifted due to sagging, you may also need a breast lift. A breast lift can often be done at the same time as augmentation or it may require a separate operation. Dr. Park will discuss your options with you to determine the best approach.
Who’s an Ideal Candidate?
Ideal candidates for breast augmentation are women who:
- Are physically and emotionally healthy
- Do not smoke
- Have realistic expectations about their results
If you are under age 18, want to have the surgery to please someone else, or don’t have the time to allow yourself to heal properly, you should forgo having breast augmentation. If you are unsure, Dr. Park is happy to meet with you for a private consultation.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in Rocky Mount?
The cost of breast augmentation for women in Greenville, Halifax, and Rocky Mount, NC, varies due to the procedure’s customizable nature. Factors such as the specifics of your surgery, the type of implant you choose (silicone or saline), and your surgeon’s level of expertise can all affect your final cost. The best way to determine your pricing is to meet personally with Dr. Park for a private consultation.
Which Breast Implants Should I Choose?
Breast augmentation is about choices. Size is often the first choice considered, but there are many other important decisions to be made, including:
- Fill material: Silicone or saline
- Shape: Round or teardrop (also called anatomical or shaped)
- Profile: High, moderate, or low
- Shell texture: Smooth or textured
What’s Better, Silicone or Saline Breast Implants?
Each type of implant filler has its own benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a comparison:
Silicone
- FDA-approved for women 22 years and older
- Volume is fixed
- Breasts look and feel natural
- No rippling
- More expensive than saline
- Rupture difficult to confirm without a scan
Saline
- FDA-approved for women age 18 and over
- Volume can be adjusted after placement
- Breasts may move less naturally and feel firmer than silicone
- Visible rippling is possible
- Less expensive than silicone
- Rupture is usually obvious
Are Round or Teardrop Implants Better?
While the majority of patients choose round implants, each option has its own advantages, including:
- Round implants are a good choice for providing overall fullness and increased cleavage. This implant shape can still look quite natural.
- Teardrop implants mimic the shape of a natural breast. They are a good choice for women looking for a sloped breast that’s fuller at the bottom.
What’s the Difference Between High Profile and Low Profile Implants?
Implant profile specifies how far the implant projects (sticks out) from the chest wall. The choices vary between implant manufacturers but generally range from low, to moderate, to high. Low profile implants are wider at the base; they have a larger diameter. High profile implants are more narrow at the base. Most patients attain natural-looking results with moderate profile implants, which are in between. Your choice will depend on your unique anatomy and cosmetic goals and will be reviewed with Dr. Park during your consultation.
Are Textured Implants Better Than Smooth?
Smooth implants are the most popular choice with patients. Textured implants have a rough surface, similar to sandpaper, that keeps shaped implants oriented with the thin, narrow end at the top of the breast and the full, wide end at the bottom of the breast. Smooth implants move around naturally within the breast pocket and feel softer than textured implants because their elastic shell is thinner.
Which Incision Is Best for Breast Augmentation?
Dr. Park chooses from the following incision types based on the patient’s choice of implant (silicone or saline) and personal preference:
- Along the breast crease (inframammary)
- Along the lower border of the areola (periareolar)
- In a natural crease of the underarm (transaxillary)
Saline implants can be placed with any incision choice because they are filled after they are inserted into the breast. It is difficult to place silicone implants, which are prefilled, through a transaxillary incision.
What Are the Different Placement Options for Breast Implants?
After making the incisions, Dr. Park creates a space (called a pocket) for each implant behind the breast tissue in one of the following locations:
- Above the chest muscle (subglandular placement)
- Below the pectoral muscle (submuscular placement)
Dr. Park’s Approach:
“My personal experience has led me to understand that the projection of the implant away from a woman’s body is most directly related to her perception of size. Although we have been conditioned to think in bra sizes, they tend not to be the best goals to target. Because of differences in bra manufacturers and how women wear bras, (some like them tighter and some looser) I find shooting for a certain bra letter is not nearly as effective as achieving the look desired. This is often closely related to the amount of projection visualized.
A proportioned, natural look is the request I most frequently hear. This can be accomplished through the correct choices and adhering to strict protocols in the operating room to try to prevent complications, including capsular contracture.
Whatever the patient’s goals, I try to provide guidance toward the best choices to achieve them with education and my personal experience from over 20 years of surgery.”
Can Breast Enlargement Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Yes. Dr. Park often combines breast augmentation with other plastic surgery procedures to give patients multiple improvements with a single surgery and recovery period. Popular options include:
What Is Breast Augmentation Recovery Like?
Most women can return to work and nonstrenuous activities 1 to 2 weeks following a breast augmentation. General recovery milestones include:
- Swelling and bruising: These common side effects peak within 3 to 5 days of surgery and then slowly dissipate for about a month.
- Pain: Expect to feel sore for the first 3 to 5 days. Most patients control discomfort with prescription pain medication during this time.
- Incisions: While it’s OK to shower a day or two after surgery, avoid submerging your breasts in water such as a bath, hot tub, or swimming pool until the incisions are closed.
- Surgical bra: Wearing a special compression bra 24/7 minimizes swelling and supports your breasts as they heal.
- Exercise: You will need to avoid vigorous exercise, especially upper body exercises, for 4 to 6 weeks.
- Sexual activity: Hold off on sexual activity for at least the first week after your procedure, then be careful with your breasts for a few more weeks.
- Breast appearance: Your breasts will be high and tight for the first 6 to 8 weeks until swelling fades, the muscle and skin relax, and your implants settle into their final beautiful shape and natural placement.
Keep in mind that patient experiences vary; contact our office if you have any questions or concerns during recovery.
What Is Breast Augmentation Revision Surgery?
Revision breast augmentation surgery is performed to change the results of a previous breast augmentation procedure. The reasons women have revision surgery can be corrective or elective and commonly include:
- Addressing a complication such as capsular contracture
- Improving unsatisfactory results from another breast surgeon
- Replacing breast implants that are old or have ruptured
- Exchanging implants for a different size or fill material
It’s not uncommon for patients to have multiple reasons for revision surgery. Dr. Park has the experience and skill to help patients have beautiful, natural-looking breasts by addressing their unique needs and concerns.
Breast Augmentation FAQ
Is breast augmentation surgery safe?
Yes, when performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon in a certified surgical facility on a carefully screened patient.
Is there a difference between breast augmentation surgery and breast implants?
Yes. Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure; breast implants are placed inside the breasts to increase their size.
Are silicone implants better than saline?
Choice of implant material depends on personal preference. Patients who are at least 22 years old can choose either silicone or saline; patients age 18 to 21 only have the option of saline implants. Many women say that silicone implants feel more natural than saline; however, saline implants require smaller incisions and are less expensive than silicone.
Can I still breastfeed after getting breast implants?
Breast implants typically do not compromise the ability of patients to breastfeed. It’s important to tell Dr. Park about your desire to breastfeed so he can avoid the milk glands and associated nerves during the surgery.
Will anyone be able to tell that my breasts aren’t natural?
Dr. Park takes pride in providing very natural-looking breast augmentation results by carefully choosing implant size, concealing the incisions, and offering silicone gel implants.
How painful is breast enhancement surgery?
While individual pain tolerances vary, breast augmentation usually involves some discomfort the first few days after surgery. Prescription pain medication is typically enough to keep patients comfortable; most stop taking it within about 3 to 5 days.
Will I have a visible scar after I heal?
While all surgeries leave a scar, breast augmentation scars are usually very thin and fade from red to pinkish-white within about a year after surgery. Dr. Park places the incisions where the resulting scar will not be noticeable such as in the crease under the breast, along the edge of the areola, or in the armpit.
When should I consider replacing my implants?
Breast implants that have ruptured or are leaking should be replaced. If you would like a different size or fill material, you can have your implants replaced during an elective implant exchange. If you do not have any concerns, there is no need to have your breast implants replaced.
To schedule an appointment at Park Plastic Surgery, please call us at (252) 888-2691. If you have any questions or comments, or if you want to learn more about the services we provide, please complete and submit our contact form.
