Considering Breast Enlargement?

San Diego
plastic surgery patient

If you are thinking of having breast augmentation, you are certainly not alone. Breast augmentation or breast enlargement is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. For years, women in San Diego and all over the country have had this procedure, and its popularity continues.

There is a lot of information available on breast enlargement. In fact, there is so much information available when you surf the internet that it can become confusing or overwhelming. At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, we do more breast augmentations than most private cosmetic surgery centers around the nation. So we want to share our knowledge with you and give you some good, basic information.

Let's begin with some of the myths about breast augmentation. One of them being that if you have larger breasts, you'll be happy. You'll probably feel better about how you look in your clothes and you may even feel sexier. But don't expect a change in your bra size to change your life or solve any relationship problems. Another myth is that asymmetrical breasts will be perfect after breast surgery. Doctors can do much to correct unevenness, and often breasts look better and more symmetrical after surgery, but a perfect "matched set" may not be possible. An additional common misconception is you can be as big as you want to be - wrong. Your body frame, your current breast size, and your skin are all factors in what size breast implants you can ultimately carry well.

Breast enlargement is a relatively simple surgical procedure and is done on an out-patient basis. You can either choose saline or silicone implants. Both are FDA approved. The doctors at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre recommend both types of implants and believe they are equally safe choices for patients. Saline and silicone implants come in different shapes and sizes. An important factor when considering breast size is your lifestyle. If you are active in sports, you might want to keep your implant size smaller. If have a body type with fuller hips or wider shoulders, you might want to consider larger implants to create a more portioned shape to your body.

Surgery is done under general anesthesia, so you will need someone to take you home after surgery and be with you the first day or so following the procedure. You will be able to go about light daily activities after the first few days, but more aerobic recreation should be delayed for about three weeks. Lifting is discouraged for several weeks, so if you have small children, you need to think about who will help you with the little ones. Most patients return to their jobs within a week unless their job requires lifting or aerobic activity.

Incisions sites vary and include the following areas: at the areola's edge, underneath the breast, through the armpit, or through the belly button. The two most common incision sites are at the areola's edge or underneath the breast. You can expect some discomfort with healing and slightly more discomfort is reported when the implant is placed under the breast muscle (sub pectoral). Normally, you will be given pain medication after surgery, so with adequate rest, the healing process is usually speedy and uneventful. Sutures are removed within 7 to 12 days.

As with all surgical procedures there are risks, but major complications are unusual. Some risks common to all procedures are nausea, bleeding, inflammation and infection, and thick or wide scars. Serious medical complications can include pulmonary embolism, severe allergic reactions, cardiac problems, or even hyperthermia. Risks specific to breast augmentation include swelling and bruising, itching, numbness, discomfort and pain, capsular contracture, loss of sensation or tissue to breast skin or nipples, wrinkling and asymmetry, and infection. These and other less common risks should be discussed with you in detail before your surgery. If the doctor you choose does not offer an in-depth before-surgery (pre-op) visit to cover all aspects of your surgery with you, then we suggest you choose another surgeon.

After you decide breast enlargement is right for you, start by making an appointment with one or more surgeons. While at your consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon, talk to him or her about your specific goals and expectations. Take along some pictures of breasts that you think are desirable. By discussing your specific expectations, a surgeon will be able to exam you and tell you what can be achieved with your body. The more you share in a consultation with a surgeon the more likely you are to be happy with your result.

At the time of the consultation several things should happen. You should be able to view lots of before and after pictures of real patients' results. This will help you in assessing the experience and skills of the surgeon. Also, another helpful tool is to have a "sizing appointment" when you have your consultation. This is a time where you can try on different size implants and get an idea of what size you think looks best on you. You should also get a specific financial quote that outlines clearly all the costs involved.

In summary, here's what to look for and what you'll find at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre:

• Meet personally in consultation with an experience board certified plastic surgeon
• At the consultation have an examination and discuss your desires and expectations and the recommended procedure
• Receive information and materials that help you in the decision making process
• See before and after pictures of real patients of the surgeon
• Have a "sizing" appointment where you can try on different size implants
• Get a specific written quote detailing all the costs
• After scheduling surgery attend an individual "pre-op" appointment to discuss all surgical aspects and risks

Besides these points, please refer to our article Ten Points To Ponder . When you shop for breast enlargement or any other procedure, you'll want to know these other important factors to consider. At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, we are committed to educating patients, so we hope this information is helpful to you.

Note: The specific risks and the suitability of Breast Enlargement for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation with a physician. All procedures have some degree of risk. The information provided here is not a substitute for a consultation.