Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation using implants is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the U.S. Whether you’re looking to enhance breast volume, restore fullness lost after pregnancy or weight loss or correct asymmetry, saline or silicone implants can help you achieve a more balanced and confident silhouette.

Dr. Jennifer Harrington is a top female plastic surgeon who understands that no two women are alike. She works closely with her patients to help achieve natural-looking breast enhancement results that meet their appearance goals. During your consultation, she will discuss your goals for surgery with you and help you choose the best size and type of implant to give you the look, size and feel that’s just right.

Most women in good overall health and with realistic expectations can be excellent candidates for breast enlargement. While pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the size and shape of your breasts, you do not have to wait until after having children to get breast implants. In most cases, breast augmentation does not affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed. Dr. Harrington will help you decide if the timing could be right for you to move forward with breast augmentation.

Some common reasons that many women consider breast enhancement surgery include:

The first step in the breast augmentation process is to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Harrington. During this time, she will carefully listen to your goals, review your medical history and perform a physical evaluation to help you decide if breast implants could be right for you. If so, she will work with you to create an individualized surgical plan to best meet your aesthetic goals. This will include discussing in detail all of your breast augmentation options, including breast implant types, placement and incision techniques.

Dr. Harrington will also discuss the risks and potential complications of breast augmentation and answer any questions or concerns you may have at this time.

In some cases, Dr. Harrington may recommend additional procedures. Because breast implants only add volume, women with sagging breasts may consider adding a breast lift. It is also common to include breast enhancement surgery as part of a mommy makeover.

There are two main types of implants used for breast augmentation surgery: saline and silicone. Each implant has its own benefits.

• Saline breast implants are filled with saline (salt water) at the time of surgery. Saline implants cost about half as much as silicone implants. These types of implants tend to feel slightly firmer to the touch than their silicone counterparts, may show more rippling on the sides of the breast and have a higher rupture rate. If a saline implant ruptures, breast volume will immediately diminish and the implant will need to be replaced.
• Silicone breast implants are filled with a silicone gel that is soft and feels very natural to the touch. Silicone implants tend not to ripple as much as saline, although they still can. These implants rupture less often than saline implants. However, if these implants rupture, there will likely be no change in the size of the breast, so an MRI is needed to detect any ruptures. Silicone implants are typically the preferred implant type for most breast augmentation candidates due to their more natural feel and decreased incidence of rippling.

Breast implants can be placed either under the chest muscle (submuscular) or on top of the muscle and under the natural breast tissue (subglandular). The submuscular placement is the most common, as it can help to create a more natural look and feel, especially for women with smaller amounts of natural breast tissue. It can also reduce the risk of implant rippling, especially for saline implants, and may also reduce the risk of capsular contracture, a condition where scar tissue tightens around the implant.

Subglandular implant placement may be recommended in certain instances, such as for women with larger amounts of natural breast tissue and those who are very athletic. Because this implant placement does not involve the muscles, it tends to result in a slightly shorter recovery time than with submuscular implants.

There are 3 main types of incisions used for breast enlargement surgery:

Dr. Harrington will provide you with detailed guidelines on how to prepare for your upcoming breast augmentation. These pre-operative instructions are designed to minimize risks and help you feel confident and informed going into surgery.

Some general preparation steps before getting breast implants will include:

Your Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast augmentation surgery is a same-day procedure, with the entire process taking approximately 3 hours. The surgery itself typically takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. Dr. Harrington performs breast augmentation under general anesthesia in an accredited surgery center. Patients who have sensitivities to narcotic medications may benefit from our opioid-free or reduced surgery and recovery customized approach.

You will need to arrive 1 hour before the surgery start time. The recovery phase lasts about 1 hour, after which you will be discharged from the center. You will need to come to the surgery center with someone who is able to drive you home after surgery, and an adult will need to stay with you for at least 24 hours after your surgery.

Most women will feel sore for the first few days after surgery due to pressure on the chest muscles from the implants. Discomfort should continue to improve every day. All incisions are closed with dissolving sutures, and you will be started on a scar therapy program 1 week after surgery.

It is normal to have some numbness or hypersensitivity of the nipple, areola or skin around the breast. This is due to some of the nerves being stretched during surgery, and should improve with time. It is also normal to feel pressure both in your armpits and along your sternum. This tight sensation will decrease as your muscles and skin relax to accommodate the new implants.

Women who work a desk job with no heavy lifting are typically able to go back to work within 1 week after surgery. Those with more physically demanding jobs may need to take some extra time to recover before returning to work. You will need to limit exercise and strenuous physical activity for several weeks after getting breast implants. Dr. Harrington will let you know when you are able to gradually increase exercise. Most women are able to resume their normal physical activities within 6 weeks after breast enhancement.

It is important to discuss possible risks and complications with Dr. Harrington prior to breast enhancement surgery. If you notice any sudden swelling in one of your breasts with increased pain, notify our office immediately.

You will notice a change in the size of your breasts right away, but it will take several weeks or months for your full breast augmentation results to take shape. At first, your breast implants might appear to be too high on your chest or even square instead of round. This is normal and should gradually improve over time as your breast implants soften and settle into place, sometimes called “dropping and fluffing.”

Around 3 months after breast augmentation, you should have a good idea of what your final results will look like. It can take up to 6 months for your final outcome to fully develop.