As a plastic surgeon with a natural aesthetic, the patients who come to me are generally looking for a less-is-more result. In particular, when it comes to breast augmentation, my usual patient wants a subtle, under-the-radar contour. For patients starting with a very small breast, the target is easy to explain: a ballerina profile. But target size and target contour are very different things; and in cases where it is the contour that counts, language can fail in describing what they are trying to achieve.
One of the most common requests I get is from young mothers who feel deflated after nursing, and start thinking about how much their breasts have changed. In many cases, the ask is the same, “I never really thought about getting bigger breasts, until I nursed my baby. That was literally the most gorgeous they ever looked. How do I get back to there?”
The nursing breast is a very specific profile all of its own. For one, the increased volume is usually small compared to most regular breast implants. In many cases, an engorged breast will take on an additional 100-200cc (roughly 5 ounces) of milk. This is equivalent to a very small implant, smaller than most surgeons would suggest.
In my practice, small implants are the standard rather than the exception. So many of my best results used small implants that just give you that little, perfect, “breast boost.” For post-nursing patients in particular, this boost has to also take into consideration the likely deflation and upper pole volume loss. In these cases, the shape and position of the implant are as important as the size in terms of recreating the nursing look.
Implant selection also plays a part. The Motiva implant in particular offers a slightly firm, but not hard, feel, which truly mimics dense breast tissue. Add to that the fact that they are well suited for placement above the muscle, and this is a welcome strategy for a slightly lower breast.
I spend a lot of time speaking with patients about their plastic surgery goals, and considering how to achieve them in terms of their lifestyles and personal self-visualization. After all, the way that most women want their breasts to look relates more to the experiences that they will have with them on a day to day basis, rather than how they will appear in a static photo on display. It is important to have the right conversation with patients before the procedure, so that they have the greatest chance of having the right outcome afterwards. I have the benefit of understanding this well, as it takes one to know one.
