The Natural Approach to Breast Augmentation with Implants
BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMONLY PERFORMED COSMETIC BREAST PROCEDURES. ADD TO THAT BREAST REDUCTION AND BREAST LIFT, AND THIS ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF PLASTIC SURGERIES. GETTING A GREAT RESULT IS OFTEN MORE CHALLENGING THAN YOU WOULD THINK. IT TAKES A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF BREAST ANATOMY, AS WELL AS A KEEN SENSE OF AESTHETICS.
VISIT DR. SOPHIE'S
PROFILE 1- THE BALLERINA BREAST*
This shape has little projection, and drapes gently over the chest wall. Fits well on slim body types. Subtle and elegant.
PROFILE 2- THE BARRE BREAST*
This shape has moderate projection and fills out a bathing suit well. Fits well on athletic body types. Optimal cleavage without too much show.
PROFILE 3- THE BODY BREAST*
This shape has full projection and gets noticed right away. Fits well on curvy body types. Full and feminine all the way.
PICK YOUR PROFILE
Q&A
What Are The Different Types Of Implants?
Most breast implants can be categorized based on their fill and their shell. The fill of the implant is either silicone gel or saline fluid. Silicone gel is a relatively inert material that is soft and pliable, and feels very much like natural breast tissue. Saline solution is salt water. The implant shell is usually made of solid silicone, and can either be smooth or textured (link to the new blog post on Motiva implants). Textured implants have been associated with various medical problems, but advances in technology now offer new surfaces that are proving to be much better tolerated. Call today to ask about the Motiva implant.
Why Do So Many Breast Augmentations Look Fake?
Breast Augmentation pretends to be an easy procedure to perform. You make a small incision, you create a pocket, and you insert the implant. But there are many subtleties to this art, and the surgeon must understand everything from the implant shape, to the amount of tissue coverage that it will have, to the way that things are likely to stretch and change over time. Underestimating the complexity of the procedure often leads to an imbalance in size and/or a malposition of the implant. In either case, the result will likely be less than natural.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?
The price of the procedure will vary widely, depending on the surgeon’s fees, the operating room costs, anesthesia, and the price of the implant. The general range is between 10-20k for everything included, although there are discount clinics for bargain hunters. The surgeon’s level of training and skill, as well as the care and attention provided to the patient, also may affect the cost of the procedure. Saline implants generally cost much less than silicone implants, with the exception of the IDEAL implant, which is considered a specialty saline implant.
How Long Is The Recovery After Breast Augmentation?
The recovery after breast augmentation depends a lot on the surgical technique used, and especially on whether or not the implant is placed under the muscle. For implants above the muscle, the incision usually burns for a few days, and patients report feeling sore for a few weeks. Strenuous activity is limited for a month or so. For patient who undergo breast augmentation under the muscle, there is usually considerably more soreness, and this can lasts for many weeks. Everybody’s recovery is different, and in this case, the technique used can also make for a very different postoperative course.
AUGMENTATION - VOLUME & FULLNESS
HOW DO PATIENTS RATE THIS PROCEDURE?
BREAST AUGMENTATION - THE BASICS
As a cosmetic breast surgery specialist, Dr. Bartsich is proud to offer her patients many options in terms of breast augmentation. One of the newer state-of-the-art implants available today is the Ideal Implant. SEE GALLERY.
Find out if you are due to SWITCH YOUR IMPLANTS.
SEE MORE about natural looking breast augmentation, losing your bra, how your breasts show your age, and bra sizing 101.
BREAST IMPLANT GUIDE
| BASICS... | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|
| SILICONE IMPLANTS | Look and Feel Extremely Natural Move With the Breast Improved Technology Limits Rupture-Related Complications | Need Frequent Monitoring Silent Rupture Can Occur |
| SALINE IMPLANTS | Biologic Saline Filler No Monitoring Required No Silent Rupture | Don't Look as Natural When Large or Little Coverage Don't Feel as Natural as Silicone |
| LOOSE FILLER MATERIAL | Does Not Require Implant | Still Behaves Like Foreign Material Hard to Control Placement and Shape Associated With Many Complications Hard To Remove |
| FAT GRAFTING | Your Own Tissue No Need for Replacement | Does Not Last Well Hard To Control Shape and Placement Often Needs Multiple Procedures Requires A Large Amount of Fat for Grafting Can Result in Hard Lumps or Calcium Deposits That Can Be Alarming |
IMPORTANT NOTES
- The visible difference between different types of implants will depend on the size of the implant, pocket placement, the amount of breast tissue coverage, and skin thickness.
Note that all implants have a solid silicone shell and carry a small risk of implant-related complications like BIAI.
Dr. Sophie performs primarily silicone and saline implants, with silicone being more commonly chosen.
TEXTURED IMPLANTS
Textured implants (including shaped ‘gummy bear‘) are implants with a rough texture that sticks to tissue. The texturing, which prevents them from rotating in the implant pocket, is part of the shell. The implant fill can be saline or silicone. Although the data is not yet conclusive, these implants have been implicated in certain rare health conditions, like ALCL lymphoma. The type of texturing seems to affect the risk of developing an implant-related health condition. Some brands of textured implants have been recalled because of this association.
The newest technology in breast augmentation is the Motiva implant, which offers a more bio-compatible micro-texturing, along with other design improvements. This implant appears to have an extremely low complication rate (including BIAI, ALCL, and capsular contracture), and represents a huge advance in implant manufacturing. Ask us about Motiva, or come in for a consultation to learn more.
If You Think You May Need To Remove Your Implants, Consult An Experienced Surgeon Who Can Perform All Necessary Adjunctive Procedures Such As Removing the Capsule Around the Implant.
