Breast Augmentation Featured Patient

During your breast augmentation consultation we will discuss:

• The ideal implant size, shape, and form
• Breast sizing
• Discussion of various approaches for implant placement’
• Preoperative management and planning
• Postoperative care

There are many reasons why you might feel that one of your breasts is firmer than the other. This can be caused by early capsule formation or it may be that the implant was malpositioned. You will need to follow up with your plastic surgeon for this as this diagnosis is more accurate when made by feel during an examination.

Capsular contracture prophylaxis exercises can be initiated as early as one week following surgery but you have to make sure that you don’t push your breasts up; I recommend using a breast band over the first two weeks that minimizes the risk of malpositioning. When massaging your breasts, it is very important to keep one hand over the top of the implant while the other hand messages your breasts so that you don’t inadvertently push the implants up.

A radiated breast will always feel firmer and sit higher but this is not capsular contracture.  This is caused by fibrosis of your skin, underlying fatty, and fibro septal network. The capsule, in fact, might be absolutely normal assuming that you placed your implant after the radiation. Fat grafting has been recommended as a treatment to soften your breasts.

The only way to ensure that your chosen implants are going to provide you your desired breast size augmentation is to complete breast sizing during your consultation. During this visit, you are provided the opportunity to try out amongst a variety of breast implant sizers in order to hone in on your desired breast size. 

Also, when the implants are placed inside you, they will be actually 5% smaller in size. As a result, you must take this into account. A final reason why you may feel that your breasts are smaller at two months is that you have gotten used to your swollen breasts over the first six weeks that is now resolving.

You can side sleep immediately after breast augmentation. The idea is to not allow your implants to move from the dissected breast pocket until the pockets have scarred down (creation of a capsule). 

This occurs by 4 weeks following surgery. Regardless, as long as you wear a breastband (my favorite is the Mermaid band), you should have no problems with any activities that don’t require heavy weight lifting with your arms. The only exception is sleeping on your tummy in the early postoperative period which can push the implants out of their pocket.

Universally patients are not allergic to silicone. In fact, silicone is found in your diet as it is present in a potato skin. It is also used in your acrylic nails! Finally, it can be found in our cartilaginous structures such as the knees and ears. There has not been a single case of a true allergic reaction to silicone to date.

Whether or not you will need a lift is dependent on your nipple position. If your nipple is below or at your inframammary crease, then you will need a simultaneous lift at the time of your breast augmentation. 

The amount of lift is based on your chosen implant. The reason for this is to allow your nipple to be centered on your implant. This follows the fact that the implant must sit on your inframammary crease and such that the radius of your implant will be centered on your nipple. This is the most important consideration. 

The breast lift can only raise your nipple approximately 5 cm so it can only be performed for minimal to moderate nipple sagging. A virtual consultation with a breast specialist is recommended to make sure you appreciate what needs to be done to get you an excellent outcome.