At The Krochmal Center for Plastic Surgery
Watch Dr. Daniel Krochmal, MD, FACS review Breast Augmentations at The Krochmal Center for Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Daniel Krochmal, MD, FACS answers your most common questions about Breast Augmentation procedures
Breast Augmentation is a procedure designed to enhance the size of the breast and improve its shape. While breast augmentation is typically performed using breast implants, liposuction with transfer of fat to the breasts is becoming increasingly common for the right candidates.
Breast Augmentation typically involves placing a breast implant underneath the breast tissue, either above or below the pectoralis major muscle. The implants used have a silicone shell and may be filled with either saline or silicone. Breast implants come in many shapes (round vs. tear-drop/anatomic), sizes, and profiles in order to give you a customized procedure to achieve your ideal results. Dr. Krochmal uses implants from all the major implant manufacturers with approval in the U.S. (Allergan, Mentor, Sientra, and hopefully Motiva in the near future) to make the procedure fully individualized. The small incision is placed either underneath the breast, around the areola, or through the armpit. Typically the procedure is done under general anesthesia for patient comfort, but may also be performed under sedation in some circumstances.
If Fat Grafting is used, Liposuction is first performed in your “problem areas” to improve your shape. The fat is then processed and purified before placing into the breasts, increasing the volume and improving its shape. Because you are using your body’s own tissue, there are no foreign objects that you need to worry about, and since your breast is made of fat anyway, fat-grafted breasts feel the most natural. The potential downsides to fat grafting are that sometimes you need multiple surgeries to get to your desired result, or you may not have enough fat elsewhere on your body to be a candidate for the procedure.
A good candidate for a Breast Augmentation procedure is somebody who is overall in good health and desires larger breasts. Candidates include women, and people transitioning from male to female. Ideally, you would want to wait until you are done having children before Breast Augmentation, as the breasts can change significantly with pregnancy. However, many women choose to get breast implants before pregnancy and know that a revision may be necessary at some point.
If your breasts have size differences, then different-sized implants may be placed. If your breasts aren’t “saggy”, then typically a Breast Augmentation is all a patient will need. If your breasts do sag, then you may need a breast lift to get the areola in the proper position over the implant. Also, to keep the implants in a good position longer, your doctor may talk to you about using mesh (such as GalaFlex) to create an “internal bra” of sorts.
Breast Augmentation recovery time is pretty straightforward. You’ll be a bit sore for a few days (like you did a lot of pushups), but you’re otherwise functioning and feeling fine. You’ll get pain medication to help with the discomfort. Most patients are out to dinner the following day, and driving after several days. You can shower the next day, but no soaking in water, heavy lifting, or strenuous activity for 1 month while the implants are settling in. For postoperative garments, you’ll be given a special surgical bra to wear afterward to keep the implants in the proper position.
Following Breast Augmentation surgery, it will be necessary to periodically check the implants to make sure they aren’t causing any issues. Talk to your surgeon about the latest recommendations for implant surveillance.
Your doctor will also talk to you about rare issues some people have with implants, including BIA-ALCL and BII. These are both being actively researched to understand how and why they occur and the best treatments for them. For the vast majority of people, breast implant surgery is a fantastic procedure with very high satisfaction rates, and the only complaint is that people didn’t get it done sooner!
There is no “best” surgeon for any procedure. But, there are some qualifications and credentials that improve the chance that you will achieve your desired result safely. Make sure your surgeon is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Make sure they operate in a fully accredited facility. If the procedure is not being done in a hospital, make sure they have privileges at a local hospital to do the procedure you are getting done. Make sure they have completed an accredited residency or fellowship program, or have received specialized training in the procedure you want. Read their reviews to get a sense of what other patients have experienced. Check out their before/after pictures to get a sense of their technical and artistic style, and see if they operate on patients who appear similar to you.
And most importantly, schedule a consultation with that doctor to see if they are a good “fit” for you. Every doctor has his or her own personality and approach to patient care, so you will want to see if you like that particular approach. Do they inspire confidence and trust? Are they calming and reassuring? Do they take the time to answer your questions? Do they discuss alternative approaches and say why those approaches may or may not work? Do they seem like they will continue to care for you after the procedure?
There is no “best Breast Augmentation surgeon”, but there is a “best” surgeon for you. You just may need to consult with several to find the right one. Hopefully Dr. Krochmal is on your list of Chicago and Hinsdale plastic surgeons to see. We’re happy to help shape your future!
The typical price of a Breast Augmentation is $7,000 to $8,500.
A Breast Augmentation causes permanent changes to the breast (a great thing for those who want breast implants).
You should get a breast augmentation if you are desiring larger, perkier breasts with an improved shape to fill out those bras, dresses, and bikinis with confidence.
Dr. Daniel Krochmal, MD, FACS shares real patient results from Breast Augmentation procedures at The Krochmal Center for Plastic Surgery.
27 yo Female with Submuscular Mentor MemoryShape 280 MM Implants, Inframammary Approach.
36 yo Female with Subfascial Mentor Moderate Plus Xtra 325 Implants, Inframammary Approach.
44 yo Female with Fat Grafting, R Breast 510 cc’s, L Breast 360 cc’s, with an Abdominoplasty (Mommy Makeover).
38 yo Female with Subfascial Sientra High Profile 345 Implants, Inframammary Approach.
42 yo Female with Submuscular Sientra High Profile 385 Implants, Inframammary Approach.
27 yo Female with Subfascial Allergan Smooth Round Soft Touch Moderate Profile 445 Implants, Inframammary Approach, with a Circumareolar (Donut) Mastopexy.
38 yo Female with Submuscular Mentor MemoryShape 215 MM Implants, Inframammary Approach.
34 yo Female with Subfascial Mentor MemoryGel XTRA 295 Moderate Plus Profile Implants, Inframammary Approach.
44 yo Female with Subfascial Allergan Smooth Round Soft Touch Full 450 Right and Soft Touch Moderate 375 Left Implants, Inframammary Approach.
37 yo Female with Subfascial Allergan Smooth Round Soft Touch Low Plus 360 Implants, with an Abdominoplasty (Mommy Makeover).
42 yo Female with Submuscular Allergan Smooth Round Soft Touch Full Profile 365 Implants, with GalaFlex Mesh Internal Bra Reinforcement, with an Abdominoplasty (Mommy Makeover).