Breast implant sizing is important for a natural augmentation result

Here in the Pacific Northwest, women considering breast augmentation surgery are looking for a ‘natural’ result. We hear this all the time from our breast augmentation patients. ‘I want to look natural’. What does this mean?  There is nothing natural about a breast augmentation using a silicone or saline implant. (We can augment the breast with natural fat, but that’s a different topic…) So for patients interested in restoring breast volume, or enhancing their current breast shape with an implant, we can deliver a ‘natural’ result with some careful pre-operative planning.

What are factors that are important for a  natural breast augmentation appearance? Let’s look at an example.

Before breast augmentation

After augmentation with 300 cc saline implant

Implant selection for this patient was based on the width of the breast’s existing footprint (the base width of the breast). Volume of the implant was determined by the patient’s desire to look natural, and the amount of breast tissue ‘stretch’ the patient exhibited. In the operating room, the implant was placed through an incision along the bottom of the areola. The fold beneath the breast was surgically lowered to give the breast a more ideal shape. The nipple position remained exactly the same.  It was not moved. The bottom of the breast was lowered to center the nipple over the implant’s foot print.

The post-op photo was taken 15 months after surgery. You can barely see the surgical scar at the edge of the areola.

After breast augmentation

In the photo the the left, you’ll notice the very gentle transition from the upper chest wall onto the breast itself. This smooth transition is another hallmark of a very natural, attractive breast augmentation result. It is achieved by paying attention to the diameter and projection of the implant. Larger implants tend to create a very rounded upper pole, which has a ‘fake’ appearance. Typically, I use implants on the ‘smaller’ side. I think, long-term, smaller implants in the submuscular or dual-plane position will look better and more natural. I prefer silicone implants in most patients, but as you can see, beautiful results can be achieved with saline breast implants.

 

 

 

 

If you’ve read this blog post to this point, you are likely to be interested in how a similar breast augmentation result can be achieved in your case. Give our clinic a call at 425-450-0880 or www.breastaugmentation-seattle.com and schedule a consult with me and our cosmetic breast-care team.

Breast Lift and Augmentation Surgery – the combo can be ideal

The combination of breast lift (mastopexy) surgery with breast augmentation can be tricky to plan and execute effectively for patients. The two operations do separate, but opposite things to the breast- the breast lift tightens and lifts the breast while the breast implant adds volume. Getting the procedure right the first time takes surgical judgement and experience.

For women, a combined breast lift and augmentation can be the ideal solution to their cosmetic breast issues. It’s a one-stop solution to both sagging and volume.

As surgeons, we know that this combination breast surgery can be challenging. It has a fairly high revision rate. There are complications that can occur at a higher rate than if each procedure was done separately.

Based on my experience with breast augmentation and lift combination surgery, I’ve made the following observations that I can pass along to patients.

1. A smaller breast implant is recommended, as the implant is only going to contribute upper pole volume to the breast.

2. Commit to the set of breast scars that are going to produce the most reliable lift of the nipple. A ‘short scar’ breast lift is sometimes the wrong lift for a patient.

3. Consider eliminating the artificial implant altogether and do fat grafting. This technique uses your own fat (from liposuction) for breast augmentation. A breast lift with fat grafting is called a LipoPexy- more information can be found about breast fat grafting here.

4. If you have enough breast tissue in the lower pole of the breast, that tissue can be moved into the upper pole of the breast as an auto-augmentation flap- which improves breast shaping and contributes a little to upper pole volume.

An example….

Before mastopexy augmentation

After mastopexy augmentation

 

This woman had a simultaneous breast augmentation with a 300 cc  submuscular silicone implant, a peri-areolar breast lift and areolar reduction. The scar is limited to around the areola. Her ‘after’ photo is taken 3 months after surgery. She’s very happy with the result.

We can deliver these types of result to you as well.

Call our clinic at 425-450-0880 to schedule a consultation.