Frequently Asked Questions Before Breast Enlargement Surgery

How much will it cost?
What can I do to enhance my breast size?
Is it abnormal to have different breast sizes and shapes?
Will I ever be exactly the same on both sides?
Will there be scars after surgery?
Will my bathing suit hide the scars?
Will I be able to feel the implant?
What implant sizes are best for me?
What cup size will I be after surgery?
Will this lift my breasts?
What are the risks of breast enlargement surgery?
Will I lose feeling in my nipples?
Will my breasts be hard after surgery?
What material is used to make the implants?
Do implants break?
I have heard about so many bad things on television, is it safe to have breast enlargement?
Are silicone implants legal to use?
What can you tell me about this new technique that I saw on television?
How old do I have to be to have this surgery?
How long must I wait after breast-feeding before I can have breast enlargement?
Will breast enlargement increase my risks of breast cancer?
Do I need a mammogram before surgery?
Will breast enlargement interfere with mammograms?
Should I stop smoking?
What other choices do I have?
What additional procedures can I consider that will enhance the result?
Am I a good candidate for the surgery?
How many times can I have the surgery done?

How much will it cost?

The fee for breast enlargement for the first time can be located in the suggested fees . Please call my office for an accurate price quote or make an appointment for a personal consultation to discuss your specific concerns. My suggested quotes include professional fees, anesthesia fees, operating room costs, house calls, before care and after care. They do not include hospitalization costs, prescriptions, home nursing care, preoperative history and physical examination, laboratory costs, or pathology fees. If you compare prices, make sure that you consider all these costs. In addition, breast enlargement surgery requires some time off work for a safe recovery. I require complete payment two weeks in advance of all cosmetic surgery.

What can I do to enhance my breast size?

When a woman is sensitive about her diminutive breast size, breast enlargement is considered. If there is sagging of the nipple below the fold beneath the breast, then breast lift surgery is also a choice to give a natural result.

Is it abnormal to have different breast sizes and shapes?

It is not abnormal to have differences in breast size and/or shape. In fact, most women have some asymmetry. It is common for women to be self-conscious about this. Some women are so self-conscious that they are always covered except when bathing. Fortunately, breast enlargement can be considered to improve these differences.

Will I ever be exactly the same on both sides?

It is normal to have differences in breast size and shape. Surgery can reduce these differences but not eliminate them. It is possible to place different size implants to reduce volume differences. It will be necessary for you to adjust to some breast asymmetry after your surgery.

Will there be scars after surgery?

Scars are part of all surgery. It is important to understand where breast enlargement scars will be placed. Breast enlargement surgery leaves inconspicuous one-inch scars near the fold beneath the breast. They are easily covered with clothing. Even when your breasts are uncovered the scars are hidden in the shadow beneath your breast.

Will my bathing suit hide the scars?

My goal is to place the scars in a position that can be covered by the bathing suit of your choice. However, fashion always offers bathing suits that may reveal some of the scars.

Will I be able to feel the implant?

Usually, you will be able to feel the implant along the outer aspect of your breast. This particularly true of saline filled implants that are prone to wrinkling.

What implant sizes are best for me?

You are the best judge of this. You understand what kind of clothing you wear, how flamboyant you are, what size you were before having children, and what size you want to be. I recommend you try implants on in my office to determine what size implants to use. Another way is to fill balloons with rice and wear these in a bra to see the change in your figure. Remember that eighty percent of women state after their breast enlargement surgery that they wish they had picked a larger size.

What cup size will I be after surgery?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict exactly what bra cup size you will be after surgery. Cup size varies with bra manufacturer, bra style and chest size. It is important for you to try on implants before your surgery. Your consultation will give you some idea how your figure will change.

Will this lift my breasts?

No. Breast enlargement will only restore the fullness of the upper part of the breast that has been lost as a result of pregnancy. This gives the illusion of lifting of the breast. Lifting of the breasts refers to nipple repositioning to a higher position (above the fold beneath the breast). Breast lifting surgery (mastopexy) must be done to accomplish this.

What are the risks of breast enlargement surgery?

There are risks with any surgery. Infection, excessive bleeding, abnormal scarring, poor healing, slow healing, skin loss, changes in skin sensation, muscle or nerve injury, although uncommon, can occur with any surgery. Tightness of the scar tissue around the implant can lead to breast firmness. Also, implant failure or deflation is an inherent risk with man made materials. Fortunately, most problems that result from such complications are correctable with additional surgery. You must understand your risk of complications completely before you choose to have breast enlargement surgery.

Will I lose feeling in my nipples?

Although rare, complete loss of nipple feeling can occur due to nerve injury. This may interfere with sexual arousal and breast-feeding. Ten to fifteen percent of patients experience some change in breast feeling. This can include loss of nipple sensation.

Will my breasts be hard after surgery?

Breast firmness after breast enlargement is a result of tightening of the scar tissue around the implant. Current implant technology, implant placement, and surgical technique have reduced the incidence and severity of this condition. If this occurs, secondary surgery can improve the condition. Persistence of firmness may increase the incidence of implant failure or rupture.

What material is used to make the implants?

The implants are solid silicone bags that are filled with normal saline (salt water with a concentration that matches that of your body). They are placed beneath the breast and then inflated. A small valve seals once the implant is inflated.

Do implants break?

All man made implants will eventually break once they are implanted in the body. This is a result of material fatigue. Once an implant is placed the body stresses it. Living tissues like bone and muscle can make up for this by growing stronger. Manmade implants cannot do this so they will eventually fail.

I have heard about so many bad things on television, is it safe to have breast enlargement?

There are always risks with breast enlargement surgery. When severe complications are combined with inexperienced surgeons, poor results can occur. I believe that breast enlargement can be done safely with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Serious problems are usually related to excessive surgery and/or medical problems. Most poor results can be improved with additional surgery.

Are silicone implants legal to use?

Yes. Silicone gel breast implants have not been removed from the market place. However the Food and Drug Administration has limited their availability. Currently, they are not available to patients undergoing breast enlargement surgery for the first time.

What can you tell me about this new technique I saw on television?

Everyone in America wants the latest in medical care. This is not always the best medical care. At times media presentations will leave out critical information about potential complications, quality of result, and FDA regulation. I am open minded when it comes to new technology but I would rather not use my patients to try out the newest techniques. There is a new implant filled with refined soy oil now available for experimental use in America. This implant interferes with mammograms very little. However, their absolute safety is unknown when they fail or break in ten to twenty years. Saline implants and silicone gel implants have been available for forty to fifty years.

How old do I have to be to have this surgery?

Breast development can continue into the early twenties. When surgery is done before this time, there is a chance the surgery will have to be repeated. In addition, it may be emotionally difficult to adjust to the surgery during teen years. For these reasons, I suggest that surgery be postponed until eighteen years of age.

How long must I wait after breast-feeding before I can have breast enlargement?

You must wait for three to six months after breast-feeding before you can proceed with breast enlargement. Reasons for this are increased risk of blood and/or milk collections. In addition, it is impossible to predict what the size of your breasts will be once all the milk has passed.

Will breast enlargement increase my risks of breast cancer?

No. Two studies have examined this very question. Breast enlargement surgery does not increase your risk of developing breast cancer. However, all women are at risk for breast cancer. If you have family members that have had breast cancer, your risk is increased. Remember that breast cancer can occur at any age and a physician must properly evaluate all breast lumps.

Do I need a mammogram before surgery?

I recommend that you have a preoperative mammogram if you are thirty-five years old or older. I also recommend that you have a mammogram if you have any significant breast problems or breast lumps. Breast cancer can occur at any age and a physician must properly evaluate all breast lumps.

Will breast enlargement interfere with mammograms?

All implants interfere with the interpretation of mammograms. Placing the implant under the muscle reduces this interference. It is important that you continue with monthly breast self-examinations. When you do have a mammogram, be sure to tell the physician or the x-ray technician that you have had breast enlargement so they can do extra x-ray views to try to make up for the implant. These are called Ecklund views.

Should I stop smoking?

For general health reasons, I recommend that all my patients stop smoking. It is clear that smoking increases your risk for developing all sorts of cancers. Breathing problems like emphysema and circulatory problems including heart attacks are also linked to smoking. Smoking can also increase the risk of coughing after your surgery that can lead to bleeding around your implants. This does require second surgery. It is always best to stop smoking.

What other choices do I have?

Other than acceptance of your current breast size or wearing external pads to enhance the breast size in clothing, there are no other consistently safe choices. I strongly discourage any type of injection into the breast. This can lead to extreme difficulties in interpreting mammograms. Alternate implant fillings, implant placement, implant shape and incision placement can all be considered. Always understand all you options before having breast enlargement surgery.

What additional procedures can I consider that will enhance the result?

Surgeries can be combined to yield dramatic and complimentary results. For safety reasons, I recommend the length of surgery be limited to six hours and no more than two areas of the body be treated at the same time. Breast enlargement can be easily combined with liposuction, breast lifting, and tummy tucks. It is interesting to note that nose surgery is frequently combined with breast enlargement.

Am I a good candidate for the surgery?

This is a question that can only be answered after a personal consultation. Breast enlargement surgery is suggested to women with small breast size. There are other things to consider as well including psychiatric conditions, life stress, medical illness, obesity, and motivation. You should be a healthy nonsmoker, within twenty pounds of your ideal weight. Major life stresses (i.e. grieving a death and divorce) must be absent in your life. The ideal candidate is motivated by internal desires to look better.

How many times can I have the surgery done?

Each time surgery is done, scar tissue is created in the surgical site. This scar tissue detracts from the natural result. For this reason, I recommend that breast enlargement surgery not be repeated more than two or three times at prescribed intervals