Breast Augmentation Marin County
Embrace Your Feminine Beauty
Why Choose Plastic Surgery Associates for Breast Augmentation?
Choosing to undergo breast augmentation is a significant decision, and you deserve the best care possible. We understand that achieving your ideal breast size and shape can be a transformative experience, enhancing your confidence in every area of life. Our board-certified plastic surgeons blend exceptional surgical skill with a keen eye for proportion and harmony. Having performed over 5,000 breast augmentations, we bring decades of experience and insight to every step of your procedure. Achieve a beautiful, natural-looking enhancement personalized to your unique needs and goals. Our VIP-level service ensures you feel safe, empowered, and supported throughout your breast augmentation journey.
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Breast Augmentation Before & Afters
Breast Augmentation at a Glance
- Purpose: Enhances breast size and shape, improves symmetry, and balances the physique
- Methods: Silicone, saline, or gummy bear breast implants, or fat transfer breast augmentation surgery
- Candidates: Women 22 years or older with fully developed breasts who are in general good health
- Downtime: 1-2 weeks of recovery; 4-6 weeks of refraining from strenuous exercise
- Results: 10-15 years or longer, depending on the breast augmentation method
Discover Your Ideal Silhouette
What is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed in the United States. Our sophisticated techniques help you increase the size of your breasts while creating more shapely, elegant contours. Today’s breast augmentation methods offer a high level of versatility and safety. The procedure typically involves inserting silicone or saline implants. Another option is fat transfer, which uses liposuction to take fat from another part of the body and inject it into the breasts. Below, we break down each method in detail, helping you understand the many options you have when planning your procedure.
Breast Augmentation Using Implants
BREAST IMPLANT MATERIALS
- Silicone Breast Implants: Silicone implants are made of a silicone shell filled with silicone gel. This silicone gel feels very similar to natural breast tissue and is less likely to ripple than saline implants. One drawback of silicone implants is that they often require a slightly larger incision than saline implants. Our surgeons use meticulous techniques to keep scars minimal and well concealed in the natural creases of your breasts.
- Gummy Bear Breast Implants: Gummy bear implants, also known as cohesive gel breast implants or form-stable implants, are filled with a highly cohesive silicone gel that maintains its shape even when cut. This type of breast implant closely mimicks the texture of natural breast tissue and reduces the risk of rippling. Ideal for women seeking a more natural look and feel, gummy bear implants also offer a lower risk of leakage compared to traditional silicone implants.
- Saline Breast Implants: Saline implants are made of a silicone shell filled with a sterile saltwater solution. Because they are filled after they are placed, saline implants typically require a smaller incision. However, these implants may be more prone to rippling and sometimes feel less natural than silicone implants. Your surgeon will help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each implant material, helping you make an informed decision about the best implant type for your breast augmentation surgery.
BREAST IMPLANT TEXTURES
- Smooth Breast Implants: Smooth breast implants have a smooth outer shell that moves more freely in the breast pocket, which may provide a more natural movement. They come with a slightly higher risk of capsular contracture (scar tissue formation) than textured breast implants.
- Textured Breast Implants: Textured breast implants have a rough outer shell. They are less likely to move around inside the breast pocket, reducing the risk of capsule formation, a condition in which excess scar tissue builds up and puts pressure on the implant.
BREAST IMPLANT SHAPES
- Round Breast Implants: Round implants provide a fuller look in both the upper and lower poles of the breasts and create more cleavage than teardrop-shaped breast implants.
- Teardrop (Anatomical) Implants: Teardrop breast implants mimic the natural slope of the breast and are ideal for women seeking a more natural breast contour. They come with a slightly higher risk of rotation than round breast implants.
BREAST IMPLANT PROJECTION
Breast implant projection refers to how far the implant extends forward from your chest wall, ultimately determining the fullness and profile of your breasts after your cosmetic surgery. Here's a breakdown of the common implant projection options:
- Low Profile: Low profile breast implants are good choice for women with naturally smaller chests or those desiring a subtle enhancement.
- Moderate Profile: Moderate profile breast implants offer a balanced projection that enhances cleavage and creates a fuller, curvier look.
- High Profile: High profile breast implants are often chosen by women desiring a very full and prominent bust with dramatic cleavage.
SURGICAL INCISION LOCATIONS
- Inframammary Incision: The incision runs along the inframammary fold, which is the natural crease under each breast. This placement provides good access for implant placement. Scars are well hidden in the breast fold:
- Periareolar Incision: The incision is created around the edge of the areola, where it blends well with the natural perimeter of the colored area. This incision location is often used with saline implants.
- Transaxillary Incision. A transaxillary incision is placed in the armpit. This approach prevents incision lines on the breast but is not well suited for the placement of larger sizes of breast implants.
IMPLANT PLACEMENT
- Subglandular Placement: The breast implant is placed between the breast tissue and chest muscle. This method often comes with a shorter recovery time. However, it is not generally used for thinner patients with less natural breast tissue because the contours of the breast implant may be more visible underneath the skin. This method may also come with a higher risk of capsular contracture.
- Submuscular Placement: The breast implant is placed under the pectoral muscle, providing a more natural look and feel and reducing the risk of capsular contracture. Submuscular breast implant surgery typically requires a longer recovery time.
BREAST AUGMENTATION USING FAT TRANSFER
Breast augmentation using fat transfer, also known as autologous fat transfer, offers a natural alternative to traditional implants. This procedure enhances your breast size and shape using fat from another area of the body. Your surgeon begins the process by using liposuction to remove fat from areas like the abdomen, thighs, or flanks. They then purify the harvested fat and carefully inject into the breasts, using meticulous techniques to sculpt a natural breast shape that complements your figure. Autologous fat transfer breast augmentation increases your breast volume and carries the added benefit of body contouring in the donor areas.
Ideal for women seeking a modest increase in breast size and a more natural feel, fat transfer breast augmentation avoids the risks associated with implants, such as breast implant rupture or capsular contracture. Our plastic surgeons have extensive experience with this technique, ensuring a beautiful result that looks natural to you.
Your Journey, Our Expertise
What is the Breast Augmentation Procedure Like?
Breast augmentation is typically performed as an outpatient surgery using general anesthesia. Your procedure will be tailored to your unique needs and goals. Your surgeon will review the steps of your surgery in detail during your pre-operative appointment, ensuring you know exactly what to expect regarding the duration of surgery and the expected recovery time.
Drawing on decades of experience, we make incisions in inconspicuous areas and use meticulous suturing techniques to minimize visible scarring. The fat grafting method only requires small incisions in the fat donor area; this donor fat is injected into the breasts using a needle, meaning there is virtually no visible scar left once the area has healed. After your procedure, you will be closely monitored in a comfortable recovery room until you are ready to return home with a friend or family member to drive you.
The Keller Funnel Technique
Our surgeons are committed to utilizing the most advanced breast augmentation techniques to promote a safe and successful procedure. One such innovation is the Keller funnel technique. This minimally invasive approach involves inserting the breast implant through a specialized funnel, minimizing contact with the implant and surrounding tissues. The Keller funnel method reduces the risk of infection and capsular contracture, a potential complication where scar tissue tightens around the implant. Additionally, the Keller funnel allows for precise implant placement, facilitating the most natural-looking result.
Elevate Your Natural Allure
What Are the Benefits of Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation offers numerous benefits, including:
- Improved Self-Confidence: Many women feel more confident and feminine after the procedure.
- Enhanced Body Proportions: Achieve a more balanced and proportionate figure.
- Versatility: Choose from different types of implants and techniques to suit your needs.
- Long-Lasting Results: With proper care, you can enjoy the benefits of breast augmentation for many years.
Understanding Your Options
Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation provides more feminine volume and a shapely body contour for women who have naturally small breasts. Many breast augmentation patients are women who have lost breast volume after pregnancy or weight loss or as a natural result of the aging process. Other potential candidates include women seeking reconstruction after mastectomy and transgender women.
Breast augmentation can be a safe and effective procedure for many women, but it's important to understand the eligibility criteria. Here are some general guidelines regarding medical requirements:
- Overall Health: You should be in good overall physical health with no chronic or uncontrolled medical conditions.
- Age: Patient must be a minimum of 22 years old and have fully developed breasts in order to undergo breast augmentation surgery.
- Weight: Maintaining a stable weight is important for optimal results. Significant weight fluctuations can impact the appearance and position of implants.
- Smoking: Smoking can impede healing and increase the risk of complications. Quitting smoking well in advance of surgery is strongly recommended.
- Breastfeeding: If you plan to breastfeed in the future, discuss this with your doctor during your consultation. While breastfeeding is often possible after breast augmentation, it's important to understand the potential complications.
During your consultation at Plastic Surgery Associates, your surgeon will thoroughly assess your medical history and individual circumstances to determine if breast augmentation is the right choice for you.
Customized Care for Stunning Results
Combining Breast Augmentation With Other Procedures
Yes, breast augmentation can be combined with other cosmetic procedures to enhance overall results and achieve a more comprehensive transformation. Common combinations include:
Breast Lift (Mastopexy): Many women opt to combine breast augmentation with a breast lift to address sagging breasts while increasing breast volume. This combination provides fuller, more youthful-looking breasts with improved shape and position.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): Combining a tummy tuck with breast augmentation surgery is a popular choice for breast implant patients after childbirth or individuals who have experienced significant weight loss, this combination—often called a "mommy makeover" —enhances breast size and shape while also flattening and tightening the abdomen.
Liposuction: Combining breast augmentation with liposuction can help contour other areas of the body, such as the thighs, hips, or flanks, creating a more balanced and proportionate figure.
Combining procedures allows you to achieve more comprehensive and harmonious results while benefiting from a single recovery period.
Support for Every Step of Your Journey
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Our rapid recovery protocol allows you to return to your daily activities sooner. After the surgery, expect some swelling and discomfort for a few days. You will need to wear a support bra to minimize swelling and support your breasts as they heal. Most patients return to work within about a week but should avoid strenuous activities for at least 4-6 weeks. The initial recovery period may be longer for more complex procedures. Follow your surgeon's instructions closely and attend all post-operative check-ups to ensure a smooth recovery and optimal results. We are always available to discuss any questions or concerns that arise during your recovery period.
Crafted with Skill, Designed for You
Breast Augmentation Results
You will see an immediate change in the size and shape of your breasts after surgery. Your final results will become apparent after the swelling subsides, typically within a few weeks. With proper care, breast implants can last for 10-15 years—and often longer. The results of fat grafting breast augmentation are long-lasting to permanent, allowing you to enjoy your enhanced curves well into the future. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rosa in Marin County. Our experienced surgeons are here to guide you every step of the way.
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Breast Augmentation
Frequently Asked Questions
Breast implants are not lifetime devices. On average, they last 10-15 years, but many women enjoy their implants for longer. Breast implant removal or exchange can be performed at any time, whether to maintain your results or provide an outcome that aligns with changing preferences.
Our surgeons use advanced techniques to help you visualize how different sizes and shapes of breast implants will look on you, ensuring a surgical outcome aligns with your goals and complements your body type.
Many women can breastfeed after augmentation. It's important to discuss any future plans to breastfeed with your surgeon so that they employ surgical techniques that improve your chances of success.
We offer saline and silicone breast implants, as well as gummy bear implants, providing versatility in selecting the right implant type for your needs and goals. Each breast implant material comes with specific benefits. Our surgeons prioritize patient education during the pre-operative planning process, guiding you through all of your options and helping you choose the best breast implant type for your goals.
During your consultation, your surgeon will help you determine the appropriate size based on your body type and aesthetic goals.
Our surgeons make incisions in inconspicuous areas to minimize visible scarring. Incision placement depends on individual factors such as the implant material (saline or silicone breast implants), the size of the implant, and your anatomy. Your plastic surgeon will place the incision as inconspicuously as possible and use advanced suturing methods to minimize visible scarring. We will also instruct you on scar management techniques to help the scar blend in well with the surrounding skin. Once you are fully healed, we can also help you explore minimally invasive skin rejuvenation methods like laser therapy, microneedling, or chemical peels to help the incision lines blend in even better.
Breast augmentation is considered a very safe procedure when performed by a highly qualified plastic surgeon. While any surgical procedure carries some inherent risks, partnering with a board-certified plastic surgeon like the providers at Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rosa significantly minimizes these risks. Our experience and expertise ensure meticulous surgical technique, proper implant selection, and a commitment to patient safety throughout the entire process. This reduces the chance of complications and promotes optimal healing and beautiful, long-lasting results.
Breast augmentation, like any surgical procedure, carries some risks, such as infection, bleeding, or an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Risks specific to breast augmentation surgery include capsular contracture and breast implant rupture.
Capsular contracture is a potential complication where the body forms excessive scar tissue around the breast implant, causing the breasts to feel firm and potentially change shape. While uncommon, it's important to discuss this with your surgeon to understand the signs and symptoms.
Breast implant rupture, another potential complication, occurs when the outer shell of the implant leaks or breaks. There are two main types of implants, silicone gel and saline. With a saline implant, rupture is easily detectable as the saline solution will be absorbed by the body, causing the breast to deflate. Silicone gel implants may rupture silently, with no noticeable change in appearance. Regular mammograms and discussions with your doctor are important for monitoring implant integrity.
You can significantly minimize these risks by choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience like the providers of Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rose.
The cost of breast augmentation varies based on factors like the augmentation method used (implants versus fat transfer), the type of implants selected, and the complexity of the procedure. We will provide a detailed cost estimate during your consultation.
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