Breast Augmentation FAQ

What is breast augmentation?

Often referred to as breast enlargement or breast enhancement, breast augmentation is a plastic surgery procedure designed to enlarge and/or enhance the breasts with the use of saline or silicone implants. Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures performed today and is sought by women for a variety of reasons. Some women feel their breasts are small and would like to make them larger, while other women are looking to restore breast volume that has diminished with age, pregnancy, breast feeding, or weight loss. Yet other women are looking to balance uneven breasts or reconstruct the breasts due to mastectomy or congenital deformity. Dr. Steinbrech has an extensive catalog of before and after photos of patients with improvement to size, shape, and symmetry to obtain the goal of a very balanced, natural appearance.

How do I know if breast augmentationis right for me?

If you are interested in enhancing or enlarging your breasts, breast augmentation may be right for you. Patients should be healthy, and should be realistic in their goals for improvement. Breast implants can be combined with a breast lift for individuals who are seeking improvement of sagging breasts. Dr. Steinbrech will be happy to meet with you for a consultation to discuss whether or not breast augmentation can help you to meet your aesthetic goals. Dr. Steinbrech will perform an extensive evaluation involving physical exam, complete measurements, and Virtual Surgery to ensure that you will receive the result you desire.

What is Virtual Surgery?

Virtual Surgery is a unique pre-operative evaluation offered by Dr. Steinbrech using your specific breast measurements in concert with pre-operative photos that are digitally morphed to help you plan what your post-operative result will be. At Gotham Plastic Surgery, we find that patients especially enjoy this portion of the process because it allows them to give important input into Dr. Steinbrech's planning process; thereby helping to ensure that the final result will be just what the patient desires.

Where are the incisions located for breast augmentation?

There are several possible locations for the breast augmentation incisions: under the nipple (periareolar), in the crease beneath the breast (inframammary), under the armpit (axillary), and endoscopically though the navel (TUBA). Breast augmentation is a very individualized procedure and the incision locations will be discussed with Dr. Steinbrech during your consultation.

How is breast augmentationsurgery performed?

Dr. Steinbrech performs breast augmentation at the JCAHO accredited office-based surgery facility at Gotham Plastic Surgery. The surgery commonly takes one to two hours to complete and may be performed with either general or local anesthesia. Dr. Steinbrech will make the incision in one of four possible locations: under the armpit, in the crease beneath the breast, under the nipple, or in the navel. He will then insert a saline or silicone gel implant through the incision and place the implant either beneath the chest muscle (submuscular/subpectoral) or above the chest muscle (subglandular/submammary). The incisions are then closed. All sutures are dissolvable so no sutures need to be removed after surgery.

What can I expect the recovery to be like after breast augmentation?

You can expect some swelling, bruising and discomfort after breast augmentation. Swelling and bruising can take several weeks to resolve, and discomfort may be present for several days and can be alleviated with medication. The breasts may also feel very sensitive to physical contact for a period of time. Bandages are placed on the breasts after surgery and these are removed within a few days. A compression bandage or support bra will then need to be worn once the bandages are removed. For standard breast augmentation or even with a lift, Dr. Steinbrech uses NO drains. This eliminates additional unnecessary incisions for the drains. Post-operatively, you may find that you can return to work and other non-strenuous activities after a few days; however exercise and strenuous activity should not be resumed for several weeks.