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Top Reasons Women Opt for Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States. It’s popular because more and more women are seeking the breasts they’ve always wanted – or the breasts they had at one time and may have lost. Below are the top reasons women opt for breast augmentation:

Increase Breast Size

Many women just don’t like the size of their breasts and are looking for a change. With breast augmentation becoming a routine, effective procedure that provides natural-looking results, more women are choosing implants.

Additionally, its availability makes it all the more attractive, especially with the increased improvements over the years and the many options that are now available to women.

Correct Asymmetry

Asymmetric breasts are a common aesthetic disorder for women—and a key reason breast augmentation is popular. Not only does asymmetry negatively affect the self-confidence of many women, but it makes shopping for clothes a nightmare.

Breast augmentation for asymmetric breasts uses two breast implants, each a different size to create balance and harmony at the bustline and make shopping for bras and other garments much easier.

Alter the Effects of Childbearing

There are few events in a woman’s life that are more beautiful than pregnancy and giving birth. Unfortunately, childbearing and breastfeeding does not bode well for the breasts. Pregnancy causes a fluctuation of breast size from smaller, to larger, and then smaller again. This rollercoaster ride of breast size causes a loss of breast volume, elasticity, and firmness.

The good news is you can solve these problems with breast surgery. Breast implants can restore volume and firmness and help you regain youthful breasts, which can often look better than before motherhood.

Many mothers also choose to add a lift to elevate sagging breasts and reposition their nipples.

Alter the Effects of Weight Fluctuation

Pregnancy isn’t the only thing that can wreak havoc on a woman’s breast. Gaining significant weight and then losing it can have a negative effect on the bust as well; when women have a significant weight loss of 30 pounds or more, their breasts tend to react much like breasts after pregnancy.

It’s easy to understand why women who lost weight with diet and exercise would want to follow up with breast surgery.

Restore Breasts after a Mastectomy

Unfortunately, too many women suffer from the effects of breast cancer and a mastectomy. Although a clean bill of health being the most important result, once that is attained, breast reconstruction and restoration becomes a priority.

Breast implants are critical for restoring a woman’s breast appearance and her sense of femininity. Many women with a high risk of breast cancer decide to proactively undergo a mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction procedure, often with both procedures done concurrently.

Improved Technology

Today’s implants have come a long way in offering natural-looking breasts to the patient. Gone are the days of limited choices for the size, shape, and type; now there is a wide selection and a variety of profiles, shapes, and sizes.

The advancements of breast implants and the variety they offer give your surgeon the flexibility to tailor the procedure to your unique body type and desired goals. And the more personalized your breast augmentation is, the more likely it is that your results will last as long as possible.

A Boost in Self-Esteem

Many women who were dissatisfied with their breasts experienced a boost in confidence and self-esteem after breast enhancement. One study showed that patients between 21 and 57 years of age developed a considerable increase in their self-esteem and confidence following surgery. Using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, they cited these increases as ranging from 20.7 to 24.9.

Women Want to Look Younger

Let’s face it, we all want to look young – or at least younger than we presently appear. A woman’s breast profile and firmness are big determinates of how old a woman looks. With a firm, perky projection, a woman looks younger; likewise, shrinking and sagging breasts suggest advancing years.

Learn more about the benefits of breast augmentation and its life-changing results by contacting the Doctors of Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg at (540) 371-7730 and scheduling a consultation.

Implant Options: How to Ensure You Make the Best Choice

Selecting the right breast implants can be a nerve-wracking process. There are a number of variables to consider—such as the type of implant you want, what size you need, and where you want your implants placed—and all of these factor into achieving a pleasing outcome. If you’re not sure how to begin weighing all of your options, we can help; this simple guide to choosing the right breast implants covers all of the basics you’ll need to know before booking a consultation:

Choosing the Right Implant Size

One of the most common misconceptions about choosing breast implants is the idea that you can simply walk into a plastic surgeon’s office and request a cup size (e.g., “Make me a D cup.”) This approach is not advised because cup sizes are not standardized; they vary between different band sizes and even different underwear brands. What you should do is try on a set of “mock implants.”  Ask your plastic surgeon for a set of sample sizes.

Choosing an Implant Type

Today, patients over 22 years of age can choose to have either saline or silicone gel implants. Both options are safe, contrary to some of the early rumors about silicone implants that made their way into the media. Silicone implants are made from a type of medical-grade, durable silicone. Other types of silicone implants, like highly cohesive implants, are increasingly popular because if the implant ever ruptures, the filling sticks together rather than leaking into the body.

The only caveat to be aware of when choosing silicone implants is that implant ruptures can be harder to detect. Unlike saline implants, silicone gel implants do not obviously deflate after rupturing, so you will have to pay close attention to any minor changes in the shape of your implants. If you notice any small dents or lumps around one of your implants, make sure to book an MRI as quickly as possible.

Silicone implants are the preferred choice for most breast augmentation patients because they look and feel more like natural breast tissue. That being said, some people still prefer traditional saline implants because surgeons can adjust the filling during surgery before the pocket has been sewn up. They are also slightly less expensive and leave a much shorter scar. In the hands of a skilled surgeon, both saline and silicone implants can be made to look very natural, so you should choose the implant type that works best with your goals.

Choosing the Right Implant Placement

Breast implants can be placed either above the pectoral muscles or below them. When implants are placed under the muscle, the top of the implant is effectively hidden by muscle tissue. Some surgeons believe that placing implants under the muscle allows for more natural results, while others believe that placement can interfere with athletic activity. This creates a very natural “slope” to the breast and prevents the overly round look that’s associated with breast augmentation surgery.

However, not all patients are suitable candidates for under the muscle implant placement. Most notably, patients with very small chests who want to have large implants inserted usually require over the muscle placement. (This is necessary because they do not have enough natural breast tissue to accommodate under the muscle placement.) Fortunately, if you’re not able to have your implants inserted beneath your pectoral muscles, there are other options available. For many patients, over-the-muscle placement can still create natural results, but it’s crucial that they work with a skilled plastic surgeon with years of experience with breast augmentation.

If you still have questions about breast augmentation surgery after reviewing the information above, feel free to get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to explain your options in more depth or help you book a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons.

Mommy Makeover Series: Recovery

When you have a mommy makeover, you’re making a big investment in your physical and mental health. Common mommy makeover procedures, such as tummy tuck surgery and labiaplasty, can reduce pain and discomfort over the long term by correcting damage done to the abdomen and vagina during pregnancy and childbirth. If you are having a tummy tuck as part of your mommy makeover, here’s what you can do to reduce the amount of pain you experience and ensure a speedy recovery:

5 Mommy Makeover Recovery Tips

  1. Arrange to take at least one week off of work after you have a tummy tuck

You’ll need to wear surgical drains for about a week after your tummy tuck… And these aren’t an encumbrance you’ll want to have to deal with while you’re busy at the office! As such, you should book a week off of work following your tummy tuck in order to allow your body to dedicate all of its energy to healing.

  1. Have help if you have young children

You won’t be able to lift more than 25 pounds for about a month after having a tummy tuck. If your children are still young (as in, under the age of six) you will therefore need help with childcare duties while you recover from your mommy makeover with tummy tuck.

  1. Set up a “recovery area” for yourself

You will have to get up and walk around a little bit each day after you have surgery in order to maintain good blood flow and minimize the risk of blood clots.

To avoid unnecessary pain, we recommend that you create a special “recovery area” that contains everything you will need within easy reach. Your recovery area should include:

  • Any medications you will be taking. Taking pain medication on a regular schedule is necessary in order to prevent pain flare-ups. (Pain is much easier to prevent than it is to control once it has already occurred.)
  • Device chargers. Make sure to situate all of your device chargers in a location where you can reach them without having to bend over.
  • A bed with at least four pillows, or a recliner. You will need to keep both your head and feet slightly elevated while you rest, so having additional pillows or using a recliner is helpful. You may also find a full body pillow useful.

  1. Exparel

Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg introduces EXPAREL® PAIN MANAGEMENT. Our board certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Heppe and Dr. Bautista, and board eligible Dr. Aflaki are always researching ways to improve the patient’s experience, and the doctors feel this new product will significantly enhance post operative comfort.

  1. Ask your surgeon for recovery instructions

Each mommy makeover with tummy tuck procedure has its own post-operative protocol—and it’s incredibly important that you adhere to said protocol. Because you will be groggy right after you have a mommy makeover with tummy tuck, we advise obtaining a document that outlines the steps you should take to recover safely from each procedure you’ve had. Make a few copies of this document and give a copy to your partner or your caregiver (keep a copy for yourself as well). This will ensure that you don’t overlook any important steps while healing.

If you have any further questions about mommy makeover recovery or you wish to book a consultation, feel free to contact us. We’ll be happy to guide you throughout your mommy makeover journey and make sure that you achieve the body of your dreams.