Breast augmentation

Treatment

Breast Augmentation

Serving Greenwood, Greenville, Columbia, South Carolina & nearby Augusta, Georgia

If you’re not happy with the size and shape of your breasts, you’re not alone. Millions of women every year undergo breast augmentation to improve their appearance and, more importantly, their self-confidence. Breast implants can be life changing, but the choices associated with the procedure can also be overwhelming.

At Cedar Rock Plastic Surgery, board-certified South Carolina breast surgeons Dr. Wesley Culpepper and Dr. Beau Fowler help simplify and take the stress out of the decision-making process by focusing on the most important aspect of your breast augmentation — you.

For a private consultation, call 864-725-2948 today.

Breast Augmentation Benefits

There are a number of reasons women choose breast augmentation, and they can be practical as well as aesthetic. Breast augmentation can:

Am I A Breast Augmentation Candidate?

If you’re in good overall health, you’re likely a candidate. You should also:
The best way to determine your candidacy is to schedule a breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Culpepper and Dr. Fowler. During your consultation, they will discuss your aesthetic goals, thoroughly explain the breast augmentation procedure, perform a physical examination and develop a personalized surgical plan based on your physique.

Types Of Breast Implants

Breast implants can be made with either saline or silicone gel fillings. Each has its own benefits, and you should choose your implant type based on your aesthetic goals.

Saline implants are silicone shells that are filled with a sterile saline solution after they’re implanted in the breast. This allows surgeons to use smaller incisions. They may be prone to leakage and rupture, but the saline solution is totally safe and can be naturally reabsorbed into your body. If your saline implant leaks or ruptures, you’d need to have another procedure to correct it.

Silicone implants consist of a silicone shell filled with gel. Because silicone is thicker than saline, silicone implants have a more natural look and feel. They’re less prone to leakage and rupture than saline implants, and in the event of a rupture can hold their shape better.

The newest silicone gel implants are called cohesive or “gummy bear” implants. Technology has improved the gel to the point that if the implant is cut or torn, the gel is solid enough that it does not leak out. However, it remains soft enough to look and feel good for breast augmentation. This is the type of implant we use at Cedar Rock Plastic Surgery.

Breast Implant Size

There are several factors that affect the size of breast implants you can receive:
It’s important to know breast implants are measured using cubic centimeters, not cup sizes. This allows for a more uniform system of measurement, especially since cup size often differs between bra manufacturers. To help you determine the best size, you can try on sizers in the office.

Breast Implant Incision Location

There are options for placement of the incision, but they are typically made in the inframammary fold. These are in the natural folds under your breasts, where the scar will be discreetly hidden. They also better preserve nipple sensation than other options.

Breast Implant Placement Options

You have two different choices regarding where your implant will be placed, and Dr. Culpepper and Dr. Fowler will recommend a placement based on your goals and other physical factors. The common implant placements are:

  • Subglandular: Your implants are placed beneath your breast tissue but above your chest muscle.
  • Submuscular/Dual-plane: The upper portion of your implants are placed partly under your pectoral muscles, while the lower part is under your breast tissue

Each placement has its own benefits. Submuscular implants typically have a more subtle, natural appearance, but they may not be suited for athletic women who exercise their chest muscles frequently.  Subglandular implants do not interfere with chest muscles and are well-suited for athletic women. Dual-plane implants give you the best of both while reducing the trade-offs.

Breast Augmentation Procedure

Although your choice of breast implant size, type, placement, and incision location will affect the specifics of your breast augmentation surgery, all procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and follow the same basic steps:

Recovery After Breast Augmentation

Recovery time varies by patient and depends on a number of factors, including your natural healing ability and the particulars of your breast implant procedure. You’ll experience pain for a couple days after the procedure, but it will subside. Soreness and swelling can last up to several weeks.

You’ll have a compression dressing to provide support and help reduce swelling. We will do the first dressing change in the office and make sure you are in an appropriate support bra. Supporting your breasts as the implants settle is essential. The sooner your swelling subsides, the sooner you’ll be able to get fit for new bras.

It takes time for your implants to settle and your incisions to heal, and sometimes they heal at slightly different rates. During this time, it is important to follow instructions.

Breast Augmentation With A Breast Lift

If you also experience sagging issues, Dr. Culpepper and Dr. Fowler can give you a breast lift at the same time you receive implants. While the implants improve your breast size, the lift can help fix:

A typical breast lift involves elevating the nipples and areolas to a higher position, then removing excess skin, repositioning breast tissue and reshaping breast skin for a natural look. Doing a lift at the same time as an augmentation does limit the size of the implant that can be used, because a large implant would place too much stress on the incision. However, the implant can be changed for a larger size later.

Breast Augmentation And Mammograms

One of the most common questions we hear during breast implant consultations is whether implants can interfere with mammograms. Augmented breasts may require adjustments from mammogram technicians, but they don’t prevent an accurate screening.

It’s important to tell your mammogram technician that you have breast implants so they can make the necessary adjustments. You also need to be up to date on your screening mammograms prior to breast augmentation, if you are over age 40.

Breast Implant Revision

Breast implants are durable and last for many years. If you’re happy with how your breasts look and feel, they don’t need to be replaced.

These are common reasons why women opt for breast augmentation revision:

If you would like to learn more about your breast augmentation options, contact Cedar Rock Plastic Surgery online or call us at 864-223-0505 to schedule your confidential consultation. We proudly serve patients in Greenwood, Greenville, Anderson, Columbia, and Laurens, South Carolina, as well as Augusta, Georgia.

Appointment

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Greenville

201 East North Street
Greenville, SC 29601

Phone: 864-263-7205

Hours: Monday to Friday : 9am – 5pm

Greenwood

305 West Alexander Avenue
Greenwood, SC 29646

Phone: 864-263-7205
Hours: Monday to Friday : 9am – 5pm