There are many reasons why a patient would want to increase their breast size. Women with naturally small breasts may want to get implants to help balance out her figure. A woman with asymmetrical breasts may desire implants that will even out her breast size. And a woman who has undergone a mastectomy may want to reconstruct her breasts using implants.
At Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute (CASI), we perform several breast augmentation surgeries every week. We are one of the leading breast augmentation practices in Chicago and Rosemont, IL because we are board certified and have years of experience.
If you are considering breast augmentation, you may be wondering how long the entire process will take, how long recovery is expected to be, and what results you might expect. We hope to answer all of this and more, and you are always welcome to schedule a consultation with us to get more information.
What Is Breast Augmentation?
A breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the size of the breasts. This can include fat transfer breast augmentation along with breast implants. This surgery can make breasts larger, but it can also correct asymmetries and improve the shape of the breast. A breast lift and augmentation may be needed if the breast tissue has begun to sag since a breast augmentation does not resolve sagging breasts.
Types of Breast Implants
The two main types of breast implants are saline and silicone. At our practice, we often recommend saline for younger patients who plan on having their implants for a long time because you will know instantly if there is a rupture. Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater. If they rupture, the implant will become flat making it easy to know when to call.
Silicone can be a good option for older patients or patients who want a more natural-feeling breast. Silicone implants come in many different shapes and sizes so you can find the option that is perfect for you.
Incision Locations
With many years of experience in breast augmentation, we have performed this type of surgery using all of the available incision locations. The most commonly used incision locations in our practice are under the breast or in the armpit. The location of your incision is decided on an individual basis depending on your exact needs.
Over or Under the Muscle?
Choosing the placement of the implant will be a decision based on your lifestyle, the amount of breast tissue you have, and the aesthetic you are looking for. The implant can be placed under the muscle, which is the option most commonly used for women with less breast tissue, or over the muscle for women who want a more rounded look or for athletes and other individuals who want to limit recovery time. We will do a pinch test on the tissue above the nipple to help us determine which placement may be right for you.
How Long Does a Breast Augmentation Take and What Is Involved?
Before Your Surgery
Your breast augmentation will start even before the day of surgery arrives. There is a lot of information that we need to give you as well as information that we need to obtain about your health, current breast size and shape, and goals for your surgery. We will measure your breasts to determine their shape and size and whether they are even.
With this information we can determine what size and type of breast implant would be best in your situation. We will also determine whether a breast lift and augmentation is recommended.
On the Day of Surgery
When you first arrive for your breast augmentation, we will take some time to make markings on your skin so that we have a plan for the operation. This will take a few minutes as we want to get our measurements exactly right. Then, we will bring you into the operating room and the process will begin.
Our anesthesiologist will place you under general anesthesia and then there is a short waiting period to make sure you are completely ready for surgery. The surgery itself usually takes around one hour if additional surgeries are not being performed. Following your procedure, you will need to wait for an hour in the recovery room so that we can monitor your recovery.
Because we also use local anesthetic during the surgery, you shouldn’t experience pain on waking up. Once we are happy with your recovery, we will send you home to rest. You’ll get a follow-up call from us that evening to make sure you are still comfortable and that you are remembering to take your medications.
Recovering From Surgery
At our practice, we have special procedures that allow you to recover from your surgery without using a high level of opiods for pain control. We always see you the day after your surgery to make sure everything is going exactly to plan and that your recovery is on track. You will also have a follow-up appointment at one week post surgery and three weeks post surgery.
Recovery time is different for everyone, but the general rule is that the first two weeks should only include very light activities. At two weeks, you can increase your activity and at 6 weeks you can resume all of your normal activities. Depending on whether your implant was placed over or underneath the muscle, we may have you limit certain exercises until several months post surgery.
Breast Augmentation Surgery at CASI
If you are interested in breast augmentation surgery, we would be happy to get you all of the information you need. You can visit our website to view our breast augmentation before and after gallery or to fill out an online form. You can also schedule a consultation by calling our number. At Chicago Aesthetic Surgery Institute in Rosemont, IL, we are here to serve you.