A woman’s self-esteem can be greatly affected by the way she feels about her breast size and appearance. If her chest is too large or too small for her body type, she may not have the desired silhouette and her clothing will not fit properly. Even when a woman enjoys her natural breast size, over the years, changes can ultimately alter their shape and position. Pregnancy, breast feeding, and weight fluctuations, as well as the normal effects of gravity and genetics, can mean the breasts will begin to sag and lose volume with age.
- The Breast Augmentation in Boston
- Silicone Vs. Saline Breast Implants
- Ideal Candidates for Breast Augmentation
- The Breast Augmentation Procedure
- The Breast Lift Procedure
- Breast Augmentation Safety and potential complications
- Your Breast Augmentation/lift Recovery And Results
- The Cost Of A Breast Augmentation/Mastopexy
- Breast Augmentation/Mastopexy FAQ
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Breast augmentation is a surgical technique that utilizes implants to improve the size and shape of a woman’s chest. The Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation’s Dr. Leonard Miller and Dr. Sean Doherty offer women a chance to improve their overall appearance, using their innovative breast augmentation procedure to create a full, natural-looking breast. By adding a breast lift, or mastopexy, breasts not only see an increase in shape and volume, but stretched, sagging tissue is also eliminated, thus helping a woman to achieve her aesthetic goals.
The Most Common Reasons for Breast Augmentation Include:
- Disproportionately small breasts
- Chest not proportionate with body type
- Desire for clothing/swimwear to fit better
- Breast asymmetry
- Changes in breast tissue after pregnancy or breast feeding
- Loss in breast volume related to aging or weight loss
The Breast Augmentation in Boston
Dr. Leonard Miller and Dr. Sean Doherty are both board certified cosmetic surgeons, bringing a combined 60 years of experience to the Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation. Throughout their distinguished careers, the surgeons have established unique and highly successful techniques for breast augmentation. Their primary goal is to create proportionate breasts that offer youthful, yet natural-looking results.
Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty are committed to patient safety, carefully monitoring changes in breast augmentation methodology, including newly improved tools and implants. Using state-of-the-art surgical techniques, combined with innovative and reliable breast implants, their breast augmentation procedures are among the most successful in the country.
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Silicone Vs. Saline Breast Implants
The decision for silicone or saline implants will depend greatly on the individual patient’s body and desired results. One implant type is not necessarily better than the other, however, there are distinct differences between the silicone gel breast implant and the saline-filled breast implants.
Silicone Implants
Silicone implants are the most popular choice for patients, as they provide natural-looking and feeling breasts, that move well with the woman. Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty often recommend MemoryGel® breast implants, as these feature an innovative, cohesive gel filling, offering the ideal shape and softness. MemoryGel® breast implants retain a look and feel that most closely resembles natural breast tissue. Today’s silicone implants are extremely safe, and with MemoryGel®, patients will experience no leakage in the off-chance that the shell ruptures. The down side of silicone implants include a longer incision and a higher cost than their saline counterparts.
Saline Implants
Saline-filled breast implants have been a key choice in augmentation procedures for decades. Once placed in the breast pocket, the implant is filled with a salt-water solution, creating custom-tailored results with a slightly smaller incision. Saline implants are firmer than silicone, offering rounder looking breasts. This type of implant is completely safe, as the salt-water solution is similar to those found in the human body. Cons of saline implants include the need for submuscular placement (under the muscle) and a higher incidence of noticeable rippling.
Ideal Candidates for Breast Augmentation
Most women who are nonsmokers, in generally good health, will make an ideal candidate for breast augmentation. Potential patients should understand the breast augmentation or mastopexy technique, commit to the recovery requirements and time away from work, as well as hold realistic surgical expectations. As the top breast augmentation providers in New England, patients are overwhelmingly pleased with their breast augmentation or mastopexy results.
Before scheduling a breast augmentation procedure, a consultation appointment will be arranged at the Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation. At this time, Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty will get to know the individual patient, assess their breast tissue and physical proportions, review their medical history, and discuss the desired aesthetic results. The surgeons will explain the surgical options, and show a variety of Before/After photographs of recent patients. If the breast augmentation or breast lift technique is right for the patient, a personalized treatment plan will be created. Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty may also have recommended for optimal physical rejuvenation, such as Botox Cosmetic or liposuction.
The Breast Augmentation Procedure
The specific method for each breast augmentation procedure will depend on the individual patient’s unique anatomy, type of implant, and personal preferences. Performed under general anesthesia, the breast augmentation procedure is an outpatient surgery, taking from two to three hours to perform.
Beginning with a small incision, placed along the areola (periareolar), across the breast crease (inframammary), or under the arm (axillary), the surgeons will create a pocket for the implant. Saline implants are deflated upon insertion, then filled to the desired volume once in the breast. Silicone implants are placed already filled. Once the implant is in place, dissolvable sutures will be placed along the incision. A surgical garment is then put on to help reduce swelling and promote proper healing.
The Breast Lift Procedure
Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty perform their mastopexy technique under general anesthesia or a local anesthetic with IV sedation. These procedures are performed in the Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation’s accredited, state-of-the-art surgical suite in the Brookline office, taking from two to three hours. While there are many techniques available, Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty most commonly use a crescent-shaped incision along the breast crease, following the body’s natural contours. The incision defines the area from which breast skin will be removed, as well as determines the new location of the nipple.
First, the surgeon will remove the lax, excess skin along the breast crease. Next, he will move the nipple/areola to a higher, aesthetically pleasing position. The skin around the areola is trimmed and drawn together to reshape the breast. During the consultation appointment, Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty will discuss all of the available incision patterns, determining the best mastopexy technique to reach the patient’s aesthetic goals. While a breast lift can be performed alone, many patients will choose to have an implant placed along with their mastopexy, increasing their chest size, as well as lifting sagging tissue.
Breast Augmentation Safety and potential complications
Today’s breast augmentation procedures are safer and offer more satisfying results than ever before. Saline implants are filled with a saline-type solution, similar to those found in the body. This means in the unlikely case of a rupture, there is no risk to your health. Silicone implants have been proven to be completely safe, as well. Leakage is extremely rare, and the silicone filling is nontoxic.
As with any invasive procedure, breast augmentation does present a small risk for complications. Issues such as capsular contracture (the formation of scar tissue around the implant), asymmetry, leaks, and nerve damage can occur. During your consultation appointment, your surgeon will discuss the risk for complications in detail.
To further reduce the chance for post-op complications, Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty are committed to bringing patients cutting-edge tools and techniques, like the Keller Funnel. Made from a flexible polymeric film, the Keller Funnel allows the surgeons to perform their breast augmentation using a ‘no touch’ technique. After creating the incision, which is smaller than that required with a traditional breast augmentation technique, the implant slides directly out of the funnel opening. The Keller Funnel significantly decreases the chance for contamination, thus lowering the risk for infection or capsular contracture.
Your Breast Augmentation/lift Recovery And Results
Although every woman is different, in general, the recovery after a breast augmentation will last from one to two weeks. Most women will feel good enough to return to work in a week or less. Vigorous exercise and heavy lifting should be postponed for four to six weeks, or until given the go-ahead by the surgeon.
Initially, patients should expect mild to moderate discomfort, bruising, and swelling. The chest may feel tight, and temporary numbness is not uncommon. These side-effects are short lived, however, and will begin to subside in about a week. A support bra or surgical compression garment will need to be worn for several weeks, as the breasts settle and heal. A more extensive surgical procedure, such as the mastopexy, may require additional time off from work. During your consultation, Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty will carefully explain what to expect during your breast augmentation consultation.
The results from a breast augmentation with implants or mastopexy can be seen almost immediately. However, over the following six to twelve months, as the swelling subsides and implants drop into the natural breast pocket, benefits will continue to improve. The results from a breast augmentation are long-lasting, however as the body continues to age, women can expect their chest tissue to change somewhat.
The Cost Of A Breast Augmentation/Mastopexy
Every breast augmentation procedure is unique, so the exact cost will vary according to the size and type of implant of choice, as well as the extension of correction, including a mastopexy or any additional techniques. To determine the cost of your desired breast augmentation, schedule an in-person consultation with Dr. Miller or Dr. Doherty at the Boston Center for Facial Rejuvenation: call our Newbury Street office in Boston at 617.450.0070, or the Brookline office at 617.735.8735.
While insurance does not normally cover the cost of breast augmentation, our office offers a variety payment choices; we accept cash, all major credit cards, and healthcare financing through CareCredit. Should your breast augmentation procedure be covered by your health insurance company, Dr. Miller will gladly work with you to find the appropriate plastic surgeon whose office does accept insurance.
Wow, I went for a consult and this dr. Is amazing. He knew exactly what I wanted for a breast augmentation and I got to see before and after picture. I can’t wait for the procedure. His results seem phenomenal.
Breast Augmentation/Mastopexy FAQ
Dr. Miller and Dr. Doherty are Boston’s top providers of breast augmentation procedures, utilizing a variety of saline and silicone implants to create a natural-looking, proportionate figure. Today’s implants can safely add volume and fullness for the breasts. Combined with an additional technique, such as a breast lift (mastopexy), a sagging chest will be raised to a youthful location and the nipple/areola reshaped for optimal aesthetics.
If you are in overall good health, yet frustrated with the size, shape, or appearance of your breasts, you may make a candidate for breast augmentation. Women should understand the technique to be performed, the recovery requirements, and hold realistic expectations for their final results.
During your consultation with Dr. Miller or Dr. Doherty, the best placement of your implants will be discussed. In general, women looking into saline implants, have a small amount of natural breast tissue, and/or have a strong family history of breast cancer may be encouraged to choose the submsucluar (under muscle) placement. Over the muscle (subglandular) placement works best for silicone implants or someone with abundance of natural breast tissue.
Expect the recovery from your breast implant procedure or mastopexy to take from one to two weeks. While there may be tenderness and swelling at first, these will dissipate quickly. Most women are feeling well enough to return to work within a week, sometimes sooner.
Dr. Leonard Miller and Dr. Sean Doherty are both board certified cosmetic surgeons, with decades of experience performing safe and satisfying breast augmentation procedures. While their techniques are considered safe, as with any surgical procedure, there is always a small chance for complications to arise. Risks include bleeding, scarring, infection, asymmetry, land long-lasting nerve damage.
