Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation

Jefferson K. Kilpatrick, MD | Russell B. Stokes, MD | Hannah Parbst, Esthetician

Breast augmentation (or mammoplasty) is a surgical enhancement procedure to accentuate the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. While breast augmentation will make the breasts larger, the surgery will not move the breasts closer together or lift sagging breasts. 

Breast augmentation is a tremendous help to patients who desire a fuller profile, who have lost breast volume due to pregnancy or nursing, or who have undergone breast reconstruction and want to gain a more natural look again.

Enlargement of the breasts with implants is a very commonly requested procedure. Dr. Stokes performs many breast augmentation procedures, and has experience with some experimental implants including the soybean oil filled implant. Dr. Stokes performs augmentation with both saline and silicone filled implants.

The differences between these implants will be explained at your consultation, but if you would like to learn more in advance of the consultation, please visit www.natrelle.com. The shape and size of the implant which is right for you can be determined at your consultation.

Reasons for Considering Breast Augmentation:

• Enhance body shape if breasts are too small.
• Increase breast volume after pregnancy and nursing.
• Equalize a difference in breast size (cup size) to gain breast symmetry.
• Reconstruct breasts following a mastectomy or injury.

Procedure

Breast augmentation involves making a small incision to insert a breast implant into the breast area in order to enlarge the breast.  The surgery is commonly performed on an outpatient basis at a hospital or state-of-the-art surgical unit while the patient is under a general anesthesia and asleep.  There are several possible locations for the small incision that will be used for inserting the breast implant.  Breast augmentation involves making a small incision to insert a breast implant into the breast area in order to enlarge the breast.  Surgery typically lasts from 1 to 3 hours. 

Recovery

Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time.  Bandages are applied right after surgery to aid the healing process and to minimize movement of the breasts.  Once the bandages are removed, a specialized surgical bra will need to be worn for several weeks.  Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with the surgery.  This pain can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given by the physician after surgery.  Most women return to normal activity within 5-7 days, and vigorous physical activity can be resumed within 2-3 weeks. We would like to stress that this is a SAFE and effective operation regardless of the implant type chosen.

Jefferson K. Kilpatrick, MD – Russell B. Stokes – Hannah Parbst, Esthetician