Breast Implants / Breast Augmentation

Plastic surgeons perform breast augmentation to increase a patient’s breast size, improve her body proportions, and correct breast asymmetry.  With offices in Wilmington and Jacksonville, Dr. Ljung provides breast augmentation for many women in greater North Carolina.  The following is a basic description of the surgery, detailing the following:

  • Breast Augmentation Benefits
  • Breast Implant Options
  • Surgical Techniques
  • The Post-Operative process
  • Risks involved with Breast Augmentation

Are You a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

The following are some of the common reasons for women to choose breast augmentation:

Dissatisfied with breast size: An increase in breast size can give you a more feminine appearance and more wardrobe options.  After breast augmentation, a patient will often say she feel more confident wearing a low cut top or that her appearance has improved with her current wardrobe.

Lack of proportion due to small breast size: One of the keys to success with this procedure is choosing the right breast implant size.  With the help of a good plastic surgeon, you can choose an implant size that brings your body into balance and enhances your natural feminine shape.

Loss of breast fullness / volume: The aging process can cause a loss of fullness in a woman’s breasts, leading to the appearance of a “deflated” or “flattened” chest.  With breast augmentation, your plastic surgeon can restore fullness to bring back volume in an area plastic surgeons call the “upper pole.”

Breast Asymmetry: When breasts have a noticeable size discrepancy, a woman may feel self-conscious in certain situations or she may avoid wearing certain clothing items.  By enlarging a breast that is noticeably smaller, this asymmetry can be corrected.

Breast Implant Options

Aside from the basic saline versus silicone dilemma, there are many considerations when it comes to choosing the right breast implants. Taking into account your preferences, goals and your body type, Dr. Ljung can help you choose the right breast implants.  The doctor can explain various details about breast implant volume, projection, diameter, texture and shape. In general, you want to choose an implant that is proportional with your body shape while still achieving a satisfactory increase in breast size.

Surgical Techniques

Breast implants can be surgically placed through a variety of established techniques.  The most common techniques involve an incision in one of these 4 locations:

  • Inframmary fold, also known as the breast crease
  • Periareolar, the lower half of the areola
  • Transaxillary: through a small incision near the armpit
  • Transumbilical: through a small incision in the navel

If you’re choosing saline breast implants, any of these incision locations may be used.  Silicone implants however, are limited to the first two options listed.  After the incision is made, the doctor can place your implants above or below the chest muscles.  Placement partially under the chest muscles is another option for certain patients.  During your consultation, Dr. Ljung can recommend the right technique to achieve the results you desire from breast augmentation.

This surgery is typically performed under general anesthesia, so you’ll be asleep for the operation.  After Dr. Ljung performs the surgical incision, he creates a pocket for each implant by lifting the breast tissue and skin.  The implant is then inserted on each side (over or under the muscle) in a central location below the nipple.  The incisions are then closed with sutures, adhesive and/or surgical tape.

Post Op: What to Expect After Breast Augmentation

You will be discharged after surgery with special instructions from Dr. Ljung.  This may include a special post-op bra to wear, a prescription for medications, and steps to promote a quick recovery.  Total recovery time is typically 1-2 weeks, but you should be able to walk around in about 24 hours.  Patients are often surprised by how fast they recover after breast augmentation.

Risks: What You Need to Know About Surgery Complications

Adverse events that can occur include but are not limited to the following.  The most common early complications are changes in nipple sensation, hematoma, seroma, wound infection and inflammation.  Common delayed complications are capsular contracture, implant rupture, and implant “bottoming out.”  If you are concerned about any of these possibilities, make sure you discuss them with Dr. Ljung during your consultation.

Contact Azalea Plastic Surgery to learn more about breast augmentation in Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC.