Breast Augmentation

What is breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation surgery involves using implants to increase the size of your breasts or restore breast volume that has been lost after weight reduction or pregnancy. Breast augmentation can:

• Increase fullness and projection of your breasts.
• Improve the balance of your figure.
• Enhance your self-image and self-confidence.

Breast augmentation is a very personal procedure and you should do it for yourself, not for someone else. Breast augmentation is a good option if:

• You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small.
• You are dissatisfied with your breasts losing shape and volume after pregnancy, weight loss, or with aging.
• You are unhappy with the upper part of your breast appearing "empty."
• Your breasts are asymmetrical.
• One or both breasts failed to develop normally or have an elongated shape.

Will an augmentation lift my breasts?

Breast augmentation does not correct severely drooping breasts. If you want your breasts to look fuller and to be lifted due to sagging, a breast lift may be required in conjunction with breast augmentation. Breast lifting can often be done at the same time as your augmentation or may require a separate operation. If you think you may need a breast lift alongside your augmentation, be sure to discuss your goals with Dr. McKenna during your appointment.

What are my options for implants?

As in the case of a breast reconstruction, you have several choices for your implants that affect the shape, texture and contents of your implants, including:

• Saline implants
• Silicone implants
• Form-stable implants
• Round implants
• Textured implants
• Smooth implants

When it comes to breast augmentations, you have an additional option for your implants: fat grafting, which uses liposuction to take fat from other parts of your body and inject it into your breasts. This is an option for women who are looking for a relatively small increase in breast size. While the results from fat grafting may be more natural, they are accompanied by several increased risks, including cysts, infection, death of fat cells, loss of your implants’ shape, and more. If this option is interesting to you, be sure to discuss your risk factors with Dr. McKenna. 

What is the normal breast augmentation recovery time?

Your post-surgical recovery period should last between 24 and 48 hours, and you will likely experience soreness and swelling for a few weeks afterward. Be sure to follow all care and cleaning instructions from Dr. McKenna to ensure your breasts heal correctly.