Breast Augmentation

Breast implants can be extremely useful in giving patients the more voluptuous, custom breast contours they envision, but many patients wonder whether breast augmentation is the right solution for all aesthetic breast concerns. Stretched breasts are often a key concern for women, especially those who have had children or breastfed. When the breasts begin to look overly stretched, flat, or elongated, options to restore a more youthful-looking bust often include breast implants and mastopexy (known as breast lift surgery).  Although breast implants typically provide the best results when utilized to add volume and/or achieve rounder, fuller breast contours, the breast augmentation procedure may not always be ideal in addressing a flattening of the breasts — especially if there is significant ptosis (sagging). However, this doesn’t... Continue Reading

There are a variety of hormonal fluctuations caused by pregnancy that can change the shape, size, and feel of your breasts. Varying estrogen and progesterone levels can catalyze a loss of the youthful contours that previously defined the shape and size of your breasts, leading to pregnancy-related changes such as:   Stretched skin and areolas: Laxity in the skin and breast tissue can not only lead to the formation of stretch marks, but also may cause ptosis (sagging). In some cases, the breasts can droop to the point of sagging below the inframammary fold (breast crease).  Loss of volume: As the breasts enlarge from milk production during pregnancy, many patients experience reduced fullness and volume in their breasts after giving birth.  Reduced firmness: A loss of... Continue Reading

Over time, there are many factors that can cause the breasts to change shape. As glandular tissue begins to droop and the upper poles of the breasts lose fullness, it’s not uncommon for your breasts to grow softer and less elastic. For some patients, this occurs in their forties and fifties — for others, sagging develops as early as an individual’s thirties. In general, reduced firmness can be caused by: Weight changes: The breasts grow and shrink in proportion to a patient’s body frame, and fluctuations in weight and size are often the primary culprits behind the appearance of aging breasts. As the breasts adapt to weight-related changes in the body, the internal structures of the breasts begin to lose tightness and support. This can... Continue Reading

Breast augmentation can be considered the “gold standard” of breast rejuvenation depending on the aesthetic concerns that motivate patients to pursue the procedure. When the breasts begin to stretch or lose volume, implants are often the most effective way to restore a rounder, more voluminous, and younger-looking breast shape. That said, some people with breast implants experience a condition in which their breasts feel unusually hard. This phenomenon, known as capsular contracture, can affect comfort and aesthetics — even causing the breasts to look distorted in more severe cases. Capsular contracture can be caused by a number of factors, including: Genetics: While it’s impossible to predict who may or may not develop capsular contracture, patients who have a family history of autoimmune diseases or thick... Continue Reading

Breast implants can offer a dynamic and long-lasting way to improve the size, volume, shape, and symmetry of the breasts. By providing patients with the ability to truly achieve the custom contours they envision, breast implants are considered an integral part of aesthetic surgery. If you’ve ever considered cosmetic procedures to enhance your breasts, you may have wondered whether breast implants can address breast ptosis or sagging. Drooping or elongated breast tissue is an extremely common effect of aging, pregnancy, and weight loss on the breasts. While medically harmless, our board-certified plastic surgeon understands that breast sag can sacrifice a youthful look in the chest and potentially inhibit self-confidence. Each person’s needs and aesthetic concerns are evaluated on an individual basis, but in general, breast... Continue Reading

Breast implants can offer a life-changing enhancement to your curves and confidence, allowing women dissatisfied with their chest to achieve the youthful, voluptuous breast contours they’ve always desired. Unfortunately, saline and silicone implants are not infallible. While capable of providing beautiful, long-term results, breast implants were not designed to be lifetime devices. Over time, certain issues may affect your implants and warrant a secondary breast revision procedure; however, the majority of patients do not ever feel a need to replace their breast implants unless they want to exchange their devices for a newer type, size, or fill-material.  After breast augmentation, most women don’t experience severe problems that warrant replacing their implants. However, the following complications may require additional treatment to further improve the outcome: Rippling:... Continue Reading

According to recent data published in The Aesthetic Surgery Journal, there has been a worldwide increase in patients seeking to remove their breast implants through en bloc capsulectomy or another explantation procedure. The motivations behind patients’ request for breast implant removal lie in systemic symptoms — such as joint pain, autoimmune diseases, confusion, chronic fatigue, and muscle aches — attributed to their breast implants. While not enough data is available to determine individual risk factors for conditions such as Breast Implant Illness (BII) and Silicone Incompatibility Syndrome (SOS), self-described symptoms have been associated with all types of implants, including saline, silicone, gel-filled, smooth, and textured devices. In some patients, removing breast implants has been shown to improve or even eliminate their symptoms. ISAPS states that... Continue Reading

As we age, our bodies change in response to some of life’s biggest moments. Specifically, the appearance of firm and youthful breasts can fluctuate with age and multiple factors usually contribute to these developments. From pregnancy and breastfeeding to weight fluctuations, the breast contours tend to look flatter and less shapely over time. Menopause and the natural aging process are also contributing factors, especially when the body starts producing less estrogen. While the age-related changes to your breasts vary from patient to patient according to genetics and unique lifestyle factors, there are certain concerns widely shared by women as they get older. Many patients want to improve: Breasts that look elongated, have lost volume, or appear deflated A decrease in skin elasticity and firmness Nipples... Continue Reading