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Breast Augmentation

What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is the second most common cosmetic operation performed in the United States today. The decision for surgery, however, is not to be taken lightly. There are many reasons why breast augmentation may be appropriate for you. Some breasts are small or uneven as a result of their natural development. Others may have become smaller following pregnancy or as the result of weight loss. A breast augmentation can balance out your body proportions and improve your silhouette. An enhanced figure can be an important part of feeling both healthy and confident.

Why Choose Weston Plastic Surgery for Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is one of the special interests and areas of expertise of Dr. Robert Rothfield, our Ft. Lauderdale plastic surgeon. Dr. Rothfield has served as an investigator with both of the FDA studies for the use of silicone gel breast implants. Over the course of his twenty years as a plastic surgeon and through his experience with hundreds of patients, Dr. Rothfield has honed his skills working with both saline and silicone breast implants. His approach combines both an artistic eye with a listener’s ear, and incorporates implant sizers, in both his office and in the operating room, to find that perfect implant shape and size for his patients. In the operating room, prior to finishing a breast augmentation surgery, Dr. Rothfield will sit all of his patients up (while they are still asleep) and confirm that the shape of the breast is as good sitting up as it is lying down.

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“Stellar job! Seriously a nice guy who knows what he’s doing, and exceptional care from the office staff and everyone involved. Overall, a great quick easy experience for my breast augmentation. They are perfect! I would highly recommend Dr. Rothfield to anyone.”

Sinéad Mc Clinton

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What Are the Benefits of Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation at Weston Plastic Surgery has an extremely high satisfaction rate, offering significant advantages for the right candidates. Those who undergo breast augmentation can typically achieve one or more of the following benefits following their recovery:

  • Increase size and fullness of the breasts
  • Restore lost breast volume
  • Enhance breast shape
  • Correct abnormal breast symmetry
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Increase size and fullness of the breasts
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Enhance breast shape
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Restore lost breast volume
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Correct abnormal breast symmetry

Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation can be highly beneficial for patients of various ages, body types, and aesthetic goals. Ideal candidates for the enhancement procedure are in generally good health and typically relate to one or more of the following:

  • Desire a larger, more shapely breast
  • Feel their breasts are disproportionate to the rest of their body
  • Have developed a “deflated” breast appearance with age or after childbirth
  • Find their clothes are too large in the bustline
  • Have one breast that is noticeably smaller than the other

In addition, candidacy will vary based on the different breast implant types. Patients must be at least 18 years or older to receive saline implants, while silicone implants are recommended for those who are at least 22 years of age.

Depending on your individual needs and goals, Dr. Rothfield may recommend you combine breast augmentation with another procedure, such as breast lift surgery, to help you achieve your desired outcome.

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation is to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Rothfield at Weston Plastic Surgery.

How Is Breast Augmentation Surgery Performed?

Breast augmentation surgery is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure at the Surgery Center of Weston. To begin the surgery, Dr. Rothfield will carefully make incisions in the location that was predetermined during your consultation. The breast implants are then inserted through these incisions and placed in the most natural-looking position. If silicone implants are being used, they are pre-filled before placement. Saline implants, on the other hand, can be filled after they have been inserted. Dr. Rothfield will discuss the pros and cons of each implant type so you are well-informed about what to expect. Once the breast implants have been placed in the ideal location, the incisions are closed.

The entire breast augmentation procedure typically takes about one hour to complete. You should be able to return home the same day and will have a post-operative visit the next day. This follow-up appointment allows Dr. Rothfield to verify you are healing properly, and he can answer any questions you may have about your recovery.

Placement Under the muscle

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Placement Over the muscle

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Common Incision
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What Are the Different Types of Breast Implants?

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone ImplantSilicone breast implants are back! In November 2006 the FDA approved the MemoryGel® silicone breast implants for breast augmentation in the United States. In 1994, all silicone breast implants were taken off the market in the United States as a result of safety concerns. It was believed that the implants may have been causing illnesses in some women who had received them. Subsequent studies have conclusively shown that silicone had not caused any of these illnesses and that silicone was safe to use for breast augmentation. Based on these studies, the FDA made the decision to release the latest generation silicone implants for public use.

The new MemoryGel® silicone implants are very different from those implants that were used up until 1994. The old silicone implants had a thin outer shell and were filled with liquid silicone that had a honey or molasses-like consistency. As these silicone implants aged over time the outer shell occasionally broke down and released the liquid silicone into the surrounding tissue. Although not dangerous, this was an unwanted potential problem. The current silicone implants have markedly more durable outer shells and are filled with a cohesive, gelatin-like silicone that acts as a solid rather than a liquid. In the unlikely event that the implant shell were to break, the silicone holds together uniformly and does not leak out into the surrounding tissues.

Advantages of Silicone Implants

  • Better shape and feel
  • No deflation
  • Less rippling

Saline Breast Implants

Saline ImplantSaline breast implants are among the most well-studied medical devices and have a proven safety track record. These implants are FDA-approved and are filled with a saltwater solution similar to the fluid that makes up most of the human body. Although saline implants have a slightly firmer feel than silicone implants, they also have a number of advantages. Because saline implants are filled at the time of surgery, the filling volume can be adjusted during surgery, giving the surgeon and patient greater flexibility in achieving the perfect size. And, because saline implants are not pre-filled, smaller incisions are often possible.

Advantages of Saline Implants

  • Smaller incision
  • Adjustable intraoperatively
  • Less expensive
  • No need to change after 10 years

Both saline and silicone implants come with many implant projection options such as Moderate, Moderate Plus, High Profile, and Ultra High Profile. These different projection styles provide the means to achieve the best fit for a given body type. All of our implants, both saline and silicone, come with a free limited warranty and lifetime product replacement policy from the manufacturer.

What Is Breast Augmentation Recovery Like?

In the beginning of your breast augmentation recovery, it is normal to have some degree of swelling and bruising, but this should gradually fade as your body heals. Patients often experience moderate discomfort for the first two days, which can be managed with pain medication. You can expect to return to work and driving on your fifth day of recovery, as you should feel more like yourself.

To ensure you are allowing ample time for your body to recover, Dr. Rothfield advises that patients wait two weeks before attempting light exercise. Full exercise can be resumed at the end of the first month after your breast surgery. Throughout your recovery, you will be directed to perform gentle breast massage to promote a healthy recovery and produce an optimal aesthetic result. This routine practice can also help you avoid the complication of capsular contracture, which occurs when scar tissue tightens around the implant, creating a hard and sometimes misshapen outcome that can require revision breast surgery to correct.

How Long Do Breast
Augmentation Results Last?

Saline breast implants can last 10 to 20 years or more and do not need to be replaced. Silicone implants may also last 10 years or longer, but probably should be replaced after 10 years. The reason that silicone implants should be replaced is that the risk of silicone implants breaking increases significantly after 10 years and it is less complicated to replace implants that are not broken. The longevity of breast augmentation results can depend on multiple factors, including weight loss or gain, pregnancy, implant placement, complications that may have arisen, the natural aging process, and others. If a complication occurs (such as an implant rupture, capsular contracture, or other issue) or a patient simply wishes to exchange their implant for a different type or size, revision breast surgery can be performed. It is important that patients continue attending routine breast exam appointments, conduct regular self-exams, and be mindful of any changes in their implants.

How Much Does Breast
Augmentation Cost?

Nationally the cost for breast augmentation surgery can range between $6,900 and $8,900. The price of your custom breast augmentation surgery at Weston Plastic Surgery will be determined by a variety of factors that can cause the price to fluctuate. The final cost depends on many variables, such as:

  • Implant type
  • Complexity of the procedure
  • Anesthesiology fees
  • Surgical facility fees
  • Surgeon’s fees (based on the level of experience)
  • Geographic location of the practice

During your consultation, Dr. Rothfield will use the information he has gathered to provide you with an accurate quote for the price of your custom-tailored breast augmentation surgery. If you are interested in plastic surgery financing to help with the cost of your procedure, we encourage you to ask us about loans available through CareCredit®, ALPHAEON™ CREDIT, or LendingUSA®. For qualified applicants, these third-party lenders offer affordable loans and flexible payment plans that can make plastic surgery procedures more accessible. For your convenience, we also accept payment with major credit cards.

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Patient 2

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Breast Augmentation Before-and-After Photos

We invite you to view breast augmentation before-and-after photos of Dr. Rothfield’s actual patients. Our digital photo gallery offers you the opportunity to see the variety of results that are possible with a custom breast augmentation.

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How Do I Choose the Best Plastic Surgeon for Breast Augmentation?

Choosing the right plastic surgeon to perform your breast augmentation is an important factor in achieving satisfactory results. You should adequately research potential plastic surgeons by examining relevant training, years of experience, and career highlights. You should also ensure you have a comfortable rapport with a prospective surgeon and evaluate how well they communicate with you and address your personal needs and goals.

Here are some tips on how you can determine whether a plastic surgeon is the right choice for your needs:

Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation

  • Does insurance cover breast augmentation?

    Breast augmentation is considered an elective cosmetic surgery and insurance policies will not cover the procedure. Our practice does offer financing options for qualified applicants that can make payments for the procedure more manageable. The reputable third-party financing agencies we work with include CareCredit®, ALPHAEON™ CREDIT, and LendingUSA®.

  • Does breast augmentation hurt?

    The breast augmentation procedure is performed under general anesthesia, so patients should not feel any pain during the surgery. Patients will likely experience some degree of swelling, bruising, and soreness while the treatment areas heal. Those effects should subside during recovery, and discomfort can often be well-managed with pain medication.

  • Will I need a lift with breast augmentation?

    For many patients, a breast augmentation alone provides effective enhancement and satisfactory results. While it is not necessary for every patient, some may opt to combine the procedure with a breast lift. Implants from breast augmentation surgery can add volume to the elevated positioning a breast lift can offer. Together, the two procedures can produce a more youthful and perky appearance; however, patients who are not experiencing the telltale signs of breast ptosis (sagginess) may not need a breast lift along with their augmentation if they primarily just want to enhance breast volume and size. Dr. Rothfield is happy to discuss the most ideal options during your initial consultation.

  • When will my breast implants drop after surgery?

    Immediately after breast augmentation surgery, implants typically sit a little higher on the chest wall. During the healing and recovery process, implants will drop and settle into their proper location, creating a more natural and softer appearance. This typically occurs over the first eight weeks following the augmentation procedure. Gently massaging the implants can also encourage them to settle a bit more quickly; however, this should only be done in accordance with recommendations and instructions from our plastic surgery team.

To schedule a complimentary personal consultation with our experienced plastic surgeon, please contact Weston Plastic Surgery.

Patient Forms

 

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Saline

Informed Consent – Breast Augmentation (Saline Implants)

 

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Silicone

Informed Consent – Breast Augmentation (Silicone Implants)

 

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