If you are considering Houston plastic surgery to add volume to your breasts, improve breast symmetry, and/or balance your overall body proportions, a breast augmentation can be the ideal procedure for achieving a more curvaceous aesthetic.
Whether you wish to enhance small breasts, or simply restore your bustline after childbearing or weight loss, breast augmentation is an exciting, transformative procedure. That said, it’s important to ask questions and understand options so you can enjoy a smooth recovery and achieve long-lasting results you will love. Here, we share answers to 6 important questions that are frequently asked in breast augmentation consultations.
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Can I get accurate mammograms with breast implants?
- What shape, size, incision and placement site are recommended for me?
- How will my ability to breastfeed be affected?
- When can I go back to work after a breast augmentation?
- How can I get the best breast augmentation results?
Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
It is crucial to ask this question and only choose a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Physicians can acquire board certification in a myriad of specialties so confirming your surgeon is certified by the ABPS ensures they can achieve safe, aesthetically pleasing breast augmentation and plastic surgery results. ABPS members are held to the highest standards of safety and patient care and must meet rigorous criteria to be eligible for board certification. To retain their board-certified designation, ABPS surgeons are also required to complete continuous certification steps, demonstrating they are up to date on the newest techniques and safety practices.
Can I get accurate mammograms with breast implants?
Yes! You should follow your primary physician’s recommended protocol for regular screenings, just as you would without implants–research shows that implants do not significantly affect the reading of mammogram results. Simply let the patient coordinator know you have implants when making the appointment to be sure your facility has experience screening women with breast implants. The mammogram technician will typically take 4 additional special implant views (2 per breast) so the radiologist can get a clear view of all of your breast tissue.
Confirming your surgeon is certified by the ABPS ensures they can achieve safe, aesthetically pleasing results.
What shape, size, incision and placement site are recommended for me?
With hundreds of possible combinations, it is easy to be overwhelmed by breast augmentation choices, but fear not! This variety is what will allow your plastic surgeon to achieve natural, proportionate results unique to your anatomy. During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will listen to your goals, carefully measure your breast and chest wall, and present a range of breast implant options that will suit you.
The implant incision can be made in your breast fold (inframammary), around your areola (periareolar), or in the armpit (transaxillary). The most common incision sites are inframammary and periareolar as they provide direct access to the breast pocket and the scars are nearly undetectable once healed.
Your implants can be placed over the pectoralis muscle (subglandular) or under the muscle (submuscular), or with the dual plane technique. Dr. Basu’s preferred placement is the dual plane technique, where the upper two-thirds of the implant is under the muscle, whereas the lower third of the implant is above the muscle. Think of it as the best of both worlds.
How will my ability to breastfeed be affected?
Studies show that women with breast implants can safely and successfully breastfeed at rates similar to women without breast implants, indicating that breast implants will not significantly affect your ability to breastfeed. A 5-year study published in 2019 also found no difference if the mother had silicone or saline implants.
If breastfeeding is a future goal of yours, it is best to avoid periareolar incisions that may sever or disturb the milk ducts, impacting lactation. (Fortunately, the ducts may grow back together and regain functionality over time.) A skilled plastic surgeon will keep your milk ducts and mammary glands intact as much as possible to preserve your ability to breastfeed in the future.
When can I go back to work after a breast augmentation?
Most breast augmentation patients return to a desk job 3-5 days after their surgery—though you will still need to take it easy, and strictly avoid lifting anything weighing over 5 pounds for approximately 4-6 weeks. As you return to work and light activity, keep in mind your underlying tissues are several weeks away from full recovery, which generally takes a few months. Following your plastic surgeon’s instructions regarding activity restrictions will make all the difference in getting back to normal ASAP with a complication-free recovery.
During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will listen to your goals, take your measurements, and present a range of breast implant options that will suit you.
How can I get the best breast augmentation results?
Taking time to choose the best Houston plastic surgeon for your needs will help you achieve ideal breast augmentation results—much depends on their guidance towards the right implant choice, as well as their skill in the operating room. That said, getting the best breast implant results with nearly undetectable final scars also depends on you: your surgeon will provide detailed postoperative and scar care instructions that should be followed to the letter. This includes wearing supportive garments and attending follow-up appointments so your surgeon can monitor your healing and quickly and safely address any potential complications.
Another way to get the best breast augmentation results is to consider adding complementary procedures to your treatment plan which can further emphasize and enhance your curves:
- Liposuction can remove pockets of fat along the bra line or at the front of your underarm to help refine your breast appearance. Liposuction is also ideal for fine-tuning your body shape for a balanced, proportional look.
- Tummy tuck surgery pairs well with a breast augmentation to create an hourglass shape; the procedure repairs abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti) and removes excess skin to reveal a smoother, slimmer midsection.
- Breast lift surgery is often necessary to achieve optimal, natural-looking breast surgery results. It can be combined with a breast augmentation to reshape and lift the breast by removing excess skin and tightening remaining tissues. Alternatively, for patients with mild breast drooping, an expert plastic surgeon can use an advanced dual-plane augmentation technique (partial submuscular implant placement) to provide a more lifted appearance without performing a full breast lift.
- Internal Bra Technique may be beneficial when a patient’s tissue is too weak to support the implant. In the internal bra technique, Dr. Basu uses a resorbable surgical mesh, such as GalaFLEX® or DuraSorb®, to add support to an implant. Surgical mesh is naturally broken down by the body over time and is replaced by your own natural collagen, creating new, stronger tissue.
Combining multiple procedures allows patients to achieve comprehensive body contouring results within a single recovery period. Patients who choose to include body contouring surgery as part of their breast enhancement plan will often refer to the full set of procedures as a mommy makeover.
Book your breast augmentation consultation at Basu Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery in Houston
Dr. Bob Basu is a highly-distinguished, award-winning board certified plastic surgeon known for achieving remarkably natural breast augmentation results using the latest implant technology and the most advanced surgical techniques. He is an Allergan Black Diamond Surgeon—placing his breast implant practice in the top 1% in the nation. Most recently, he was ranked as one of the top 100 plastic surgeons in the nation for breast augmentation. Dr. Basu is the #1 Ranked Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon in Houston by the Houston Chronicle (2022) and is also the author of a textbook entitled Cosmetic Breast Surgery. To learn more about our comprehensive range of safe and effective options, we invite you to call 713.799.2278 or contact us online to schedule your appointment at one of our two convenient plastic surgery office locations, in either Houston’s Galleria/Uptown neighborhood or Cypress.
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