Breast Augmentation: The Artistry

Breast augmentation will result in beautiful breasts when there is careful planning, precise surgical technique and proper experience. A woman's breasts must fit harmoniously with their frame and anatomy. A casual glance at the finished work should appear natural, as if she were born with them.

The most beautiful breast augmentations result in a breast that slopes gently down from just below her shoulder to the peak of the breast at the nipple. That nipple should lie in the center of a teardrop-shaped breast mound.

Attractive breasts posses a degree of perkiness with gentle arcs that sweep down from the nipple to the breast base, as well as some natural cleavage in which the breasts join naturally over the middle of the chest. From the front view, one should see a hint of a rounded curve at the sides of the breasts - but not enough bulge to interfere with normal arm movements.

Some breast augmentation patients have sagging breasts due to child bearing and breast feeding - the increase in breast volume and the rebound deflation which occurs once the milk lets down -causes stretching to the internal supporting ligaments. Other patients are slightly older and the normal aging process takes a similar toll. The majority of breast augmentation patients are women who were simply born with less breast tissue and feel that their breasts are out of proportion to their bodies and self image.

I start my consultation by listening to my patient's concerns about her breasts. I believe this is the single most important step in the consultation process. After all, the purpose of the surgery is to make my patient happy with their body. She is the one that is going to live with the result, and I therefore try to tailor my operation to address their concerns and give them the look that they desire. We discuss the cup size, breast shape and what they do and do not like about their breasts. I then examine and measure the breasts in order to determine the amount of breast tissue present and to determine if any chest asymmetry is present.

After precise measurements are taken, we discuss the variety of implant options. These include implant size, the three profiles of projection, (low, medium or high; this determines how far from the chest the breast will project) and implant filler material (silicone vs. saline). Saline implants can be completely filled, under-filled or overfilled, which can affect how firm or soft the breast feels.

Next, we review the options for placement of the incisions. These include peri-areolar (around the nipple), inframammary (Under the breast crease), trans-axillary (under the arm-pit) or trans-umbilical (through the belly-button.)

The implant can be placed over or under their chest muscles. The majority of patients choose to have the implant placed under the muscle for a variety of reasons. However, the choice is made individually for each patient depending on their desired goals and lifestyle. For example, a body-builder or a particularly athletic woman may specifically choose not to have her muscle disturbed.

As one would expect, an extremely important part of our planning is to determine proper implant size. We develop a good estimate of appropriate implant size well before the patient is in the operating room. The patient will try on the implants we have chosen in the office. By placing the implants on top of her natural breast in a bra without padding we can get an excellent idea of the final volume that is appropriate for her frame. Occasionally, when a patient is having a hard time deciding between two sizes, she will leave the final decision up to me. The decision is then made in the operating room once I have the differing implant sizers inserted during surgery.

• Breast Augmentation
• Artistry in Breast Augmentation
• Breast Augmentation: Forming a Beautiful Breast
• Breast Augmentation: After the Operation
• Facts about Breast Augmentation
• Modern Era of Breast Augmentation
• Breast Augmentation / Breast Enlargement
• The Breast Augmentation Surgery
• Recovering from Breast Augmentation Surgery
• Breast Augmentations are In
• Where to do the Breast Augmenation Surgery
• Choosing a Surgeon for Breast Augmentation