If Your Considering Breast Augmentation

Many women with small underdeveloped or asymmetrical breasts may choose to undergo breast augmentation, a safe, effective surgical procedure designed to improve the contour of a woman's body by implanting a saline or silicone implant beneath the breast or chest wall muscles.

The procedure to enlarge one or both breasts, known as an augmentation or mammaplasty, might be sought after by a woman for one or more of the following reasons:

1.  The woman feels that her breasts are too small and wishes to obtain more volume in her breasts, for personal reasons.

2. After pregnancy, a woman's breasts may lose significant volume and the woman wishes to return some of the fullness to her breasts by having an augmentation.

3. A woman might naturally have some difference in the size of her breasts and she desires to have a more balanced look.

4. Aging as a natural process results in some breast tissue volume loss and sagging. In many cases breast augmentation can restore the aging breasts to a more full and youthful appearance, often used with a breast lift procedure.

5. To provide the foundation of a breast contour when a breast has been removed or disfigured by surgery to treat breast cancer

6. To improve breast appearance or create the appearance of a breast that is missing or disfigured due to trauma, heredity, or congenital abnormalities

Dr. Karlin will recommend the best option for you and take the time to make sure you are comfortable with your choice. He is a perfectionist and wants' to make sure you will be completely happy with the results.

Placement for a breast augmentation.

Different options every woman has when making a choice to have a Breast Augmentation: The implants can be placed either partially under the pectoralis major muscle, also referred to as submuscular breast augmentation or over the muscle and under the breast glands also referred to as subglandular breast augmentation. These choices are based on several factors such as current size of your breasts, and the ability to adequately cover the breast implant. The recovery process varies largely on choice for placement also.

By inserting an implant behind each breast, Dr. Karlin is able to increase a woman's breast size, by one or more bra cup sizes. If you're considering breast augmentation, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure.

Saline or Silicone?

Implants used in a breast augmentation are either saline or silicone filled. Both types of implants come in a variety of sizes and projection to give you the desired result. DR. Karlin uses both types and will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both when he meets with you for your consultation.

Texture:

The implant shell may be either smooth or textured

Shape: the implant may have a round profile or one that is anatomic (teardrop or tapered shape)

Profile:

The implant may have a low, medium or high projection (the depth of the implant from the base to the highest point of the implant curve)

Diameter:

The width of the implant measured across it's base (the side of the implant that will be positioned over the chest wall)

Incision choice includes four different options:

Periareolar which extends along the bottom half of the colored areola and is the most camouflaged of all the incisions.

Inframammary this incision is one to two inches long and made in the fold in the shadow under the breast.

Transaxillary or armpit incision is placed in the natural folds of skin under the arm.

Transumbilical breast augmentation or TUBA, incision is made at the rim of the belly button and with the use of an endoscope the implant is channeled through the subcutaneous fat beneath the skin to the tissue behind the breast.

First Step

At your complimentary consultation you will be introduced to our Plastic Surgery Nurse or Patient Coordinator and she will explain the different breast augmentation options for you in detail. She will also take a complete medical history in order to evaluate your general health. Cosmetic surgery is an elective surgery and Dr. Karlin wants to ensure that you are in the best health to undergo anesthesia and the recovery process of such surgery. Dr. Karlin requires a complete history and physical performed by your family physician that includes lab tests to ensure that you are medically cleared to undergo anesthesia and the breast augmentation surgery.

Pre-operatively you will meet with Dr. Karlin to discuss your many options for Breast Augmentation; he will perform a thorough exam and measurements to determine his recommendations for placement, size, and incision site. He will discuss at length the possible risks and complications associated with Breast Augmentation. Dr. Karlin will also have recommendations for your diet and general health prior to having surgery and this will include the elimination of certain drugs, and/or anti-inflammatory medications to minimize the possibility of excessive bleeding or bruising. You will be started on a four-week regimen of vitamins, amino acids and homeopathic medications that begin two weeks prior to surgery and two weeks after surgery.

On the day of surgery Dr. Karlin will perform the breast augmentation surgery in an outpatient surgery center usually under general anesthesia. The procedure generally lasts one to two hours and you will go home the same day. You will require a responsible adult to drive you to and from the surgery center and stay with you the first 24 hours.

Postoperatively you will go home with a surgical bra and tightly wrapped ace bandage to help prevent bleeding in the immediate post-op period. You will be given two surgical bras and wear only one of these for a month to ensure proper healing of placement of the implants. You will be discharged from the outpatient surgery center and it is recommended that you rest and apply cold compresses for the first 24 hours. You will be seen by Dr. Karlin the following day to remove the compression ace wrap and carefully examined for any post-op complications. You can gradually resume normal activities over the next two weeks but driving, excessive use of arms and any lifting is prohibited for the first week after surgery. Most patients feel minimal to moderate discomfort which is relieved by prescribed pain medications and cold compresses. Sutures are removed in a week and you may be instructed to massage the implants.

Having done thousands of breast augmentations over the last 25 years, Dr. Karlin has the experience and qualifications to meet all of your needs. If you looking for a doctor who is a  perfectionist you have found the right person.

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