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Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure designed to increase and enhance the size of a woman’s breasts. Commonly referred to as “breast enlargement,” this popular cosmetic enhancement option can add volume to the breasts and adjust their shape with results that look both beautiful and natural. Many individuals choose breast augmentation with implants at our Columbus, Ohio practice to reverse the effects of pregnancy and nursing, or to enhance an area of their figure that they may have always felt uncomfortable with.
Dr. Jason Lichten, our board-certified plastic surgeon here at Central Ohio Plastic Surgery, can discuss your options with you during a private consultation and help you determine whether this procedure is an ideal solution for your needs and goals.
Potential Benefits: Breast augmentation can enhance both the size and shape of the breasts for a fuller appearance that compliments your overall body proportions.
Candidacy: Ideal candidates for breast augmentation are often individuals who are dissatisfied with the current size and/or shape of their breasts and are considering options for addressing those concerns. Women who have lost breast volume due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss may be good candidates for this procedure, as well as those who would simply like to enlarge the size of their breasts due to long-held concerns about lack of fullness or balanced proportion.
Procedure: Breast augmentation can typically be performed on an outpatient basis without requiring an overnight hospital stay. General anesthesia is necessary for this procedure.
Recovery: Most women are able to resume many of their normal daily routines approximately one week following breast augmentation surgery; however, each patient’s experience is unique and the length of recovery varies based on individual needs. Swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the breast areas are common side effects of this procedure and should dissipate as the breasts heal.
Follow-Up Care: Breast implant surgery at our practice includes all post-operative appointments for as long as patients have their breast implants. After the routine appointments in the first year after surgery, Dr. Lichten brings his patients back each year so he can examine the implants and ensure the patient’s happiness with them. Those appointments are free of charge for the life of the implants.
Surgeon: Dr. Jason Lichten is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has successfully performed this procedure many times. In fact, breast enhancement is a major focus of his practice. Dr. Lichten precisely customizes all breast augmentation procedures based on each individual patient’s needs and goals to create natural-looking results. Additionally, Dr. Lichten takes a patient-centric approach throughout the process. He never staffs out consults or follow-up appointments—Dr. Lichten will be there for our patients from the first step to the last.
Breast augmentation is a remarkably popular procedure that offers an array of cosmetic benefits. This treatment is capable of:
While breast augmentation can be a very effective procedure on its own, many of Dr. Lichten’s patients choose to combine it with other cosmetic enhancement options for a more comprehensive rejuvenation. In addition to primary breast enlargement, many women choose to have their breast augmentation paired with a breast lift to improve breast tissue firmness and projection, or they may wish to include the procedure in a mommy makeover. If you are interested in adding other options to your breast augmentation treatment plan, Dr. Lichten can go over those with you during the initial consultation.
If you feel that your breasts are too small or in disproportion with your overall body frame, you may be an ideal candidate for breast augmentation. This option may also be suitable for your needs if you have lost breast volume over time due to the natural aging process, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or nursing. Breast augmentation may also be an option worthy of exploration if you are affected by breasts that appear asymmetrical or otherwise aesthetically imbalanced. Although no amount of cosmetic surgery can make you look “perfect,” breast enlargement can help to create better proportions.
In general terms, candidates for breast augmentation must be aged 18 or over and must be in reasonably good overall health. During your initial consultation with Dr. Lichten, he will evaluate your concerns, talk with you about your goals, and help you decide whether this treatment is the best option. If you decide to go forward with breast augmentation, Dr. Lichten will develop a customized treatment plan designed to provide results that look both natural and beautiful.
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When it comes to breast augmentation, one of the first major choices you will encounter involves the size of the breast implants. With that in mind, it is important to note that which implants are “bigger” often should be considered secondary to how the size of the implants will affect your body frame. At Central Ohio Plastic Surgery, Dr. Lichten will spend time with you selecting an implant based on your body frame and your goals. Our plastic surgeon focuses on both the size and the profile of the implants to help you choose the right breast implants for you. During your consultation, you will be presented with numerous different breast implant sizes and Dr. Lichten will help you narrow down your options. The end result of breast augmentation should ultimately yield not only a more curvaceous bustline, but also improved body proportions.
In addition to the size of the breast implants, the shape, texture, and type are important considerations. We typically utilize smooth, round breast implants. These can provide a natural appearance for our patients and have lower rupture and complication rates than textured or anatomic implants.
There are two major breast implant types:
Silicone implants are FDA-approved for most breast surgeries and can be used in breast augmentation for women aged 22 and older. These implants are made of an outer shell composed of silicone, which encases a thick silicone gel on the inside. Silicone breast implants are often cited by patients as producing a very natural look and feel. They are also less prone to rippling/wrinkling when compared to saline breast implants; however, if a silicone implant ruptures, it may retain its shape instead of exhibiting any immediate signs of a problem. This makes it important to have routine breast exams and proper imaging tests to identify any potential complications.
Saline implants are approved for women 18 and over. These breast implants have been standard breast augmentation options for several decades and have helped many women achieve their goals with results that look natural. The shell of a saline implant is made of a silicone material that encases a saline (saltwater) solution. In many cases, saline implants require a smaller incision as they can be filled after placement in the breast pockets. If a saline implant ruptures and leaks, the effects may be quickly noticeable as the internal saline solution is released from its shell and then absorbed harmlessly into the body, resulting in a somewhat “deflated” appearance. Again, to address or identify any potential complications as early as possible, it is important to contact your doctor if you notice any issues with your breast implants and to maintain a regular schedule of breast exams.
Dr. Lichten is comfortable using both saline and silicone breast implants – the deciding factor is usually the patient’s preference. He will explain the options to you during the consultation and, together, you and Dr. Lichten will choose the most ideal type of implant for your needs.
“I am very happy with everything you did. I trusted your opinion, and expertise and am glad I did. I look great!! Ask my husband! We have a top-notch Doctor in this little town of Lancaster!”
Several different incision options are available for breast augmentation. In general, Dr. Lichten prefers to place implants through the natural crease below the breast. In his experience, this inframammary incision affords the best exposure for placement of the implant with minimal scarring in an inconspicuous location. Dr. Lichten will talk with you during the initial consultation about the most ideal technique for your procedure.
During surgery, a saline or silicone gel implant is inserted behind the breast tissue to enlarge and improve the contours. The majority of patients choose to have their implants placed behind the chest muscles, but for certain women, there may be advantages in placing the implants above the muscles. Once the procedure is complete, the incisions will be sealed with sutures.
Breast augmentation surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to go home the same day. General anesthesia will be required for this treatment.
“I had a breast augmentation Aug 2023. I was very nervous and hesitant at my consult but Dr Lichten answered all of my questions and made me feel confident in my decision to have it done. He is always honest with you and doesn’t push any service on you. The staff at COPS is always welcoming and sweet. They were all very helpful along the way. I will always recommend Dr Lichten and his practice!!”
Once breast augmentation is complete and you have returned home, you will need to rest and heal for a time. This process will involve taking care of your incisions, staying home from work, and avoiding heavy exercise and other physically taxing activities. Bruising and swelling will be present in the breast region. To support your swollen tissues as they heal, you will need to wear a comfortable post-surgical bra without an underwire. Prescription medication will be available to control any pain or discomfort during the healing process.
Most women are able to resume some of their normal daily routines, including work (as long as the job is relatively sedentary), after about one week of recovery. With that in mind, it is important to note that every patient’s recovery process is unique, and some individuals may need a bit more time to rest and heal. Dr. Lichten and our team will provide detailed post-operative instructions that can help maximize the potential for a safe and smooth recovery.
After your breast augmentation surgery is performed, we will schedule a series of follow-up appointments to monitor your progress. Dr. Lichten will personally meet with you for these appointments and answer any questions you may have. Once these routine office visits are completed during the first year of your surgery, Dr. Lichten will meet with you for additional post-operative appointments on an annual basis for as long as your implants remain in place. He will evaluate the implants and ensure you are still satisfied with the results. Those yearly appointments are part of our breast implant surgery program and are free of charge.
Breast augmentation is singularly capable of providing beautiful and significant cosmetic rejuvenation of the breasts; however, it can also be combined with other procedures to complement the results and provide additional aesthetic renewal. For instance, a procedure such as a breast lift in addition to a breast augmentation can address breast ptosis (sagging) and give the breasts a more youthful projection along with the added size and volume afforded by breast implants. If you would like to enhance other areas of the body as well, options such as liposuction or tummy tuck surgery can provide additional body contouring. Many of Dr. Lichten’s patients are mothers who are ideal candidates for a mommy makeover, which can include breast augmentation and numerous other treatment options that can help them restore their bodies to the shape they had before having children. Facial plastic surgery options and non-surgical treatments can also be part of a combined treatment plan that incorporates breast augmentation and other procedures designed to renew your appearance. If you are considering aesthetic enhancement options in addition to breast augmentation, Dr. Lichten can talk with you about your ultimate goals and help you determine the ideal treatment plan.
The cost of breast augmentation depends on a few variables, including the type of implant you choose, the technique used during surgery, the length of the procedure, and others. Once your treatment plan has been created during the initial consultation, a member of our team at Central Ohio Plastic Surgery will produce a custom quote that takes all associated costs of treatment into account and answer any questions you may have. Our practice accepts a wide variety of convenient payment methods, including financing arrangements via reputable third-party healthcare financing agencies that can help qualified applicants pay for their breast augmentation procedure over a series of installments.
If you have any questions about the price of breast augmentation, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
If you are not comfortable with the idea of getting implants, or if you only want a slight increase in breast size, there is another option that may be capable of achieving your goals. Fat grafting is a technique that can be effectively used to enhance the size and shape of the breasts in some cases. Fat grafting breast augmentation, also known as natural breast augmentation or breast augmentation with fat transfer, involves harvesting fat from another area of the body and injecting it into the breasts to both add volume and improve overall shape and appearance.
Breast augmentation using fat grafting offers a number of benefits. One of the primary advantages is that the fat harvested for the procedure is taken from an area of the body with an abundance of excess, stubborn fat. Options for excess fat extraction include the abdomen, thighs, hips, or back. This process can help rebalance the proportions of the body and enhance the beauty of your figure. The fat is harvested through liposuction. Extra care and precision are used to ensure that most of the harvested fat cells are alive and not severely damaged. The fat is then purified and prepared for injection.
During the fat grafting process, multiple injections will be made around the breasts so that the fat is evenly distributed. This can ensure that the breasts have a natural appearance. The amount of fat harvested and injected will be based on the desired increase in size. The procedure can take around three or more hours to complete.
Fat grafting breast augmentation requires a similar recovery period compared to traditional breast augmentation surgery. Patients often return to work after three to five days. There will be some bruising and swelling in the areas where the fat was harvested and around the breasts that may take longer to subside.
It will take some time to see the full results of your procedure. Some fat cells will die over the course of the recovery process, so variable absorption may lead to some asymmetry. Extra fat is usually injected during the procedure to compensate for this loss. Since there is no large incision required for the procedure, any post-surgical marks should be small and not easily noticeable.
If you are interested in the possibilities of breast augmentation using fat grafting, Dr. Lichten can explore whether you are an ideal candidate for this procedure during the initial consultation.
The decision between saline and silicone is a personal choice for each patient to make. Dr. Lichten has had success with both types of implants.
Saline implants are less expensive and can be placed through a slightly smaller incision. In addition, since saline implants do not come pre-filled, Dr. Lichten has the ability to adjust implant size during surgery. This is beneficial for patients with significant asymmetry because they can make up for size differences in the operating room during surgery without having to guess.
Form-stable silicone (sometimes called “gummy bear implants”) are the newest generation of silicone implants. These may provide more natural-looking results for women starting out with very little breast tissue. Results with these implants show that their rupture rate and capsular contracture risk are slightly lower than for other implants.
In August 2019, the FDA stated: “To protect individuals from the increased risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), associated with Allergan BIOCELL® textured breast implants, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that Allergan recall its BIOCELL textured breast implants and tissue expanders. Allergan agreed and is removing these products from the global market.”
BIA-ALCL is a very rare lymphoma of the capsule that forms around a breast implant. To date, all cases have been associated with textured implants (which represent less than 5% of the implants we typically use at Central Ohio Plastic Surgery), at a rate of less than 1 in 3,000 cases. It usually presents 8 to 10 years or more after implant placement as a fluid collection (swelling) around the breast implant. Removal of the breast implant and capsule can be curative.
If the safety of silicone implants is a concern, we invite you to do research of your own and/or to ask us any questions about these types of implants that you may have. It is our opinion, however, based on research and education, that medically and scientifically, silicone breast implants pose no significant additional risk.
For smooth, round silicone implants, the rupture rate is lower, so it takes approximately 17 years to reach that 10% rupture rate (when 1 in 5 women will need to have a second surgery). Early studies on form-stable implants show 2% at 6 years.
For saline implants, you will notice a visible deflation of the breast, often over a very short period of time. Typically, we try to get patients in and seen as quickly as possible to prevent the capsule and breast pocket from tightening around the implant once it has deflated. In addition, social concerns drive our patients to have it done quickly.
For patients with silicone implants, most women don’t notice a huge change with a rupture, although some will see or feel a subtle difference. Most of the time, a ruptured silicone implant is diagnosed by an MRI, and can sometimes be picked up on a mammogram or high-resolution ultrasound. Dr. Lichten will also use a handheld ultrasound in the office for a cursory look at the implant wall. If it is determined that a silicone implant is ruptured, the FDA recommends having it removed or replaced.
For the vast majority of people, the capsule that forms around a breast implant stays soft. Sometimes, however, the capsule gets hard, which can lead to pain or distortion of the implant. This is known as capsular contracture and, if it occurs, additional surgery may be needed to take out the capsule, possibly change the implants, or move the implants to a new pocket.
Fortunately, this issue is less common. In addition, rates are even lower when the surgeon places the implants below the muscle (as Dr. Lichten often does) and may be even lower with textured implants or with the use of the Keller Funnel, which Dr. Lichten uses routinely.
You absolutely can and should get mammograms after having a breast augmentation. Simply advise the scheduler when you make your appointment and let the mammographer know before she starts taking images. She will take four views instead of two and move the breast implant to the side with less compression. Rupture as a result of a mammogram is incredibly rare.
Thorough research into a potential doctor’s background, credentials, and experience is necessary to determine your confidence level in his or her qualifications. Once your choices have been narrowed down, a consultation can provide further information and help you evaluate your comfort and rapport with the prospective surgeon. You can find details on Dr. Lichten’s background, publications, and training here, as well as additional information about our board-certified plastic surgeon here.
If you are interested in learning more about breast implants and breast augmentation, please contact our office with any questions you may have, or you can request a consultation with Dr. Lichten and receive $25 off your consultation fee. You can also call 740-653-5064 (Lancaster) or 614-862-8008 (Columbus) to schedule your visit to Central Ohio Plastic Surgery. We look forward to meeting with you and working with you to achieve your goals.
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