Introduction to Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery can bring a wonderful change to a woman's life. Your body proportions can be enhanced or restored, your clothing can fit nicely and you can feel better about your appearance. Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures performed in the world today. In the United States, approximately 500,000 breast augmentation procedures are performed annually.

Breast Implants Are Widely Accepted Socially

Breast augmentation is the only safe and effective way to significantly enhance the breasts. Women of all ages and all walks of life seek breast augmentation surgery. Because of the wide popularity and social acceptance of breast augmentation, women now feel comfortable and uninhibited with having breast augmentation and they often enjoy sharing their decision and experience with friends, family and coworkers.

Breasts Implants Bring Harmony To A Woman's Figure

Women choose breast augmentation to bring proportion and harmony to their bodies that may be lacking due to breasts that are either underdeveloped, too small, or atrophied as a result of child birth. Some women may have difficulty fitting into dresses and matching swimsuit sizes or they just don't feel as comfortable with their bodies as they would like to. Breast augmentation surgery can help by making a dramatic improvement in the appearance of a woman's breasts and in how she feels about herself. For young women, breast augmentation is often performed to enhance and shape the breasts alone. In slightly older women, especially those that have had children, breast augmentation is a rejuvenating procedure, restoring the breasts from the effects of childbirth, nursing and aging. The breasts are integral to most women's sense of body image, youth, vitality and sensuality. Maintaining these elements of self image is important for most of a woman's lifetime and, therefore, we have patients of all age groups that have benefited from breast augmentation surgery.

Most Women Are Candidates For Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure, so there are some important qualifications for you to meet so that you can undergo the surgery safely and successfully. You must be 18 years of age or older and in good physical and emotional health. You should have completed your last pregnancy (and breast-feeding) at least three to six months prior to surgery. And, it is wise to defer breast augmentation if you plan to become pregnant within 1-2 years of surgery. (This is because pregnancy can change the aesthetics of your breasts and might change the operative plan to achieve your desired results). You must have realistic expectations about how surgery can improve the aesthetics of your breasts, your body image and your life. And, you need to have a good support person to help you through the entire surgical process, especially to be with you and assist you during the first 24 hours after surgery.

Decisions Regarding Breast Augmentation Surgery

There are a number of important decisions to make before embarking on breast augmentation surgery. Those considerations include technical, medical, financial, emotional, work and family issues. In this section we address many of the technical elements involved in your decision making process. There are seven general technical points to consider:

Key Technical Decisions to Make Before Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast implant insertion site - Axillary, breast fold, or periareolar?
Breast implant position - Above or under the pectoralis major muscle?
Breast implant type - Saline or silicone gel?
Breast implant surface - Smooth or textured shell surface?
Breast implant shape - Round or teardrop?
Breast implant projection - Low, moderate or high profile projection?
Breast implant volume - How big, how small?
Breast implant dimensions - How wide and how projecting?

We Will Help You Make Confident Decisions

Dr. Connall is an expert with all types of breast augmentation surgery. Dr. Connall understands that each woman's breasts and body are unique, as are the goals one wishes to achieve with breast augmentation. Any of the three different methods of implant placement are used to help fit your body and goals. The implants can be placed through the breast fold or around the areola. And, for women who do not want a scar on their breasts, the implants can be placed through the underarm using an axillary endoscopic breast augmentation technique. Dr. Connall is an expert in all of these techniques, so the choice is yours. The most important issue in this decision is how you feel about scars, your breasts and your body.

Breast augmentation incisions

Breast implants are placed through three incisions. A. Axillary, or underarm, approach. B. Areolar approach. C. Inframammary, or breast fold, approach.