Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery procedure that gives women with small or unevenly sized breasts a fuller, firmer, more proportional look. It is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures. Surgeons accomplish the enhancement by placing saline or silicone implants in the breast or transferring excess fat from another region of the body into the breast. This kind of procedure is highly customizable, as patients can essentially collaborate with their plastic surgeon about the size and shape that would be most fitting for them. Implants can be reshaped, and fat transfers can be placed into the areas that need more volume. ⁽¹⁾

At Palisade Plastic Surgery in New Jersey, Dr. Paul H. Rosenberg and Dr. Abraham Pathak are board-certified plastic surgeons who are skilled in breast procedures. Under their care, patients can achieve their desired breast shape and size. To schedule a personal consultation at our office in Fort Lee, please call (201) 585-2388 or ask us about appointments through our contact form.

Before and After Photos

View More Photos

About Breast Enhancement

Our patients choose to undergo breast augmentation for many different medical and aesthetic reasons, including balancing breast size, volumizing deflated breasts after pregnancy or surgery, correcting congenital breast defects, and more. Breast augmentation with implants requires a thorough discussion of the various factors innate to implants such as their fill (silicone or saline), shape, size, and placement.

To optimize the procedure and your recovery, it is critical that the implants suit your body and body type. At our practice, the implant is most often placed behind the pectoralis chest muscle, also known as the “pecs,” but there are exceptions depending on each patient’s situation. There are also a few different options for the placement of the incisions at the time of surgery; they can be placed by the armpit, along the border of the areola, or along the natural crease underneath the breast. Each type of breast augmentation has its own advantages and considerations, and your plastic surgeon will help you choose the most fitting treatments based on your goals and individual circumstances.

Breasts Implant Options

There are different types of breast implants available, including saline, silicone, and cohesive gel implants, which are also known as “gummy bear” implants. Saline implants are filled with a sterile saline (salt water) solution, while silicone implants are filled with silicone gel. Cohesive gel implants have a thicker gel consistency that maintains shape even if the implant shell is damaged. ⁽²⁾ All of these options are very safe, and each offers its own advantages. At a consultation, our medical staff will go through the pros and cons of each style to help you make the best decision for your body.

Autologous Fat Transfer (“Natural Breast Augmentation”)

Our surgeons apply their fat grafting expertise to offer a natural means of breast augmentation known as an autologous fat transfer. After using liposuction to harvest fat from other areas of the body, our surgeons will then reintroduce this tissue into the breasts to soften breast contours, improve symmetry, restore fullness, or provide more modest volume enhancement. This truly personalized, long-lasting approach has minimal downtime and scarring. Additionally, fat transfers can result in a more natural look and feel. The liposuction technique also allows for the added benefit of contouring other areas of the body.

We know that every woman is unique in her aesthetic goals and body shape, so we make sure that each of our patients receives a completely customized surgical plan that is designed with their specific goals in mind.

Benefits

Whether our surgeons do breast augmentations with fat transfer or with implants, the procedure can have many benefits for the patient, including:

Candidates

If you are currently unhappy with the shape, size, or proportion of your breasts, you may be a good candidate for breast augmentation. Patients who seek out this procedure often experience breasts that are sagging, small, asymmetrical or altered in shape for any number of reasons. ⁽¹⁾ Whether these problems are caused by aging, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or significant weight loss, we welcome all different kinds of patients who want to improve their quality of life and self-image. However, if you experience any of the following, this procedure may not be recommended:

Personal Consultation

During a personal consultation, you will meet with members of our medical staff in Fort Lee, who will provide you with important information regarding the breast augmentation procedure. During this meeting, our team can help you decide what type of implant will be best for your situation, or if a fat transfer would be a better treatment avenue altogether. Please come to your personal consultation prepared to discuss your medical history and aesthetic concerns. Your plastic surgeon will assess your anatomy, discuss your goals, and provide guidance to help you select an implant size that is appropriate and will achieve a balanced, natural-looking result. Call Palisade Plastic Surgery at (201) 585-2388 or request your personal consultation by filling out our contact form.

Preparation

Choosing the right breast implant size is a crucial part of the breast augmentation preparation process. It is important that both you and the medical staff at Palisade Plastic Surgery consider your body proportions, existing breast tissue, lifestyle, and personal preferences. Furthermore, you should prepare to have realistic expectations about the breast size and shape that an implant or fat grafting augmentation can achieve. If you smoke or use nicotine products, we recommend that you discontinue before your augmentation appointment to ensure the success of your procedure; these products can affect the healing process. ⁽¹⁾ You should prepare to take time off of work to recover from your breast augmentation, as well as stock your residence so you do not have to make any unnecessary trips to the store.

Procedure

At Palisade Plastic Surgery, we typically perform all types of breast augmentation procedures under general anesthesia. Breast augmentation procedures usually take around 45-90 minutes, but can take longer if the surgeon is using the fat transfer technique. ⁽¹⁾

Implant Procedure

Your surgeon will make incisions in inconspicuous locations, such as around the areola, in the breast crease, or in the armpit in order to create a pocket for the implants. After this, they will insert the implant into the pocket. Saline implants are empty when they are placed in the breast, as your surgeon will gradually fill the implant with the saline solution in order to precisely size the breasts. ⁽¹⁾ While we usually place the implants beneath the chest muscles, we can also place them under the breast tissue if the patient’s situation requires it. ⁽¹⁾ After the implants are in place, we will close the incisions with sutures, and apply dressings or surgical tape to support the breasts during the healing process.

Autologous Fat Transfer Procedure

For fat transfer augmentations, the procedure begins with liposuction in order to harvest fat cells. Your surgeon will harvest this tissue from areas with sufficient excess fat deposits such as the abdomen, thighs, or hips. They will then process, purify, and concentrate the viable fat cells to prepare them for implantation. Finally, we carefully inject the purified fat cells into the breasts to achieve the desired level of augmentation and contouring. The incisions we make for the liposuction cannulas (suction tubes) are small and discreet.

Recovery

Recovery from breast augmentation is usually quite brief, as patients can return to non-demanding activities after just 1 week. During this first week, however, you should focus on resting. We will also recommend that you sleep on your back and take gentle walks after the first few days. You can resume all other activities, such as exercise or heavy lifting, after around 6 weeks. ⁽¹⁾ Your recovery will be unique to your situation and implant type, but you may experience some pain and swelling after the first few days. Our medical staff will make sure that you receive the proper pain medication or over-the-counter painkillers if needed. Swelling can linger for a bit longer, and may not subside until after the full 6 weeks of initial recovery time.

Results

Breast augmentation can result in breasts that have renewed volume and a more youthful shape. Patients who receive breast augmentations can feel more confident in their daily lives and enjoy their results for many years to come.

Breast implants have been extensively studied and are considered safe. It is important to choose a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon and follow all pre-and post-operative instructions to optimize your results. Breast implants are long-lasting, but they are not considered lifetime devices. Over time, some individuals may require implant replacement or revision due to changes in breast shape or implant integrity. Fat transfers, on the other hand, are considered to be more permanent solutions to more moderate cases of breast volume loss.

Cost of Breast Augmentation in New Jersey

The cost of your breast augmentation will depend on many factors, such as the type of implant you move forward with or whether you choose to undergo an autologous fat transfer. To obtain an accurate quote, you will need to attend a pre-operative assessment where our medical staff can help determine these factors. Call Palisade Plastic Surgery in Fort Lee at (201) 585-2388 or fill out our contact form to inquire about setting up your personal consultation today.

References

1. Fardo D, Sequeira Campos M, Pensler JM. Breast Augmentation. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482206/
2. Patel BC, Wong CS, Wright T, Schaffner AD. Breast Implants. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441998/