Breast Augmentation & Breast Implants
Quintessence Plastic Surgery is proud to serve Austin, West Lake Hills, Davenport, Rob Roy, Steiner Ranch, Northwest Hills, and surrounding areas.
Through breast augmentation in Austin, Dr. Aisha White can help you get the breast size you want. This breast procedure is an ideal option for women who do not like the appearance of their breasts or the way their clothes fit.
Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammaplasty or breast enlargement, is cosmetic surgery performed to enlarge the size of the breasts. This is commonly done with implants but can also be done with fat grafting (fat taken from other parts of your body). Fat grafting, a type of natural breast enlargement, usually only results in a modest increase in breast volume. For a more noticeable increase in breast volume, implants are the best option.
Implants are distinguished by their size, fill material (saline versus silicone), outer texture (smooth versus textured), and shape (round versus teardrop). You will discuss these breast-implant specifications with Dr. White during a consultation at our office.
If you are interested in other plastic-surgery procedures of the breast in Austin, Texas such as a breast lift or breast reduction, Dr. White also offers these services.
Before & Afters
View Breast Augmentation Gallery
Are You a Good Candidate for Breast Enlargement?
Before scheduling a date for your breast augmentation surgery in Austin, you will need to meet with Dr. White for a consultation. During this time, she will ensure that you are a good candidate for the procedure.
The best candidates for breast augmentation are non-smokers who are in good overall health and are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Ideal candidates are women who are interested in increasing the size and projection of their breasts. Good candidates also have realistic expectations informed by reviewing breast augmentation before and after photos.
During the consultation, Dr. White will discuss your options for the procedure. One option is combining a breast lift and implants. This pairing, also known as a breast augmentation with lift, increases breast size while reducing sagging and correcting asymmetries. A breast lift without implants is also available if your issues are purely related to sag/asymmetry.
Choosing Your Breast Implants
If you’ve chosen to get a breast augmentation with implants, deciding on the best implants for you means considering your choices. There are three types of implants available: saline breast implants, silicone breast implants, and gummy bear implants.
Saline implants are made of silicone and are filled with a saline solution. These can be filled during the procedure. If they experience a leak, there is a visible effect on breast appearance.
Silicone implants are made of silicone and are filled with silicone gel. These must be filled before the surgery. Leaks with these implants are often “silent,” meaning there is not always a visible difference.
Gummy bear implants are a newer implant type. These Allergan implants are similar to silicone breast implants, but their silicone filling is more cohesive; because of this, they are classified as form-stable. When a gummy bear breast implant ruptures, the material does not escape the implant shell. This makes them safer and makes implant removal much easier.
Additionally, patients will choose between smooth and textured implants, round and teardrop implants, and low, moderate, and high-profile breast implants. In terms of size, patients can choose large breast implants, small breast implants, or anything in between; the ideal size is the one that works best for the patient’s frame.
The Breast-Augmentation Procedure
At the start of breast enlargement with implants, general anesthesia is administered. This will put you in a temporary unconscious state for the entirety of the surgery, eliminating any chance of pain or discomfort.
Once you are under, incisions will be carefully made. The breast implant can be placed using one of three different locations: transaxillary (in the armpit), periareolar (at the border of the areola), or inframammary (at the breast crease where the breast meets the chest wall). In your consultation, we will discuss all your options so that we can decide the best approach to fit your goals safely and efficiently.
Through the incisions, pockets are carefully made in the tissues of the breast. The implants are inserted carefully and then positioned according to the patient’s desires and aesthetic goals. Finally, the incisions are closed with the help of sutures, ending the surgical procedure.
Recovery After Breast Enhancement
Once your breast enlargement is complete, you will need to undergo a recovery process. Breast augmentation with implants results in post-surgical bruising and swelling, which will disappear in time. To aid in this process, it will be necessary to wear a supportive post-surgical bra without any underwire. Underwire can injure the temporarily weakened tissues.
Your sutures will be removed during a follow-up appointment at our office. During this time, Dr. White will check on your healing to ensure that there are no post-surgical complications.
In around a week, you will most likely be able to return to work. For around four weeks, it will be important to avoid any physically strenuous activities like heavy exercise in order to allow the incisions to fully heal.
Patients seeking breast augmentation surgery often ask “What is capsular contracture?” and “How will I know if I have it?”
Here are some things to know about capsular contracture during recovery:
- Shortly after breast implant surgery, your body forms a wall (capsule) around the implant. This is a normal process and happens with anything artificial in your body- a pacemaker, a prosthetic knee, etc. The term “capsular contracture” refers to the process by which this capsule becomes thicker and tighter. When this happens, the capsule may begin to constrict the implant.
- The cause of capsular contracture is not entirely clear but there are theories that point to chronic inflammation and/or subclinical bacterial infection. Capsular contracture is most often associated with implants that are “old” and/or ruptured.
- Capsular contracture is more common with:
-silicone (versus saline) implants
-periareolar (versus inframammary fold) incision
-above the muscle (versus below the muscle) implant pocket - Mild to moderate cases of capsular contracture may present with a firmer breast, less mobile implant, or implant silhouette that is more noticeable. Whereas, severe cases of capsular contracture may present as a hard, immobile, misshapen breast. Patients with these signs of advanced capsular contracture also often have pain.
- Capsular contracture is usually treated by removal of the capsule and replacement of the implant. If the implant was initially above the muscle, the pocket is often changed to below the muscle.
– Self-verified patient of Dr. Aisha D White
Breast Augmentation Cost and Financing Options
Because the procedure is cosmetic rather than functional, breast augmentation in Austin cost is not covered by health insurance providers. To determine the price of a patient’s breast enlargement, it will be necessary to consider breast implant cost (when implants are used), the total length of the procedure, and the exact techniques being used. With that said, the expected price range is between $7,000 – $9,000. Quintessence Plastic Surgery does accept financing options from CareCredit.
Set Up a Consultation for Breast Augmentation
To learn more about breast augmentation in Austin from board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Aisha White during a consultation at Quintessence Plastic Surgery, contact us and schedule your appointment at our Austin location.
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