Breast Augmentation in Atlanta
It’s no secret that breast augmentation is the number one plastic surgery procedure in the world — and it has been for decades. We know this to be true, because BECA surgeons have performed thousands of breast augmentations and are considered some of the world’s best surgeons.
BECA has become known worldwide for achieving natural results while enhancing the natural appeal of a woman’s body! We see and treat women from all locations, backgrounds and lifestyles. Our diverse international clientele include print and runway models, foreign dignitaries, acclaimed actresses and models as well as many renowned athletes. And in many cases they have gone from being our patients to becoming our friends.
Call (561) 270-4867 or click here to book a consultation. The surgeons are available for in-office and online consultations.
Just like you, they want larger, fuller and appropriately sexier-looking breasts that enhance their own beauty without distracting from their overall appearance.
Actual Patient Before and After Photos
To view all actual patient breast surgery before and after photos, click here.
Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
It’s hard to tell whether you are a good candidate for breast augmentation without meeting you. We sit down with every prospective candidate* to discuss their desired cosmetic outcome, examine their breasts/body type and inquire about their medical history and lifestyle. We want to know about you and learn your personality. This information helps us determine whether breast augmentation is a good fit and, if so, what is the best option to achieve that special feeling of being sexy and confident in your own body. Everyone is different and everyone is unique. We want to match your expectations with your goals.
If you are considering breast augmentation, ask yourself the following:
- Am I physically and psychologically healthy?
- Do I have reasonable expectations of surgery?
- Although they are minimal, do I understand the risks and possible complications?
If you can answer “yes” to those questions, you may be an excellent candidate for surgery. We would love to meet you — call 561-270-486736or email us today.
*If you are from out of town, we offer virtual Skype consultations! Contact us for details.
Types of Breast Implants
Saline Implants
Saline implants have an outer silicone shell with saline, or sterile saltwater, solution inside. The main advantages of this type of implants are:
- The body can safely absorb the filling material in case the implant were to leak.
- They are the most economical implant option.
- Given that saline implants are filled after insertion, our surgeons can adjust their size during the surgical procedure to accommodate subtle size differences.
- They may be a good option if you already have a fair amount of breast tissue and are looking for more fullness.
The principal disadvantages of saline implants are:
- They don’t look or feel as much like natural breast tissue as silicone implants do.
- They are more prone to folding or rippling within the implant pocket, which can be visible in clothing and swimwear, especially if you are thin and don’t have much breast tissue.
- They may be visible underneath the surface of the skin, so they are not necessarily an appropriate treatment option for patients with thin skin or little body fat.
Silicone Implants
This type of silicone implant has both a silicone outer shell and a silicone gel filling material. Unlike the silicone implants of the past, they are filled with cohesive gel rather than a liquid gel. Though all of the newer generation of silicone gel implants are often referred to as “gummy bear” implants, in reality some of them have a gummy bear-like consistency while others do not (or, technically, they have different levels of “cohesiveness”). In other words, some of these implants should not be confused with the ever-popular form stable or anatomic “gummy bear” implants, which have an even more cohesive gel (see below).
The main advantages of cohesive silicone gel implants are:
- They very closely resemble the look and feel of natural breasts.
- They are much less likely to ripple or wrinkle within the implant pocket easily, so they are often a good choice for patients with thin skin or little fat.
- They may last longer than their saline counterparts.
- They will not leak like the old silicone implants of the 1970s and ’80s, as they are filled with a cohesive gel rather than a liquid.
The principal disadvantages of silicone implants are:
- They are slightly more expensive than saline implants (but the advantage is often worth the difference in cost).
- The body cannot absorb the silicone filling material if the implant leaks or ruptures. Instead, the filling material stays intact either within or close to the implant pocket, making it difficult to detect any problems with the implant. However, there is little cause for alarm, because the silicone preferentially sticks to itself rather than leaking out into the body.
Form-Stable Silicone Implants – Gummy Bear Implants
This newest-generation silicone breast implant has a silicone outer shell and a highly cohesive, form-stable silicone filling material. Thanks to the gummy-like consistency of the filling material, these implants are also referred to as “gummy-bear implants.”
The principal advantages of these implants are:
- Because the filling material is form stable, it stays intact if there is a problem with the implant. It even stays intact when cut in half. Thanks to the highly cohesive, form-stable nature of these implants, they are very unlikely to ripple or fold within the implant pocket, even when the patient is reclining.
- These implants come in a broad array of shapes and sizes, including an anatomically correct teardrop shape. They are more often used for women who are having breast reconstruction surgery following mastectomy or lumpectomy for the treatment of breast cancer, and much less often for cosmetic breast augmentation.
The main disadvantages of these implants are that:
- They are more firm than the cohesive gel silicone implants.
- They are often textured and do not move like a natural breast or a smooth silicone implant will.
During consultation, we will discuss the pros and cons of each type of implant with you. We will listen to you describe your goals, and assess your body type/frame and suggest the implant type that will best satisfy your anatomical and aesthetic needs. Remember, what works for your best friend or sister may not be the best option for you! Everyone is different and it may take a very different implant to get you the same result as your friend or sister. Don’t worry or stress about this, there is a “right size” for everyone and we will guide you through this process and help you pick the perfect implant to achieve your goals.
BECA Patient Testimonial
Implant Incision Decisions
Our surgeons have extensive experience with the four incision options used for breast augmentation. Keep in mind that regardless of where you decide you want the incision placed, your end result will be the same, as the implant will end up in the same place regardless of the location of the scar.
- 1. The periareolar incision, which involves making a circular incision around the outer edge of the areola (the darkly pigmented skin surrounding the nipple). Although this incision is generally well concealed within the darker-colored areola skin, it is not necessarily an appropriate treatment option for women who are concerned about changes in nipple sensation or difficulty breastfeeding, because the incision is made very close to the nipple and the underlying nerves and muscle ducts. Depending on the size of your areola, the size of the silicone implant that can be placed through the incision may be limited.
- 2. The inframammary incision is made using a horizontal incision underneath the natural breast fold. This incision works well for women that have a natural fold because the incision is hidden well under the fold. If you are fairly flat chested or do not have much of a fold to your breast, this incision may be visible when you are wearing a bikini and raise your arms, and may be apparent to your significant other when you are shirtless. However, it is less likely to interfere with nipple sensation or the ability to breastfeed. Also, over time and with proper care, the scar should fade until it closely matches the color of the surrounding skin. It typically takes a full year for a scar to completely mature and fade.
- 3. The transaxillary incision, which has the advantage of not leaving a scar on your breast at all. This technique involves making an incision in the crease of the underarm. This incision approach is our specialty, and is performed endoscopically using cameras and high definition video. During an endoscopic procedure, the surgeon inserts an endoscope (a long, thin instrument with a camera on the end of it) through a very small incision in the underarm. This highly advanced procedure is done very precisely on a high-definition screen, giving the surgeon an excellent visual perspective throughout the surgery. The transaxillary incision approach is less invasive than the other approaches and leaves no visible scar on the breast. This is important because the goal of breast augmentation is to make your breast prettier, and thus we would prefer not to add a scar to your breast if we can avoid it.
- 4. The TUBA, or transumbilical, incision, which has fallen out of favor as silicone implants cannot be placed through the belly button. The benefit of this procedure was the fact that it left no scar on the breast after the surgery. The transaxillary scar in the underarm has taken over this procedure as the procedure of choice as it leaves no scar on your breast and silicone implants can be easily placed through the underarm leaving no scar on your breast!
With today’s technology, the transaxillary incision is preferred because: a) both saline and silicone implants can be placed through the underarm and b) not only is there no scar on your breast, but no scar on your belly button, which would be seen in a bikini.
Location Is Everything (OVER OR UNDER)
Certain factors, such as your body type and frame and the type of breast implant chosen, will help establish which implant placement option is best for you. Our surgeons offer the following placement options:
- Submuscular placement, which involves positioning breast implants underneath the chest muscle.
- Subglandular placement, which involves positioning breast implants underneath the breast glandular tissue but above the chest muscle.
Another type of placement, dual-plane placement, is a poorly understood term even by plastic surgeons. In its strict definition, it involves positioning breast implants partially underneath the fascia (connective tissue) that covers the chest muscle and partly underneath the chest muscle itself. When medically appropriate for the patient, our surgeons may discuss this option with the patient, but in general the dual plane and submuscular placements are very similar.
Breast Augmentation Surgery and Recovery
Breast augmentation is typically performed on an outpatient basis at a local accredited hospital, in a surgery center or a certified office-based surgical suite. Our expert team will monitor you throughout the procedure to ensure you are safe and comfortable. SAFETY is of utmost concern and is always our highest priority when it comes to your surgery!
At BECA, we will never compromise your safety to save money. We may not be the cheapest in town, but also understand that this is partly due to the fact that we go to every effort to make sure your surgery is as safe as possible. We always use a board certified anesthesiologist and a board certified anesthetist. All of our surgeons are board certified or board eligible and every surgery is performed in a certified surgery suite with all the necessary safety equipment present. Surgery always carries risk, but we go to every effort to ensure these risks are minimized in every way! We treat you just like we would want ourselves or our family to be treated!
Our surgeons will follow the pre-determined treatment plan, which includes the implant type, the incision pattern and placement location.
After surgery, you will be released into the care of a responsible companion, who should escort you home (or, if you are from out of town, to a nearby hotel) and help you get into a comfortable position. You should rest and relax the first day. Although you will be up and about, you should plan to have someone with you for the first 24 hours after surgery. The staff will give you some exercises to do, including implant massage and range of motion with your arms. It is important to be up and moving. We DO NOT want you lying in bed. The only real restriction is no lifting, pushing or pulling.
We want you to be active as possible and keep your arms moving. This will help keep the muscle from becoming tight. Many women describe the discomfort afterwards as much like that which you would feel when you wake up the day after a hard workout, with tight, stiff muscles. We want you to get up, stretch and work on raising your arms above your head. Just like after a hard workout, the muscles feel better once you get up, move and stretch.
We will let you know when to return to the office for your follow-up appointments but we will typically want to see your around five days after your surgery. These appointments can often be tailored to your travel schedule. Sometimes these can even be done via email or Skype. During these appointments, we will check your healing progress, answer your questions and advise when to resume work, socializing, exercise and other normal activities.
If you have flown in from another city, we will let you know when it is safe for you to return home. Depending on what procedures you have had done, the length of travel and how far you will be traveling, we may recommend a blood thinner. This should be discussed with the nursing staff prior to you leaving.
Though recovery varies by patient, most of our patients return to their desk jobs in five to seven days and often return to more active jobs such as cutting hair or bartending in 7-10 days. Most patients are back in the gym within two weeks after surgery (with the exception of heavy chest exercises such as bench presses or pushups, which should be avoided for a full six weeks).
Is It Time To Go Bikini Shopping?
Now imagine you are sitting on the same beautiful beach in Florida or Southern California, or by the pool or just your favorite lake with your family, filling out a sexy bikini with your newly augmented breasts. Isn’t it wonderful to feel sexy and be proud and confident in your body and breasts? Let the plastic surgeons and staff at BECA help you get that special feeling back!
BE confident! BE Sexy! BE who you want to be! Be yourself!
Let BECA Center help you turn this dream into a reality.
Call (561) 270-4867 or click here to book a consultation. The surgeons are available for in-office and online consultations.