The goal of a breast augmentation is to give women larger breasts without the stretched, plastic-looking roundness of poorly placed implants. At a breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Brantner will discuss the size of implant desired by the patient, the pros and cons of saline and silicone breast implants, and details of the surgical process. Two other factors he determines with his patients are the location of the scar and the position of the implant.
Choosing a Scar Location
The incision during a breast augmentation is typically small, around an inch long. During a consultation, Dr. Brantner and his patients discuss the location of the scar. The goal is to find the least visible location for the scar. Other factors include body type, the type of the implant, and the desired size of the breasts. Dr. Brantner generally recommends a transaxillary incision (an incision along the armpit) or an incision around the nipple area, although inframammary incisions (incisions beneath the breasts) are also common incisions in breast augmentation procedures.
Breast Implant Position
When patients choose breast implants, they must choose the size, type, and location of their new breast material. Placing the implant beneath the pectoral muscle gives a more natural slope to the breast. When a woman has little natural breast tissue, placing the implant on top of the muscle can create stiff, overly round looking breasts. The same unnatural look is often created by using implants that are too large. By implanting the new breast material beneath the muscle, Dr. Brantner can create a natural, gentle slope that lacks the fake look of many celebrity breast implants. In a few special cases, Dr. Brantner recommends placing the implant over the muscle tissue. Over-the-muscle implants generally work best for competitive body builders or select women starting with at least a B-cup.
Breast augmentation surgery gives women the opportunity to choose a breast size that will flatter their figure, improve their self-esteem, and enhance their overall appearance. Choosing breast implants is a personal decision. Some women may only want a small increase in breast tissue, while others desire a major change to the size of their breasts. During your cosmetic surgery consultation, Dr. Brantner may offer suggestions about breast implant size based on your proportions; however, your results are up to you.
Consider Your Body
In today’s “bigger is better” culture, many women fall into the trap of choosing the wrong size implants for their body type. Picking implants that are too large increases the chance of complications, extends recovery time and breast discomfort, and results in too-round breasts with shiny, stretched skin. Disproportionately large implants are also more likely to put strain on a patient’s upper body and sag in the years to come. Follow the steps recommended by your physician to find the ideal implant size for your proportions.
Cup Size Doesn’t Matter
Most women consider breasts in terms of cup size, but the truth is “cup size” is an inaccurate measurement. The bra industry is inconsistent when measuring breast size. What is a C-cup in one store might be a B-cup in another. Bra stores change cup size based on band size, giving a 38C a larger cup than a 36C. In addition, a breast size that looks perfectly proportionate on an average height woman may make a shorter woman look top-heavy. When considering your cup size, look at before/after photographs of other breast augmentations. Find a woman with similar proportions to your own to make sure you get the breast size you want.
Please note: If Dr. Brantner feels a patient’s desired breast size will look disproportionate on her body, he may council smaller implants or elect not to perform the surgery.
For more information on choosing the right breast implants, call Dr. Brantner’s office.
Choosing the correct breast implants involves careful consideration. Before a breast augmentation consult, patients are encouraged to find reference pictures of women with similar body types, consider scar placement, and think about the merits of saline vs. silicone breast implants. But there are many questions about choosing the right implants that only your physician can answer. During each consultation, Dr. Brantner educates his patient about the surgical process and provides his professional insights about the ideal breast size based on her body type.
Breast Augmentation Consult
During your pre-surgical consultation, Dr. Brantner will measure your breasts and chest, discuss your desired aesthetics, and recommend an implant size in proportion to the rest of your body. The current amount of breast tissue, width of the shoulder, chest wall dimensions, and overall frame of the body help Dr. Brantner determine what size breast implants will look both full and natural for each patient. Be vocal about your desired breast size and your reasons for choosing that size, but stay open to Dr. Brantner’s professional insights and size recommendations.
Desired Breast Size vs. Ideal Breast Size
Thanks to unrealistic Hollywood stereotypes and photoshopped visions of ideal womanhood, many women want breast implants that are too large for their frame. Although Dr. Brantner will adjust his recommended implant size based on the desire of the patient, he reserves the right to not perform augmentation surgery if:
He and the patient cannot agree on an implant size.
The patient’s chest cavity is not large enough to contain her desired implant size.
The size of the implants might lead to long-term complications such as tissue or muscle thinning, stretch marks, clear rippling and ridges under the skin, or re-operation.
The patient’s lifestyle does not suit the implant size they’ve chosen (ex: a patient who works out frequently may put too much stress on large implants)
Once a patient chooses to have a breast augmentation, it might feel like the decisions are over. Planning plastic surgery is a personal choice that each woman must make based on her physical ideal and emotional satisfaction. However easy or difficult it is for a patient to choose breast augmentation surgery, she also needs to consider several factors in getting the results she wants.
Four Choices in Breast Implants
During a cosmetic surgery consultation, Dr. Brantner will discuss the medical procedure, educate the patient about physical limitations before and after surgery, and ask about the patient’s implant choices. Many women find it beneficial to consider their preferences beforehand. Patients must make four major decisions about their breast augmentation surgery. We will discuss size/type today and positioning/scarring next week.
Size of implant. Before scheduling your surgical consultation, research your desired bust size. Dr. Brantner can make suggestions based on a patient’s height and body type, but only you know exactly what aesthetic you want. Find photos of celebrities with your desired breast size whose proportions are similar to yours. Knowing your desired cup size is also beneficial, but keep in mind that the lingerie industry has inconsistent sizing. What is a B cup at one store may be a D cup at another.
Type of breast implant. In order to create a natural, beautiful look, you need to decide what type of implants you want. Saline breast plants are filled with sterile saltwater. If the implant were to burst, the body would absorb the saline from the implant. Saline implants create subtle ripples beneath the skin, which some women find unappealing. The gel in silicone implants feels more like natural breast tissue. If the implant leaks the gel will stay in the implant shell or trickle into the implant pocket, but it rarely collapses entirely. Women with silicone implants should visit their doctor regularly to ensure their implants are functioning properly. For more information about the shape and texture of breast implants, schedule a consultation.
Do you have questions about choosing cosmetic breast implants? Call Dr. Brantner’s office and stay tuned for next week’s blog.
The goal of a breast augmentation is to give women larger breasts without the stretched, plastic-looking roundness of poorly placed implants. At a breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Brantner will discuss the size of implant desired by the patient, the pros and cons of saline and silicone breast implants, and details of the surgical process. Two other factors he determines with his patients are the location of the scar and the position of the implant.
