Breast Augmentation St. Louis

Whether you have lost volume to your breasts after pregnancy or were born smaller than you would like, Chesterfield Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery is here to help. A breast augmentation surgery can quickly enhance your size, shape, and appearance… as well as your confidence. We take pride in helping women feel great about their breasts.

During your initial consultation, your surgeon will review your goals and desires, assess your anatomy, and discuss any significant changes to your breasts. They will then walk you through the implant process, reviewing the various implant shapes, styles, and projections. You will have the opportunity to examine and feel all of the latest, most technologically advanced implants on the market today. If you determine a breast augmentation is right for you, our silicone implant sizing system will help you decide what looks best for your body.

Our surgeons believe your breast augmentation should as painless as possible, with a speedy recovery. That is why they use a Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation process. Every step of this meticulous technique minimizes trauma to breast tissue and chest wall, thereby reducing pain and bruising. This lets our patients quickly return to most normal daily activities within 24 hours. Patients also have the option to have a pain pump catheter placed within the breast pocket, bathing the surgical site with a numbing medication for up to 3 days, which helps decrease postoperative nausea and pain medication use.

Breast augmentation surgery can be performed as part of another surgical procedure as well, including Mommy Makeovers, Breast Lifts, and correction of Breast Asymmetries.

Quick Facts:

Length: 1 hour
Anesthesia: General
Outpatient
Recovery: 1-3 days. Most patients are back to normal light daily activities in 1 day.

Before & After

Patient #1095

Before:

After:

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PREPARING FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION

Smoking and all forms of nicotine should be stopped 2-4 weeks prior to breast surgery. This includes e-cigarettes, patches, and gum.

Any medications and supplements which cause an increased risk of bleeding should be stopped 2 weeks prior to any major surgery. Please see our list of medications and supplements to avoid. As always, make sure to check with your doctor before stopping any medications.

Breast Augmentation Technique:

Your surgeon will make a small incision either in the fold under your breast, or at the bottom of your areola. A precise pocket will be created under the breast using meticulous technique and minimal tissue trauma. A temporary sizer will be placed ensuring the implant selected will match your desired look, and ensure the breasts are as symmetrical as possible. Once a great size and shape has been confirmed, they will irrigate everything with a special antibiotic solution as part of our standard process to minimize infections and future capsular contractures. Our surgeons then use a Keller Funnel to gently insert the implant into the surgical pocket. This allows smaller incisions to be used and ensures the implant never touches your skin, further decreasing infection risks. Once they ensure everything looks amazing, your surgeon meticulously closes the incision in several layers of absorbable sutures and places a special skin glue to help seal out bacteria and waterproof the area.

Recovery From Breast Augmentation:

Breast augmentation patients are able to return to the comfort of their homes later that day. Most women will feel sore for a few days but still be able to eat, shower, bathe, etc. without much issue. Pain pump catheters are removed in 3 days, and your first postoperative visit with your surgeon is in 1 week. Most women plan to take 3-5 days off of work during the initial recovery. Plan to minimize lifting to no more than 5 pounds for the first week. You can gradually increase activities after that time, with return to light exercises in 2 weeks, and full activities 6 weeks postoperatively.

As the breast tissue (and nerves) get stretched during the augmentation process, it is normal to have some changes to nipple sensation (hypersensitivity vs. numbness). Tightness or pressure in the chest area will improve as the muscles relax and your body gets accustomed to the new implants. Your surgeon may prescribe muscle relaxant medication to assist you in remaining comfortable during this time.

Plan to wear your postoperative support bra and/or band at all times other than bathing for the first few weeks to all the implants to heal in the right position.

FAQS:

A: Breast augmentation is blend of art and science. Our surgeons will take specific measurements and assess your breast tissues to attain a good volumetric estimate of a small range of implant sizes that will work best. You will then have the chance to try on these sizes with a special silicone sizing system in our office. Make sure to bring an unpadded bra and form fitting shirt(s) to help you evaluate your new look. Your surgeon will use this information to guide final implant size in the operating room based on your desires and intraoperative appearance.

A: Our surgeons prefer to use a small incision hidden within the fold of your breast. This allows direct access underneath the breast tissue while minimizing or avoiding contact of the implant with the breast ducts which harbor bacteria. This helps keep infection and capsular contracture rates exceedingly low. This scar often becomes imperceptible after a few months. Occasionally an incision may be placed below or around your areola for access if a small lift or reduction in the size or your areolas will be performed concurrently. Our surgeons avoid the armpit incision as they feel it leads to higher risk of future complications.

A: During your consultation, your surgeon will explain the pros and cons of each implant while you get a chance to handle and feel the implants yourself. We routinely use all of the various implants, and will make you feel at ease in choosing what is best for you. The workhorse implant for initial augmentations is the smooth round implant as it gives an amazing look that can range from full cleavage to a very inconspicuous, natural appearing result depending on your desires. Very tall, thin women may prefer a shaped implant so that more of their chest height can be enhanced while still keeping the implant narrow. Sometimes a textured implant will be recommended if you developed any firmness to your breasts after a prior augmentation.

A: This depends on a variety of factors. Generally speaking, the average saline filled implant will last 8-13 years, but it is not uncommon for many of these to still be holding up for far longer. We routinely use the latest, 5th generation of silicone implants that are highly cohesive, maintain their shape well, and are anticipated to last 20-30 years. However, keep in mind these are not considered lifetime devices, and they may need to be replaced at some point in the future. Your surgeon will continue to see you throughout the lifetime of your implant to evaluate your breast health and implant integrity.

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