For a variety of personal reasons all their own, women may want to change the size, shape, or feel of their breasts. At Pure Cosmetic Center, our surgical goal is to provide those women with safe, natural-looking, and aesthetically beautiful results in a warm and comfortable environment.
Many of our high-profile patients prefer to be private with their cosmetic procedures and prefer that their photographs not be placed online. At your consultation, you will be shown photographs of patients who have given us permission to display their before and after pictures.
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Also known as augmentation mammoplasty, breast augmentation is any surgical procedure designed to increase the size of a woman’s breasts.
For our patients in Bedford breast augmentation may utilize synthetic breast implants or a woman’s own body fat to enhance breast size. Depending on the surgical technique chosen by you and your doctor, implants may be positioned underneath your chest muscles or on top of them.
Breast augmentation can be performed using artificial implants filled with either saline solution or a synthetic substance known as silicone. Each type of implant has particular characteristics and benefits, which we will describe in detail.
Some women may not want artificial implants but still would like to have additional breast volume. This can often be achieved using a technique known as fat grafting or fat transfer. The procedure uses liposuction to take fat from other parts of your body, often from your abdomen or thighs. The harvested fat is then injected into your breasts. Fat transfer can be an excellent option for women seeking a modest and natural-looking increase in breast size.
Breast lift surgery is not to be confused with breast augmentation. A breast lift raises your breasts by reshaping and tightening breast tissue. But breast lift surgery does not change the size of your breasts. It is possible to combine breast augmentation with a breast lift.
Communication between doctor and patient is vital in achieving safe and optimal results from breast augmentation surgery. Decisions must be made regarding the surgical technique chosen and the size, type, texture, shape, and projection of the implants selected.
Be candid and forthcoming about your goals and preferences. And never forget that you are doing this for yourself. Ask lots of questions and expect straight and precise answers.
Dr. Lee will thoroughly review your medical history and will take the time to explain all of your options. If you decide to proceed with breast augmentation Bedford plastic surgeon Dr. Lee will develop a customized surgical plan to address your objectives. You will likely need some pre-surgical lab work and a mammogram. For a specified period before and after your procedure, Dr. Lee will direct you to suspend the use of any supplement or medication — such as aspirin-based analgesics — that might elevate surgical bleeding levels.
Remember that the idea is to enhance your overall appearance and happiness. Dr. Lee will make a series of measurements and take multiple photographs to give you a preview of how you might look with the size of the implants you select.
Silicone implants are filled with a synthetic plastic gel, while saline implants contain sterilized salt water.
Some women say silicone implants look and feel more natural than saline implants. However, a silicone implant rupture or leak can cause complications. If a saline implant ruptures, the saltwater is harmlessly absorbed by your body.
Since saline implants are inflated only after they are placed in your chest, they generally require smaller incisions than silicone implants.
Over the past decade, silicone implants have become more widely used in breast augmentation surgery.
Smooth implants feel soft and can move around within the breast implant pocket created in your chest by your surgeon. Textured implants generate scar tissue that sticks to the implant, providing additional stability. So-called “gummy bear” implants are form-stable implants that retain their shape even if the implant's shell is broken.
Round implants create more fullness at the tops of your breasts. Teardrop implants have more slope at the top, mimicking the shape of natural breasts.
High-profile breast implants provide the most breast projection. They have narrow base widths, which give implants a fuller and rounder appearance. Conversely, low-profile implants have the widest base width, resulting in the least projection. As the term implies, moderate profiles split the difference.
Breast augmentation surgery is performed using general anesthesia and typically takes 1-2 hours. After your implants have been properly placed and aligned, your surgeon will close your incisions with either sutures, surgical tape, or both. Gauze dressings will be applied to your breasts, and you may have post-surgical drainage tubes.
While breast augmentation is most often performed as an outpatient procedure — meaning you can go home the same day of your surgery — in some cases, your doctor may require you to stay overnight in the hospital.
Depending on your body type, your choice of implants, and the extent of augmentation you desire, your surgeon will select one of four incision techniques.
Bedford plastic surgeon Dr. Dave Lee is a Stanford-educated and board-certified physician who has earned a reputation as one of the country’s leading plastic surgeons. Highly skilled, trained, and experienced, he also possesses an eye for human aesthetic beauty. Artist and scientist Dr. Lee is a concert pianist whose hands produce surgical results worthy of a standing ovation!
Since your surgery will be performed using general anesthesia, you will feel nothing during the procedure. However, post-surgically, there will be some discomfort. While over-the-counter medications are often sufficient for pain management, Dr. Lee can prescribe stronger medication as needed and appropriate. Typically, your soreness will disappear within three weeks.
All surgeries come with risks such as infection, bleeding, poor wound healing, excessive scarring, and allergic reaction to medications or materials. Risks specific to breast augmentation include:
Following your surgery, call your doctor immediately if you experience:
Breast augmentation is regarded as a safe procedure when performed by a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon.
No. Implants generally need to be replaced every ten years. Note that you will need an MRI exam three years after your surgery and every two years after that to check for implant leakage.
While patients can generally go home the same day of their surgery, your doctor may require an overnight hospital stay.
Most women report that breast augmentation does not interfere with breastfeeding. Some have found breastfeeding to be challenging.
The risk is slight, but changes in nipple sensation and sensitivity have been reported.
Costs will vary according to the type and extent of your procedure and the type of implants you select. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports the average cost of breast augmentation is $3,800. Discuss thoroughly with your doctor about costs and financing options before scheduling your surgery.
Your beauty is a symphony. Don’t trust it to anyone less than a true performer and a master at his craft. Boston and Chelmsford plastic surgeon, Dr. Dave Lee brings the virtuosity of a concert pianist and the artistry of a renowned plastic surgeon to each procedure. Schedule a consultation today to discover why patients across New England are singing the praises of Dr. Lee and his staff at PURE Cosmetic Center.
Chelmsford Office
15 Village Square,
Chelmsford, MA 01824
