Breast Augmentation

Achieving a Natural Look

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Advanced Aesthetic Surgery offers residents of the Atlanta and Marietta area world-class breast augmentation (breast enlargement) performed by a compassionate doctor. Board-certified plastic surgeon Thomas Lintner, MD does not employ a “bigger is better” approach to breast augmentation. He wants his patients to have breast implants that fit their body. As a caring surgeon, Dr. Lintner bases his breast enlargement recommendations on an individual’s needs and on achieving a natural look.

When planning for breast augmentation surgery, patients must consider placement and size of their breast implants. Dr. Lintner will review the advantages of placing saline or silicone breast implants under the muscle instead of over the muscle. He also wants patients to be aware of the possible incision locations when deciding on breast enlargement.

Many patients are concerned about complications and recovery time for breast enlargement. Aware of these concerns, Dr. Lintner reviews possible complications with all of his breast augmentation patients prior to surgery. If appropriate, Dr. Lintner can also discuss the possibility of combining your breast surgery with a tummy tuck or liposuction.

There is much information to consider following the decision to pursue breast augmentation and Dr. Lintner will be there to guide you through every step of surgery. We encourage you to read through the information below to gain an understanding of what the breast augmentation process entails, and invite you to contact our practice if you have any questions or wish to schedule a consultation.

What is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is designed to enhance the proportions of the breasts in relation to your unique figure with the use of saline or silicone implants. As one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the country, breast augmentation is capable of achieving a spectrum of aesthetic goals related to enlarged breast size, enhanced contours, or a more symmetrical breast appearance—offering results that can appear exceptionally natural. Many women undergo breast augmentation to fulfill long-held desires for breast enhancement, while a large portion of patients also pursue the procedure to restore breast volume lost after pregnancy and breastfeeding. In any case, breast augmentation can offer eligible candidates increased breast volume, as well as improved shape and symmetry, for many years—even decades—to come.

What Are the Benefits of Breast Augmentation?

Women in good health who wish to have fuller and/or more symmetrical breasts that are proportionate to their body type are considered ideal candidates for breast augmentation. Depending on their unique wants and needs, individuals who qualify as candidates for this procedure can benefit from the procedure in a number of ways.

During your consultation, Dr. Lintner will ask you to discuss your individual concerns, allowing him to create a customized treatment plan that can best address your aesthetic goals.

  • Increased breast size and volume
  • Improved breast symmetry
  • Post-breastfeeding volume loss can be restored
  • Repositioned nipple/areola
  • More self-confidence
  • Additional clothing/fit options

Do I Need a Breast Augmentation and Lift?

Ideal breast augmentation candidates should have good skin quality, but individuals who exhibit some skin laxity may benefit from combining a breast lift with their procedure. A breast lift is performed to address breasts that have descended from their natural positioning as a result of gravity, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or the natural aging process. While a breast augmentation alone cannot substantially improve the look of breast sag, a comprehensive breast lift with implants procedure can be a highly effective technique to raise and reshape the breasts, making them appear more youthful and projected, in addition to achieving volume enhancement. If you exhibit lax breast skin, or you simply desire more extensive rejuvenation than a breast augmentation can provide, a breast augmentation with a lift may be able to address your concerns more fully. Dr. Lintner can suggest the best treatment options for your unique needs and goals during a consultation.

What Are My Breast Implant Options?

Women are now able to choose silicone breast implants for breast augmentation. Approved by the FDA in November 2006, silicone breast implants create soft, natural looking enhancements.

In January 2011, the FDA released an advisory statement for women with breast implants. The FDA has not changed the status or availability of breast implants and has reaffirmed that the devices are safe and effective. Please click here for more information. We will continue to follow this story and provide more information as it comes to light.

FDA data shows no correlation between silicone breast implants and disease. Potential long-term complications include leakage and the hardening of the implant pocket; however, these conditions are rare. Dr. Thomas Lintner places such a premium on patient safety that long after his patients are healed and back to normal, he continues to see his patients annually, free of charge until he retires, for a thorough examination. If any problems are found during these free follow-up visits, they can be diagnosed and treated quickly.

Learn More About Breast Implants

How Is the Breast Augmentation Procedure Performed?

Everyone is different, so Dr. Lintner creates a personalized treatment plan for each of his patients. This customized approach can allow you to achieve the most ideal size in relation to your unique body proportions and within the context of your cosmetic goals. Dr. Lintner performs breast augmentation as an outpatient procedure at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Hospital. Surgery usually takes between one to two hours, depending on the details of your treatment plan. Each procedure will vary from patient to patient—Dr. Lintner will select the most appropriate technique for each patient to achieve beautiful, natural-looking results.

Breast Augmentation Incisions

The incisions for breast augmentation can be made in several different locations and the right approach is recommended by a patient’s desires, physical appearance, and the clothing styles they choose to wear. Incisions are typically placed:

Over the Muscle
Over the Muscle
Under the Muscle
Under the Muscle

Breast Implant Placement

Breast implants are placed either under the muscle, which is the most common approach, or over the muscle. Depending on your unique body proportions, Dr. Lintner can recommend the best possible placement for your implants.

Placing the implant under the muscle has several advantages:

  • The breasts will not sag as much over time (i.e. they will not age as quickly when compared to an over-the-muscle technique).
  • The breasts will not harden as much over time and there is a lower rate of capsular contracture.
  • The breasts are less likely to have an unnatural “coconut-shaped” look.
  • Mammograms are more effectively performed.

The only disadvantages to placing an implant under the muscle are that the technique can require a relatively longer recovery period, and there may be some pulling in of the breast skin when working the pectoralis (chest) muscles. Ultimately, the advantages frequently outweigh the disadvantages. In most cases, Dr. Lintner prefers to place breast implants under the muscle, but certain individuals may benefit from subglandular (above the muscle) placement.

What is Breast Augmentation Recovery Like?

After surgery, patients will need a family member or friend to drive them home. Dr. Lintner encourages patients to rest for about an hour after they arrive home, but recommends getting up and moving around shortly thereafter. Driving can be resumed once patients have ceased use of pain medications for at least 24 hours. Individuals should avoid strenuous activity for approximately six to eight weeks after surgery. Most patients are able to return to work and their daily activities after about two weeks of recovery. Light exercise may be resumed after four weeks; however, weights and more vigorous exercises should be avoided for six weeks or longer, depending on what type of activity you are doing. When resuming more difficult activities, Dr. Lintner encourages patients to take it easy and ease back into your routine.

Patients often feel tired and sore for a few days after surgery, and will experience a bit of tightness in their chest area. Any mild discomfort can usually be alleviated with medication. Dr. Lintner will provide customized aftercare instructions for each of his patients – adhering to his advice can help ensure you achieve the best possible results and minimize any chance of complications.

Dr. Lintner will conduct follow-up appointments for breast augmentation patients at one week, six weeks, three months, six months, and one year. He also encourages patients to continue to return each year for a complimentary check-up appointment, ensuring any potential issues can be found and addressed as soon as possible. In the extremely rare event that a patient no longer desires her implants, Dr. Lintner will remove them for a materials fee only. However, he recommends that patients live with their implants for a while to try to become comfortable with the change.

Will I Have Breast Augmentation Scars?

Scars from breast augmentation generally mirror the incision technique used to place the implants. Depending on your specific treatment plan, scars may appear at the borders of the areola, along the inframammary fold, or within a fold of the underarm. When the procedure is performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, incisions can be made very discreetly for minimized post-surgical scarring. Dr. Lintner takes great care to place incisions in the natural creases and contours of the breasts whenever possible for an exceptionally natural-looking result. Furthermore, following Dr. Lintner’s instructions on proper wound care can increase the likelihood of breast augmentation scars fading over time.

What Breast Augmentation Complications Are Possible?

Implants are considered very safe and are not known to cause breast cancer or any other diseases. In fact, the FDA, as well as plastic surgeons as a whole, have determined that implant patients may have a lower incidence of breast cancer. The only long-term risks associated with breast implants include leakage (1 percent or less in Dr. Lintner’s hands) and hardening of the implant pocket (4 percent risk with saline; 8 percent risk with silicone).

In general, there are six things to know about complications regarding breast augmentation:

How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?

According to 2022 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of breast augmentation is approximately $4,516. That said, due to the customizable nature of the procedure, breast augmentation cost can vary from patient to patient. The total price depends on the type of implants selected, surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, hospital/facility fee, medications, compression garments, and more. To help make the cost more manageable, we offer plastic surgery financing through Parasail and Prosper Healthcare lending. A surgeon’s skill and experience are usually factored into the price, as well, so any surgery that is heavily discounted is probably best to avoid.

Additional Breast Augmentation FAQs

 

Contact Advanced Aesthetic Surgery

If you are interested in breast enlargement with breast implants, contact Advanced Aesthetic Surgery to schedule a consultation.