Breast Augmentation

Benefits of a Breast Augmentation

There are many improvements that breast augmentation can bring to your life, including:

• Corrected breast tissue sagging
• Balanced body contours
• Improved breast symmetry
• Boosted self-confidence
• Better fitting clothing
• Improved social confidence
• Stronger feelings of femininity

Why So Many Desire Breast Augmentations

Many different factors can cause someone to feel unhappy with their breast appearance. Some feel they would prefer to have larger breasts than they already have, but some concerns can even cause someone who has sufficient breast size to also turn to implants. Gravity, the natural aging process, weight fluctuation, pregnancy — all of these things are equally responsible for damage to our breast appearance. 

The most common is the natural aging process. As we get older and gravity has the opportunity to take a more considerable toll on our tissue, breasts are one of the parts of our bodies that experience noticeable changes. Even if we are wearing supportive undergarments, the natural weight that our breasts place on themselves eventually stretches the surrounding tissue. 

Of course, this breakdown is also exacerbated by our body’s structural decline as well. Collagen and elastin are two essential proteins when it comes to keeping our skin taut. Unfortunately for our appearances, collagen is the most prominent component, and it also starts to decline at a rate of 1% a year after the age of 20. 

If you are prone to weight fluctuations, then you likely have additional damage to your breast structure. As we gain weight, our skin grows to accommodate for the extra mass. Unfortunately, this means when we finally shed the weight, many parts of our body appear deflated or droopy. Since many women hold a fair amount of fat in their breasts, they are a common area of concern for people who have achieved weight loss. 

Similarly, pregnancy poses many of the same problems that weight fluctuation does. Weight gain is expected during pregnancy, but your breasts also take on additional mass when they begin to develop milk. Plus, breastfeeding itself causes damage to the integrity of the nearby tissue. When you are finished breastfeeding, most moms are left with severe cases of breast ptosis and deflation. 

For many women, though, breast size is a sore spot because they do not have the amount of breast tissue to make them feel confident in their femininity. This sentiment is widespread and also easy to correct through breast augmentation. 

We offer breast augmentations because women who want to improve their breast size and appearance do not have another option. Surgery is the only way to correct moderate and severe cases of skin ptosis and the only way to enlarge the size of a bust dramatically. 

Breast Augmentation Candidates

If you are looking to improve the appearance of your breasts through increased size or deflation correction, you are likely a candidate for this procedure. There are very few factors that could cause someone to be ineligible for a boob job, and even if there is a condition that poses an additional risk, it may be possible to work around it with a skilled surgeon like Dr. Terrasse. 

Patient safety is our first priority, so we always tell our patients that any amount of smoking, nicotine use, excessive alcohol consumption, or drug use increases the likelihood that they experience a complication during the surgery or recovery process. 

We may also ask that certain medications or supplements change in the weeks leading up to the procedure or during the recovery period. We will provide you with specific instructions about these changes to know exactly what changes are being made and why. 

Someone considering breast augmentation must have a clear expectation about what the surgery can achieve. Improvements to breast size, shape, and projection can be achieved through this procedure, but the surgery alone cannot guarantee the happiness of the individual. Doing ample amounts of research, asking questions during your consultation and looking at plenty of before and after photos will best prepare you for your physical results, but introspection is the best determinate of whether changing one’s breast size and shape is the real issue. .

If you do not have realistic expectations, you will likely be disappointed with your results, even in an otherwise successful operation. Bring up any concerns you have to our staff so we can help provide you with helpful information. 

Preparing for Breast Augmentation

It is important to follow all of the preoperative instructions given by Dr. Tarrasse to ensure a safe and effective surgery and recovery. We recommend that all of our patients take some time before their procedure to set themselves up with a recovery station. 

Make sure you have a dedicated recovery area at home and stock it with all of the necessities. Snacks, drinks, remotes, devices, chargers, magazines, books — anything that will make you more comfortable after your breast augmentation. This prevents you from getting up to often in the early stages of your recovery and damaging your stitches or wounds. 

Breast Augmentation Options

During your initial consultation at Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery, Dr. Terrasse will examine you and take measurements of your chest, document with photography your dimensions and proportions, and then you will spend some time talking about your goals and options. Though breast augmentation has been available for many years, there have been ongoing advancements in technique, as well as more implant choices. Some of the options you will need to consider include:

Size – Implants can improve your body contour by making your breasts more proportional to your body, so size is an important consideration.

Shape – Round implants are the traditional choice, though implants are now made in a teardrop shape as well.

Profile – Implants are now made with varying “profiles” – meaning that you can choose how far the implant projects from the chest wall

Material – Saline or silicone? Cohesive gel or “gummy bear”? There are advantages to each type, so your decision will be based on your desired results.

Placement – under the breast itself (sub-glandular) or under the pectoral muscle (sub-muscular). Placement is determined according to your existing breast tissue and desired look.

Dr. Terrasse will go over any questions you might have about any of the above options, and help you determine implant that will provide you with the best possible results. He is proud to offer the Vectra 3D Breast Imaging and Simulation system, which gives you a tangible idea of what you can expect from different implant options.

Results of Breast Augmentation

The results of your breast augmentation procedure are considered permanent, although they can be affected by fluctuations in weight, hormones, and the natural aging process. If the changes are noticeable, you can undergo breast revision surgery at a later date to address any issues.

If your breasts are having a negative effect on your body image and self-confidence, breast augmentation surgery may be the solution. Call Terrasse Aesthetic Surgery today at 847-234-2400 to schedule a consultation. Let us help you achieve a beautiful, natural look and feel, restoring your confidence in your body.

Combining Your Breast Augmentation

In most cases, we highly suggest at least discussing the possibility of combining cosmetic or “make-over” procedures if you eventually plan on having more than one. Sometimes this is not practical or appropriate, but other times it is one way to combine recovery time into one span of time and possibly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

If you are interested in combining procedures, please bring this up so that all of your questions and concerns can be addressed thoroughly. We can help create a treatment plan that will achieve your goals in the safest and most efficient way possible. 

Here is a list of some of the most common procedures to combine with breast augmentation:

• Breast Lift
• Liposuction
• Tummy tuck
• Arm lift
• Nipple refinement

Let Dr. Terrasse know if you have a procedure in mind that you would like performed alongside your breast augmentation but do not see it listed. We may still be able to fit it into your overall plan or develop a strategy to address the concern differently.