As one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States, many women choose a breast augmentation to enhance their breast size. However, determining the details to suit your needs—including implant type, projection, and placement—can be a considerable challenge, one that often benefits from the guidance of a renowned expert.
With decades of experience performing breast augmentations, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Brent Faulkner has perfected his surgical techniques to deliver exceptional, personalized results for every patient. Whether you hope to address breast asymmetry, increase cup size, or restore volume lost after pregnancy and breastfeeding, Dr. Faulkner can help you reach your aesthetic goals.
Continue reading for a comprehensive overview of everything Dr. Faulkner wants you to know before scheduling your breast augmentation near Bethesda, MD. To begin creating your personalized procedure plan at Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, please call or request an appointment online.
What Is a Breast Augmentation?
A breast augmentation procedure increases the size and shape of the breasts using implants. Also referred to as a “boob job,” or “breast aug,” a breast augmentation is entirely customizable to your aesthetic goals.
Dr. Faulkner primarily recommends breast augmentations to patients who want to enhance the appearance of their breasts. This includes women wanting to correct breast asymmetry, which occurs when one breast is smaller than the other.
Breast augmentations can also help patients who have lost breast volume after pregnancy. A mother’s breasts can increase 2 to 3 times in size during lactation, but once done breastfeeding, milk duct shrinkage can cause the breasts to deflate. A breast augmentation serves as an effective solution for mothers hoping to recreate their pre-pregnancy shape.
How to Personalize Your Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentations are a highly customizable procedure. Dr. Faulker can tailor every aspect of your breast augmentation to create the feminine silhouette you desire.
Here is a brief overview of the personalization options available to you.
Implant Type
To begin, Dr. Faulkner can help you decide between silicone and saline implants for your breast augmentation near Bethesda, MD.
Saline implants contain a sterile saltwater solution within a protective shell. Dr. Faulkner recommends saline implants to patients who want a uniform shape and feel. These implants are also FDA-approved for patients aged 18 years or older.
Silicone implants are made of a silicone gel encased by an outer shell. Many patients describe silicone implants as feeling most similar to natural breast tissue. Silicone implants also come in teardrop shapes, creating a natural-looking droop at the bottom of the breasts. These implants are FDA-approved for patients aged 22 years or older.
Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices. Dr. Faulkner cautions you may need to consider replacing them 10 to 15 years post surgery to minimize the risk of implant rupture or other complications.
Implant Profile
An implant’s profile refers to how much it projects, or sticks out, from the chest wall.
Low-profile implants project minimally from the chest and are relatively flat. This implant projection often best suits women with a wider chest.
Moderate-profile implants fall between low- and high-profile implants, creating more natural enhancements. Dr. Faulkner recommends moderate-profile implants to women with smaller or narrower chests.
High-profile implants provide maximum projection for a rounder appearance. These implants often have a narrower base to create the fullest results and are best suited for petite women.
Dr. Faulkner can help you determine which implant projection can help you achieve your goals by taking your unique body characteristics and ideal results into consideration.
Implant Placement
Breast implants are placed either in front of or behind the breast muscles, depending on your personal preferences.
Subglandular placement, or over-the-muscle placement, inserts the breast implant between the chest muscle and breast tissue. This placement prevents excessive movement during physical activity, and patients may experience less discomfort after surgery. Over-the-muscle placements also allow women to breastfeed in the future.
Submuscular placement, otherwise known as under-the-muscle placement, places the implant entirely under the chest muscle. Under-the-muscle placements create more natural-looking results. They also interfere less with mammograms.
Dr. Faulkner examines your chest muscle density and breast tissue before providing recommendations based on your anatomy.
The Breast Augmentation Process at Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics
Dr. Faulkner wants to help you create your ideal breast shape and profile. Here is an overview of what you can expect when you work with Dr. Faulkner for your breast augmentation near Bethesda, MD.
Schedule Your Consultation
Booking a consultation with Dr. Faulkner is the first step in your breast augmentation process and an opportunity to get to know Dr. Faulkner and learn about his expertise.
During your consultation, Dr. Faulkner will ask you about your aesthetic goals. He will have you describe the areas you want to enhance, issues you want to correct, and your ideal end results.
Next, Dr. Faulkner will discuss and share examples of various implant sizes to help you understand your preferences. He will also educate you about the different placements and answer any questions you may have.
Finally, Dr. Faulkner will conduct an examination of your breasts, analyzing your chest size and breast muscles to provide the best recommendations based on your anatomy. Using the information from your consultation and examination, you and Dr. Faulkner will work together to create your procedure plan.
Prepare for Your Procedure
In the 6 weeks leading up to your breast augmentation near Bethesda, you must quit smoking. Cigarettes and other tobacco products can slow the healing process and increase your risk of complications.
Dr. Faulkner also recommends you avoid blood-thinning medications like ibuprofen and Aspirin at least 1 to 2 weeks before surgery. Be sure to alert Dr. Faulkner of any other medications you take during your initial consultation.
On the day or morning before surgery, shower and wash your skin with Hibiclens, an antibacterial soap. Dr. Faulkner also recommends wearing loose-fitting clothing on the day of your procedure.
Your Breast Augmentation – Surgery Day
To begin your procedure, you are placed under general anesthesia, which keeps you asleep and unconscious throughout surgery.
Dr. Faulkner then makes an incision in one of the following areas:
- In the inframammary fold, the natural crease underneath your breast.
- Along the edge of your areola, creating a periareolar incision.
- In the armpit, through what is known as the transaxillary approach.
He then places the implant through the incision either in front of or behind the chest muscle. If you have chosen saline implants, Dr. Faulkner places the implant into the breast pocket empty and fills it once it is positioned correctly.
After aligning your implants behind the nipple, Dr. Faulkner inserts a drainage tube and closes your incisions with sutures. He then applies bandages and places a surgical support garment over your breasts.
The entire breast augmentation process takes approximately 4 hours to complete. Your surgery timeline may vary if you are combining your breast augmentation with an additional procedure.
Recovering From Your Surgery
Immediately after your breast augmentation near Bethesda, you are taken to a recovery room. Here, you are monitored as you wake up from anesthesia. Dr. Faulkner will visit you to make sure you are recovering properly.
You must arrange a ride home from surgery, as the lingering effects of anesthesia prevent you from driving home safely. If they are able, Dr. Faulkner recommends having that person stay with you throughout your first day of recovery to provide assistance and support. At that time, he will ask you to make your first follow-up appointment with his office, which is generally in 2 or 3 days.
In the days following your procedure, you may experience redness, swelling, and bruising in your treatment area. Dr. Faulkner gives you a pain medication prescription to help reduce any discomfort. You must also wear your surgical support garments at all times, aside from when bathing.
Avoid raising your arms above your head in the weeks after surgery to keep your incisions from opening. Dr. Faulkner also recommends taking a break from your workout routine and skipping strenuous physical activity for up to 4 to 6 weeks.
Other things you can do to ensure your recovery runs as smoothly as possible include:
- Sleep with your upper body elevated.
- Keep the incisions clean and dry.
- Monitor for signs of infection or other severe complications.
- Go for light walks to increase circulation.
- Attend all follow-up appointments.
- Follow all recovery instructions as provided by Dr. Faulkner.
Post-Procedure Results
You may notice your breasts feel firm in the initial days after your procedure, but they should soften in the following weeks. Most patients’ breasts begin to lower and appear more natural in the months after surgery as swelling continues to go down.
Your results depend entirely on the implant type, profile, and placement outlined in your procedure plan. Dr. Faulkner will give you a better idea of what to expect after your procedure during your initial consultation and subsequent follow-ups.
Entrust Dr. Faulkner With Your Breast Augmentation
A breast augmentation near Bethesda, MD, has helped countless patients create a more feminine profile that matches their aesthetic goals. Dr. Faulkner settles for nothing short of exceptional, ensuring your desires are met every step of the way.
Your breast augmentation journey starts at Faulkner Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics. Please call or request an appointment online to start creating your treatment plan.
Want to address saggy boobs with a breast lift? Interested in combining your breast augmentation with another cosmetic procedure? Visit Dr. Faulkner’s blog to learn more about other breast procedures he can perform.
