Getting a breast augmentation typically means getting breast implants. These implants will either be filled with a saline-solution or silicone-gel and inserted through an incision. Interesting fact: soy oil and polypropylene string used to also be used as implant fillers; for various reasons these types of implants are no longer manufactured. There are five different […]
Body Sculpting for Swimsuit Season
We’ve all seen these ads: beautiful, slim models wearing gorgeous, expensive swimsuits. The catalogs come in the mail; the TV weight-loss ads push swimsuit-clad women touting their amazing results; and women’s magazines, lined up in the candy aisle at the grocery check-out, are chock-a-block with stunning women in bikinis. Inside, we realize that these are hyped up images geared to motivate us to buy: the magazine, the swimsuit, the weight-loss program. But most women also feel a twinge of self-doubt looking at these photos. Perfection is not just offered—the subliminal message is clear: if you don’t have a body like this, you aren’t attractive. I think that’s a shame, as I’ve been working with thousands of men and women all over Michigan for many years, and not a single one of them were unattractive. Sure, they had features they wanted to change, but that was to make them happier with their appearance—not to make them supermodels. There isn’t a surgical procedure that I can perform to change your body into that of the Photoshopped images in the magazines, but there are several that we can think about that will improve your appearance a great deal. Here are some of them.
What Happens in a Breast Augmentation Consultation?
The most important appointment we’ll have together is your consultation. After examining your breasts and hearing your goals for enhancement, I’ll take multiple measurements to insure that the right fit is accomplished. Following this, you’ll have the opportunity to insert various sizes of breast implants into a soft jog-bra, so you can estimate the results.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your consultation:
- Bring a low-cut, white tee shirt to wear so you can clearly evaluate the amount of cleavage that occurs with various implant sizes.
- Bring your Significant Other or close friend with you for feedback. This is a big decision so it’s helpful to have “outside” advice.
- When you’ve settled on a size, I’ll come back into the consultation room to see what you’ve decided and give my feedback as well.
- Take photos of yourself with the various implants in your bra from the front and the side. Be sure to label them so you know what sizes you inserted in each photo. Tip: write the size on a piece of paper and hold the paper in front of the camera in a corner of the shot. Easy!
Size Matters—But Size Isn’t Everything!
My objective in every breast augmentation is to create natural results with breast implants that compliment my patients’ body shape, lifestyle and personal goals for enhancement.
Two Limiting Factors in Breast Implant Size
Current Breast Size
Your current breast size determines the amount of breast tissue available to cover your breast implants. If you have very small breasts and taut skin, some implants are too large to be covered. Does this mean you can’t “go large”? No. It means that, if you wish to enlarge your breasts more than 2 cup sizes, you may have to increase implant size in stages to avoid stretch marks and/or tissue damage.
Shoulder and Chest Width
Nobody wants their breasts to extend beyond the sides of the rib cage, i.e., “side boob.” For this reason, I carefully measure the width of your breasts so that the results are attractive both when viewed from the front and the side.
Breast Augmentation Basics
Breast augmentation is an outpatient plastic surgery procedure to increase the size of your breasts. Performed on healthy adult women, studies show that this procedure increases self-esteem—and even sexual satisfaction—among women who have it. Breast implant options have steadily increased over the past 20 years, with the availability of multiple sizes, profiles, shapes, textures and materials. Although it’s great to have all these options, it can be intimidating. Fortunately, my Michigan breast augmentation patients have my team and me to guide them! In the meantime, here are some tips:
