Dr. Stephen Colen of Colen MD Plastic Surgery discusses options for Breast Augmentation.

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Breast Augmentation Surgery at ColenMD

The placement of Breast Implants is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the U.S. and one of our most popular services performed at our New York City and Bergen County Hackensack, New Jersey office.

Breast augmentation — also known as augmentation mammoplasty — is a surgical procedure to increase breast size. During breast augmentation, breast implants are placed under the breast tissue or chest muscles.

Am I A Candidate for Breast Augmentation Surgery?

Breast augmentation can give women with small or unevenly sized breasts a fuller, firmer, better-proportioned look through the placement of saline or silicone implants in the breast. Our Manhattan and New Jersey patients elect to undergo breast augmentation for many different medical and aesthetic reasons. These include:

Enhancing your breast appearance if you feel your breasts are too small or you’re concerned that one breast is smaller than the other
Adjusting for reduction of breast mass after pregnancy
Reconstructing the breast after surgery such as mastectomy
Correcting a congenital breast defect
Improving self-confidence or self-image

Fully Customized Breast Enhancement at ColenMD

We know that every woman is unique in both her desires and her body shape. With that in mind, when patients visit our New York and Bergen County New Jersey office we take the time during the pre-operative consultations to learn what each patient hopes to gain from breast augmentation surgery and to decide which implant type and implant placement is best. In this way, every one of our patients enjoys completely customized treatment designed with her specific goals in mind.

Dr. Helen Colen discusses options for Breast Lift and Augmentation with Regis Philbin

Complimentary Breast Enhancement Procedures Available at ColenMD

Many women have discovered how breast augmentation can achieve dramatic and beautiful results on its own. Patients can, however, also combine breast implants in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery or non-invasive procedures. For example, we sometimes recommend combining breast augmentation with other procedures such as a breast lift for more satisfying results. The reason is because a breast augmentation surgery will not correct sagging. Breast augmentation increases the size or volume of the breast. Breast augmentation combined with a breast lift will both increase the breast size and lift the breast back into a more youthful position.

Deciding between Saline & Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Breast implants are silicone shells filled with either saline (salt water) or silicone gel. Saline implants are inserted empty, and then filled with sterile salt water once they’re in place. Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel. Both implant types are very safe, and each offers its own advantages. When you arrive for your pre-operative consultation at our Park Avenue or Bergen County Hackensack office, Drs. Helen Colen, Steven Colen, or Kari Colen will help you decide which implant type is right for you. During surgery, we will place the breast implants behind each breast, underneath either breast tissue, or the chest wall muscle. When the implant is in place, the incision will be closed — typically with stitches (sutures) — and bandaged with skin adhesive and surgical tape.

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After many years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved silicone breast implants for breast augmentation surgery. We are proud to offer patients the option of silicone gel-filled breast implants, since some people believe they are much softer and feel more natural than saline-filled breast implants.

Breast Augmentation Surgery Incision Technique Offered at ColenMD

The breast augmentation procedure lasts one to two hours and is typically performed with general anesthesia. Incisions are made in inconspicuous places on the breast to minimize scar visibility. These may be located:

In the armpit (transaxillary),
In the crease on the underside of the breast (inframammary), or
Around the areola, the dark skin around the nipple (periareolar).

The breast is then lifted, creating a pocket into which the implant is inserted.

Saline breast implants may also be placed endoscopically through an incision in the navel. This breast augmentation technique is known as a transumbilical breast augmentation or TUBA approach. However, we discourage this approach as it limits where the implant can be placed. Dr. Helen Colen, Dr. Steven Colen, or Dr. Kari Colen can explain in further detail and answer any of your questions about incision placement and recovery during your pre-operative consultation at ColenMD.

Breast Augmentation Surgery – Placement Options

Breast implant placement beneath the muscle of the chest offers a few advantages over placement beneath the breast tissue only. These include reduced risk of capsular contracture (post-operative tightening around the breast implant) and less interference with mammogram examinations. Possible disadvantages include need for drainage tubes and elevated pain in the first few days following surgery. Depending on your aesthetic goals and medical history, the doctors at ColenMD can discuss which option may be best for you.

In the TUBA procedure, breast implants cannot be placed beneath the chest wall.

After the breast implants have been inserted and positioned beneath the nipples, the incisions are stitched closed, then taped and bandaged. Patients are then placed in a surgical bra. In a few days, these bandages are removed, but we encourage patients to wear their surgical bra for at least 2-3 weeks.

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Breast Augmentation Recovery

Most of our New York and New Jersey patients at ColenMD feel tired and sore after breast augmentation surgery, but this usually passes in a day or two. In fact, many patients return to work within the week.

Stitches placed during the breast enhancement surgery are removed in a week to 10 days after breast augmentation. Any post-operative pain, swelling, and sensitivity will diminish over the first few weeks.

Scars from breast augmentation incisions are minimal and will begin to fade in a few months and continue to fade for months or years.

Breast Augmentation Complications

Complications following breast augmentation surgery are uncommon and usually minimal. They may include capsular contracture, swelling and pain, infection around the breast implant, a change in nipple sensation, milk production if you nursed a baby within a year before the procedure, and breakage or leakage of the breast implant (implant rupture) as a result of injury or the normal compression and movement of your breast.

If a saline breast implant ruptures, the implant will simply deflate in a few hours and your body will absorb the salt water. If a silicone implant leaks, you will need to see a doctor immediately. Regular monitoring of breast implants after breast augmentation surgery is recommended to ensure continuing breast and implant health.

Breast Augmentation with ColenMD Plastic Surgeons

A breast augmentation may not be the best option for everyone. A consultation is needed to assess your goals, concerns and candidacy. All of the surgeons at ColenMD – Dr. Helen Colen, Dr. Steven Colen, and Dr. Kari Colen – have years of experience performing breast augmentation. We encourage you to meet with our plastic surgeons to discover if this procedure will help you to obtain the look you are hoping for.

Click here to contact Colen MD Plastic Surgery and set up a consultation to meet our surgeons Dr. Helen Colen and Dr. Stephen Colen at our Park Avenue Suite in Manhattan or to set up a consultation with Dr. Kari Colen in our Bergen County New Jersey office located in Hackensack, NJ.