If you feel self-conscious about the size, shape, or appearance of your breasts, breast implants can help give you the breasts you wish you had. The board-certified surgeons at Longwood Plastic Surgery will work with you to achieve the results you want.
How Do Breast Implants Work?
Surgeons use breast implants to enhance breast volume and add fullness to areas where people would like to have more, such as the upper part of the breast. Saline implants have a silicone outer shell with saline inside it, while silicone implants consist of flexible silicone material.
These implants come in a range of sizes and shapes, so whether you want more forward projection, more volume in the upper breast area, or overall larger breasts, we have an implant that can help accomplish these goals.
How Much Are Breast Implants?
While costs can vary significantly based on location, your surgeon’s expertise, and other factors such as anesthesia, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the average cost of breast implants is $4516. We prefer to give you an estimate during a consultation where we can discuss what type of procedure we will use, what type of implant you may want, and other aspects of your individual surgery.
What are the Benefits of Breast Implants?
If you have thought about breast implants, consider the benefits as well as the risks. Some of these benefits include:
- Improved self-confidence
- More confidence when choosing clothes
- Feeling like your external appearance represents your internal view of yourself
- Correcting oddly shaped or unevenly sized breasts
- Creating symmetry between breasts and body
While many people think of breast implants as just a way to make breasts larger, they may not realize that implants can also even out size and shape as well as correct a lack of breast tissue.
Reasons Breast Implants Should Be Replaced
Some of the more common reasons women have their breast implants replaced are:
Rupture
There is a risk, albeit small, of rupture with breast implants. Leaking saline will be absorbed by the body, leaving the breast looking deflated. Silicone gel is designed to stay in place, so a rupture is less outwardly obvious. Your implants will be monitored by your LPS surgeon at regular intervals.
Capsular contraction
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Implants?
The ideal candidate for breast implants is in good health, does not smoke, and has reasonable expectations for the procedure. People whose breasts have sagging and loose skin may need a breast lift along with an augmentation. Without a breast lift, the implants cannot support loose skin.
What is Recovery with Breast Implants Like?
Your surgeon will customize a recovery plan based on your lifestyle. Most people can go back to work after a few days as long as this does not involve physical exertion. You should limit exercise for about two weeks. Due to our surgeons’ advanced techniques, you will not have any drains in place and will be able to get a shower within two days of your surgery.
How Often Do I Need to Replace My Breast Implants?
Both saline and silicone implants can last ten to twenty years on average. However, you may need to remove or replace yours before that if they develop issues such as uneven rippling texture, a rupture, or a buildup of scar tissue called capsular contracture. Some people just prefer to remove them for personal reasons.
This occurs when scar tissue develops around the implant, hardening the affected breast. It can cause pain, tenderness, and changes in breast size and shape.
Rippling
The outer silicone shell of the implant can develop wrinkles or ripples. They may only be visible in certain positions, like lying down, but they can become outwardly noticeable.
Choice
Aesthetics can change over time, and some women find their implants don’t enhance their appearance any longer. They may choose to have them replaced with differently sized or shaped implants or remove them altogether.
Take the Next Step
Interested in learning about breast implants? Schedule your consultation with Longwood Plastic Surgery today by calling our Brookline office at (617) 383-6250. We serve the Brookline and Greater Boston area with distinction