Florence Mussat, M.D.
680 N Lake Shore Dr. #1030 Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 751-9000

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Tag: breast implants

How Long Will It Take for My Breast Implants to Soften?

Breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic surgery for women who want to enhance their breast shape and size. As with all cosmetic procedures, once the operation is completed, there is an expectation of seeing the outcome. Unfortunately, there will be some time before you realize the final results.

Once you awake after surgery, and for some time afterward, your breasts will be high on your chest and hard to the touch. Don’t get alarmed. This is to be expected until your implants drop and fluff.

Drop and Fluff Explained

You should understand the terms “drop and fluff” before your breast surgery. If not, you may worry that your implants appear too small or too high when waking after surgery. Rest assured that this is an expected part of your recovery. Implants “drop” into their permanent position once your natural tissue adjusts to the new breast contour. The “fluff” part occurs when the implants fill the lower breast area below the nipple.

When Will My Implants Feel Soft?

Many factors affect when “drop and fluff” happens. For example, implant placement and post-operative inflammation may contribute to breast firmness. Your breasts will begin to feel softer from eight weeks to six months. Dr. Florence Mussat can be specific with your timeline during your consultation. A good rule to follow is this: the larger the breast implant, the more time it may take for your implants to look and feel natural.

Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat may recommend gentle massages to help your breast implants settle during recovery. This may include pressing your implants in certain positions multiple times daily. This practice can expand your breast pocket and prevent future complications like capsular contracture, a condition that causes scar tissue to compress your implants.

How Long Does the Swelling Last?

After surgery, you will experience some side effects, like swelling and inflammation. This is your body’s natural response to surgery. Most swelling will diminish within six weeks. Our office will provide post-surgical instructions like employing ice packs to control swelling and pain meds to manage discomfort.

Learn More About Breast Implant Recovery

You may have other questions about breast augmentation in Chicago. If you want to learn the details of drop and fluff or discuss how implants can enhance your appearance, schedule a consultation with Dr. Florence Mussat for a breast evaluation. She will answer all your questions, address your concerns, and ensure you fully understand the process.

To schedule a breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Mussat to learn more about breast implant surgery, contact our Chicago office online or call (312) 751-9000 today.

Can You Breastfeed Safely After Getting Implants?

Breast augmentation helps many women be more confident about their breast size and shape. But some hesitate to have the procedure because they plan to have a family and worry that this surgery may interfere with breastfeeding.

For many mothers, breastfeeding is an act of selfless love. There are several reasons for nursing your baby – including bonding, providing healthy nutrition, and boosting your growing child’s immune system.

Is Breastfeeding With Implants Difficult?

If you have breast implants, here are the challenges you might face when nursing.

  • Low milk supply: Depending on the breast augmentation technique your surgeon used, you may have trouble producing enough milk to exclusively breastfeed. Some women with breast implants struggle with a limited milk supply.
  • Inhibited letdown: If your nipples lose sensitivity, you may have a slow or inhibited letdown, where your breasts produce less milk.
  • Sore nipples: If your nipples are ultra-sensitive, you may experience soreness that makes breastfeeding uncomfortable.

Could Implants Harm My Baby?

Researchers have not found any harmful elements in the breast milk of women with implants. Still, if small amounts of silicone get into your breast milk, it’s unlikely to harm your baby. According to the FDA, silicone is safe for infants to ingest.

How Can I Successfully Breastfeed My Baby If I Have Implants?

If you have implants and are worried about your ability to nurse an infant, here are some steps you can take.

  • Work with a lactation consultant: A professional lactation consultant can get you and your baby off to the best possible start for nursing. In addition, they can give you tips for dealing with nipple sensitivity. If you have any questions about breastfeeding, consider contacting a lactation consultant before delivering your baby.
  • Nurse your baby often: If you nurse your baby frequently, your body will respond by producing more milk. Your lactation consultant may suggest using a breast pump between feedings.
  • Tell your pediatrician about your breast surgery: A doctor will closely monitor your baby’s weight gain to ensure your newborn is getting enough to eat.

How Should You Time Your Surgery?

If you are thinking about having breast implant surgery and still plan to become pregnant and nurse your baby, it’s wise to postpone your procedure until after you wean your child. If you already have implants and would like to have them taken out before pregnancy to avoid potential complications with nursing, an breast implant removal is a safe and effective procedure that removes the entire implants with their surgical capsules.

To schedule a discreet consultation with Dr. Mussat to learn more about breast surgery, contact our Chicago office online or call (312) 751-9000 today.

5 Things to Know Before a Breast Augmentation Procedure

Do you love your breasts? If not, come see us. Breast augmentation can increase breast size, correct asymmetry, and enhance breast shape. Discover a shapelier, yet natural look.
If you’re thinking about breast augmentation, here are five things you need to know before surgery.

Saline and Silicone Implants Are Both Good Choices

Saline or silicone? The good news is, both implant types can yield stunning results. Saline implants can be used on younger patients (18+), tend to be more affordable, can be placed through a smaller incision, and allow for easy leak detection. Silicone implants can be used on patients aged 22+. They feel more natural, even outside of the breast, and are less likely to wrinkle or ripple in the breast. Cohesive silicone gel implants, also called gummy bear implants, retain their shape very well and are available in many shapes and projections making them ideal for breast reconstruction. Each of these implant choices has its advantages and Dr. Mussat will help you choose the best implant type for your goals.

You’ll Probably Need to Replace Your Implants at Least Once

Breast surgery provides long lasting results, but you need to realize that your breast augmentation is unlikely to be your last breast surgery. Most women will need to replace or remove their implants at some point, hopefully many years in the future.

Breast Augmentation Isn’t Right for Everyone

Breast augmentation is an excellent option for many women, but it isn’t right for everyone. You may be a good candidate if:
• You want bigger breasts and more cleavage.
• You want to provide subtle lift to aging or flattened breasts.
• You want to change and improve your breasts, not achieve perfection.
• You have good physical and mental health.
• You are choosing breast surgery for you, not someone else.
• You understand that breast surgery has risks, but feel that the benefits outweigh them.
If you think you’re a good candidate for surgery, come meet with Dr. Mussat. We can help you determine if you’re ready for breast augmentation.

We’ll Work with You to Design Your New Breasts

Breast augmentation is highly customizable. We’ll work with you to choose implant size and type, incision locations, and implant placement. Depending on your anatomy and goals, Dr. Mussat may recommend complementary procedures, like a breast lift. We’ll work closely with you to create a unique surgical plan that achieves your goals.

You Will Need Time Off from Work

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure and will require some downtime for recovery. Plan on taking about a week off from work. You’ll need to avoid strenuous activities, including exercise, for about six weeks after surgery.
Thinking about breast augmentation? Contact us to schedule your consultation with Dr. Mussat.

Should I Wait Until After I Have Kids to Get Breast Implants?

This is a great question many of our mom patients ask us whenever they consult about breast augmentation. If you plan to have a baby in the near future, such as in the next year, then it’s best to hold off your plan to have breast augmentation until after you’ve finished having children.

On the other hand, if pregnancy and childbirth are part of your plans, but not anytime soon, then there are factors that you have to keep in mind. These factors will help you make informed decisions and make your breast enhancement journey a truly satisfying one.

  • Implants do not affect fertility or the baby’s health.

A 10-year study confirmed that breast implants do not make conception difficult for women or increase the risk of miscarriage. Studies have also shown that silicone or saline implants do not increase the risk of birth defects. The same goes for breastfed babies.

What this means is that your decision to get breast implants won’t foil your plans to have children in the future.

  • Pregnancy can change your augmentation results.

There’s a possibility that pregnancy can change the quality of your breast implant results, but not significantly. Factors that can affect your surgical output are the age you become pregnant, your breast tissue characteristics, your breast implants’ age, and the changes that happen to your breasts during pregnancy. Many of our patients who had breast implants before pregnancy are still happy with their results even after childbirth and lactation.

  • Breast Implants can affect milk production.

It’s generally safe to breastfeed a baby even with breast implants. However, not all mothers are able to. Others have found success with breastfeeding while others don’t due to low milk production. This also depends on the type of incisions selected. Therefore, it’s best to discuss your incision options with Dr. Mussat to ensure that you can breastfeed your baby in the future.

In addition, studies suggest that almost 90% of women who are unable to breastfeed their babies, experience these symptoms because of psychological issues. They believe that lactation can alter the results of their breast augmentation significantly or that their implants may be affecting their milk production. As mentioned above, however, breastfeeding can change the results but not significantly.

Each woman is unique. Therefore, it’s best to consult with Dr. Mussat about pre-pregnancy breast augmentation. She’ll be able to consider your medical history, conduct some tests, and evaluate your overall health to help you decide whether to go ahead with the procedure or to wait after childbirth to get breast implants.

For more information about breast augmentation, schedule a consultation with Dr. Mussat today by contacting her Chicago-based practice.

Why Many Women Prefer a Female Surgeon for Breast Augmentation

A good 92% of all cosmetic surgery patients are women, while surprisingly, only a fraction of plastic surgeons are women. Despite the disparity, there’s been a rise in demand for trained, highly skilled female plastic surgeons like Dr. Florence Mussat from female patients for their breast augmentation. To many female patients, a female plastic surgeon represents comfort, familiarity, and best of all, superior results. Let’s learn about why some patients prefer a female plastic surgeon for a procedure like breast augmentation.

  1. Empathy

Patients should always seek certified, highly trained surgeons, like Dr. Mussat, for their breast augmentation. However, one other factor that could further distinguish a surgeon is their ability to understand a patient’s aesthetic goals and motivations. For many women, having a surgeon that understands how aging, pregnancy, or breastfeeding has affected their breasts can be incredibly comforting and validating. Many patients feel that a female surgeon can relate to why the patient wants the restoring benefits of breast augmentation—femininity, confidence, and youth. It’s that connection and understanding that’s essential for attaining results that the patient is satisfied and happy with.

  1. Natural Aesthetics

Many women who seek breast augmentation often want results that are perfectly balanced and proportioned with their figure—a new figure that complements their frame, personality, and lifestyle. Many women turn to female plastic surgeons for breast augmentation because they want the vision and gaze of someone who can see them in the same way they see themselves. For some women, breast augmentation is about restoring their own confidence, not necessarily fulfilling certain standards. A female surgeon has likely felt the same way about their body as the patient, and can truly understand what a female patient needs. With that familiarity, female patients also feel more comfortable to discuss their feelings about their breasts, and what they want fixed.

  1. Compassion

A good rapport with your plastic surgeon is one of the most essential ingredients to an excellent plastic surgery experience. There have been many published studies that showed on average, female surgeons discussed options with patients for a longer time than male surgeons. Many female patients also feel that women are more compassionate and more likely to listen to their concerns and opinions. One of the best ways your surgeon can give you the breast augmentation results you want is by discussing it with you, rather than imposing their decisions with you, and in this area, female surgeons excel.

Dr. Mussat is not only a board-certified, highly-trained breast augmentation surgeon, but she is also a compassionate, caring doctor. For a chance to work with a uniquely equipped surgeon like Dr. Mussat, contact her offices now, for a consultation.