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.
There will be circumstances when a patient may consider undergoing revision breast surgery sooner than expected. Though breast surgery is common in the US, some women may feel dissatisfied with the results they’ve ended up with. Perhaps they have had some type of complication such as leakage, or maybe they are unhappy with the size or placement of their implants. Others may have seen their results change due to natural body changes or pregnancy. All these reasons, and more are why many women seek revision breast surgery. There are varying reasons why a patient considers revision breast surgery. If you’re asking yourself the same question, you came at the right place. Below are the points for consideration if you’re thinking of having revision breast surgery:
Are you feeling pain?
- Pain after the surgery is natural. It usually takes months for the incisions to fully heal. However, if you’re feeling strange discomfort, ache or soreness months or years after your surgery, you may need another breast procedure.
- Capsular contracture (CC) is a rare condition where the scar tissue around the implant pocket builds a ‘wall’. This may lead to uncomfortable, hardened breasts that may cause pain. Most of the time CC requires removal of the implants. You can avoid CC by listening to Dr. Mussat and her professional recommendations during your consultation. Capsular contracture usually happens when the implants are too big for your existing breast tissue, thus listening to your doctor’s advice will help you avoid unwanted circumstances.
- If you’re experiencing abnormal bleeding or suspecting that your breasts got infected from your previous procedure, you must immediately schedule a consultation to check your situation. Cases like this mostly need prompt action to avoid further damage to the body.
Are you happy with your breasts?
- ‘Boob greed’ happens in patients, and it happens often. After several months, when the incisions finally heal, the patient starts loving her new breasts. It could lead her to wanting bigger implants, thinking it would look better. It’s totally fine as long as Dr. Mussat agrees it is appropriate for you.
- Some conservative patients may desire smaller implants when they realized the size they have might look too big for their preference. The person’s lifestyle is also a consideration for size reduction; patients with an active lifestyle may find they need a breast size reduction.
- Implant displacement or “bottoming out” occurs when breast implants end up sitting too low on the chest wall, and the nipples wind up positioned too high on the breast mound. At any time after surgery, a patient’s implants can move upward, downward, left or right; causing the need for a revision to move them back into the right position.
- Breast asymmetry or uneven breasts can be a consideration for a revision breast surgery. Usually the patient notices this when the breasts fully heal from the previous procedure.
- Symmastia is a rare condition where the breasts appear joined in the middle. It could look unattractive; thus, a patient must undergo a revision breast surgery.
- Scarring or rippling of the skin underneath the skin’s surface may need a patient to undergo revision breast surgery
Did your body change?
- Unfortunately, there are no smart breast implants yet that adapt to the body as it experiences changes. Typically, as the woman age, after her pregnancy, or if she lost weight, there is a great chance that the breast implants will sag. The patient’s breasts may look less perky 10 years or so after her surgery. When this time comes, a revision breast surgery could be considered to resolve the sagginess of breasts.
- Women who had breast augmentation may develop difficulties in milk production. If you’re a mother who desires to breastfeed your child, you may need your breast size reduced or your implants completely removed.
Did the implant fail?
- Implant rupture occurs when the solution leaks through an unsealed or damaged valve, or through a break in the implant shell. Deflation or rupture is usually diagnosed by the patient herself, and it can occur immediately following breast augmentation or anytime thereafter, including many years. When this happens, the breast will go back to its preoperative size. Immediate help from Dr. Mussat must be sought when an implant rupture or deflation occurs. This issue is usually corrected by a revision breast surgery.
Learn More About Revision Breast Surgery, Schedule A Consultation With Dr. Mussat
Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Mussat to learn the best approach to resolve your concern. As one of the leading surgeons in Chicago, Dr. Mussat will be glad to help you achieve the breasts you desire. Schedule a private consultation here or reach out to her office at (312) 751-9000.
Like the skin, a woman’s breast goes through natural changes throughout her life. The changes may be subtle, but they occur. The alterations could range from appearance to size and from shape to texture. Sometimes, the changes are a result of pregnancy, weight gain, or a debilitating illness.
This is why women should know what is going on with their breasts at each stage of their lives. If you’re not familiar with the different stages that your breasts go through, read on so you can learn what you can expect as each year passes by.
During Your 20s
As you cross the teenage stage, your body will start to settle into your adult weight. Your metabolism may drop, so the size of your breast changes as you add or drop some weight.
Pregnancy may happen within this decade, and will enlarge your breasts to prepare for lactation. Pregnancy can also change the color of your areolas and the size of your nipples. After pregnancy and lactation, your breasts may return to their pre-baby state. It may be unlikely, however, especially after multiple pregnancies.
You may also feel some lumps and bumps in your breasts, which are due to fibrocystic changes and are common for women in their 20s. These common lumps are often normal. Regardless, you can check with your doctor if you notice lumps, especially the ones that aren’t painful, as they are usually associated with cancer.
During Your 30s
If you have multiple pregnancies in your 20s, your breasts’ skin may start to stretch. In most cases, extended skin leads to stretch marks and ptosis or drooping breasts. Ptosis can still occur even in the absence of pregnancy as you deal with weight changes in your 30s.
During Your 40s
Once you reach this period, your body will start to transition to the menopausal stage. As the estrogen production in your ovaries decreases, your breasts will go through a stage called involution, in which fat will replace the breast tissues and make them feel soft.
You may feel lumps in your breasts, but they’re mostly soft. If the lumps are firm, consider them a red flag and should be evaluated immediately.
It’s normal to see changes in your breasts. However, it’s difficult to determine whether the changes are normal or due to a disease. That’s why it’s always best to do a self-breast exam so you can notice differences that may be worth a visit to the doctor.
If you’re unhappy with your breast shape and size at this stage in your life, you have the option to have a breast enhancement surgery. Contact Dr. Mussat today if want to learn about the procedures that can enhance your breasts.
Successful breast augmentation procedures involve several important decisions that you and your doctor will have to make together. One of those decisions is what your preferred type of breast implant incision will be.
Like types of implants and size, implant incision placement is a personal decision that you need to make. Although Dr. Mussat will guide you in this regard, the choice is still up to you. After all, it is only you who truly knows what you want your breasts to look and feel after the surgery.
Breast Implant Incision Types
As there are several types of incisions, you may be confused as to what incision to choose for your procedure. Take a close look at the most common incisions, which includes their pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision.
Dr. Mussat will make an incision in the natural folds of your armpit to create a channel from the underarm down to the breast. This point of access will allow her to insert the breast implant and place it just behind the nipples. The advantage of this type of incision is the distance between the incision site and breast, which leaves no scars on the breast.
The incision scar may be visible in the armpits, especially when you lift your arms or wear a bikini or a sleeveless top. However, the scars will fade overtime.
The disadvantage of this type is it has a risk of breast asymmetry. Therefore, this is more suited for saline breast implants, as they’re not filled upon insertion.
Dr. Mussat will make this incision around the outer perimeter of your areola, that dark pigmented skin that surrounds the nipple. This makes the incision scar less visible.
The biggest advantage of this type is that the surgeon has greater control of the implant placement, which provides higher accuracy of the implant’s position.
The downside to this is there’s a higher risk of loss of nipple sensation. If you plan to have a baby in the future, this type may not be for you as breastfeed may not be possible.
The incision site is along the crease found at the bottom of your breast, where the breast and skin meet. This incision will create a pocket for the placement of the implant, which provides better visibility and accuracy.
Although the scars are visible, they should fade with proper care. They’re easily covered with clothing as well. Also, there’s minimal risk of nipple sensation loss with this type of incision.
Now that you know the common incision types, you can choose which one you feel will work best for you. Feel rest assured knowing that Dr. Mussat is confident and competent to perform these incisions. For more information about breast augmentation, call her practice today.
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.
