Breast augmentations are one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed every year. Its an excellent way to increase your confidence, fit into your clothes better, or even recover your pre-pregnancy body (pregnancy and breastfeeding can decrease breast volume). But is there only one type of breast augmentation? What other options are there?
There are actually two main options for getting larger breasts through plastic surgery: a traditional breast augmentation involving the placement of implants, or breast augmentation through fat grafting, which uses your bodys natural fat tissues to increase breast size. Well talk about the differences between the two procedures here.
Traditional Breast Augmentation
A traditional breast augmentation is the most common cosmetic procedure for increasing breast size. This involves coming in for a consultation to discuss what size youre after, whether you want a more natural look or more dramatic results, where you want the implants placed, etc. This will help the doctor determine if youre better suited for saline implants or silicone implants.
Saline implants are full of saline solution, and result in a firmer look and feel than silicone. They can be filled once the implant is placed, so they come with a smaller incision. If they ever rupture, your body will absorb the salt water in the implants, so youll notice very quickly that something is happening. Saline implants can sometimes result in a rippling effect.
Silicone implants are made with a non-absorbable gel that mimics the look and feel of natural human fatty tissue. This results in a more natural-looking result after surgery. Youll need regular MRIs to make sure theres no leaking (since the body wont absorb silicone if the implant ruptures), and the incision will be a bit bigger, but this is the preferred implant material for most plastic surgeons because of the natural results.
During your consultation, your surgeon will help you pick which type of implant will give you your desired results, and will use a state-of-the-art sizing system to help you pick what size implants you want. Recovery times vary, but most patients are back to exercising and living life like normal after about six weeks.
Breast Augmentation With Fat Grafting
Breast augmentation with fat grafting is also known as natural breast enhancement and is a great option for women who want larger breasts without implants. It involves removing fat from a spot you dont want it, like the thighs or abdomen, and transferring it to the breasts. Theres no risk that your body will reject the new tissue because its your own tissue. Theres no incision because theres no implant to place, and its generally performed with local anesthesia, so your recovery time is much shorter than a regular implant surgery.
Another benefit of breast augmentation with fat grafting is that once the fat is in place, it will stay there for your lifetime. This isnt the case with breast implants, which are medical devices that need to be replaced periodically. Your body will reabsorb some of the fat after the transfer, but once it stabilizes, your results will remain with you.
Patients who have already gotten breast implants can also use fat grafting to blur the lines around their implants for a more natural look, if desired. If youve gotten implants are they need to be replaced, you can instead opt for replacing them with a fat grafting procedure (to avoid the need for more replacements in the future).
Which Is Right For Me?
Your surgeon will help you determine which procedure is right for you. If youre after a more natural look (and you have fat you want to get rid of in another spot at the same time), breast augmentation with fat grafting might be better for you. If you want the more common and popular surgery, or dont have anywhere on your body that would work as a donor site, a traditional breast augmentation might better serve your needs. Call our office at (703) 574-2588 to discuss breast augmentation in Northern Virginia or breast augmentation with fat grafting in Northern Virginia today! You can also schedule a consultation.