Breast Augmentation San Francisco

Our doctors at Plastic Surgery Associates perform breast augmentation surgery to increase the size of the breasts and add or restore fullness. Patients benefit from a beautiful, feminine, and youthful outcome through their attention to detail and focus on natural aesthetics. As board-certified plastic surgeons, our doctors have conducted thousands of breast augmentation procedures for women in San Francisco.

Through extensive patient consultation, they discuss each person’s goals so that they can provide the enhancement that she wants. Their “rapid recovery” approach to breast augmentation minimizes swelling and bruising, allowing patients to return to their normal routine as soon as possible.

Breast Augmentation Explained

Breast augmentation, sometimes referred to as breast enhancement, is a plastic surgery procedure that increases the size of your breasts through the use of saline implants, silicone implants, or a fat transfer. Breast augmentation is ideal for adding or restoring volume, achieving a more rounded or elevated shape, or addressing breast size asymmetry.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation

Many women decide to have breast augmentation because their breasts are smaller than they would prefer. Other women choose to have surgery because they have lost volume as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

The benefits of breast augmentation with our practice are:

Before & After Photos

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Breast Augmentation Photos

Candidates for Breast Augmentation

Patients may be good candidates for breast augmentation if they want to have larger breasts or return the fullness they had before becoming pregnant. They should also be healthy enough for surgery and be the right age and stage of physical development.

During an initial consultation at Plastic Surgery Associates, our doctors will take the time to review treatment in detail so that they can help patients achieve their individual goals. A physical exam will determine the patient’s dimensions and guide our doctors in their recommendations.

Our board-certified plastic surgeons typically perform breast augmentation procedures with silicone or saline implants. Some of our San Francisco patients occasionally choose to have fat liposuctioned from trouble-spots on their bodies and to use this fat to increase their breast size by a small amount. Our doctors may also suggest combining breast augmentation with a breast lift for the best result possible.

To assist in these decisions, our practice offers VECTRA® XT, an advanced digital imaging system, so patients can envision their results before they decide to have surgery. VECTRA® creates an image that far exceeds the benefits of traditional implant sizers, which only show what the breasts may look like while wearing a bra.

How Old Do I Have To Be To Get A Breast Augmentation?

At Plastic Surgery Associates in San Francisco, we require our breast augmentation candidates to be at an ideal stage of physical development, of which age varies from person to person.

In some cases, your breasts may not be fully developed until your early twenties, while others may have fully developed breasts by the age of 18. However, the FDA requires that women be at least 18 years old to get breast augmentation with saline-filled implants and at least 22 years old to receive silicone implants.

The Breast Augmentation Process Explained

The Initial Consultation

During an initial consultation at Plastic Surgery Associates, our doctors will take the time to review treatment in detail so that they can help you achieve your individual goals. A physical exam will determine your dimensions and guide our doctors in their recommendations.

Our board-certified plastic surgeons typically perform breast augmentation procedures with silicone or saline implants. But you can also choose to have fat liposuctioned from trouble spots on your body, and we can use this fat to increase your breast size by a small amount without the use of breast implants. Our doctors may also suggest combining breast augmentation with a breast lift for the best result possible.

To assist in these decisions, our practice offers VECTRA® XT, an advanced digital imaging system, so you can envision your results before deciding to have surgery. VECTRA® creates an image that far exceeds the benefits of traditional implant sizers, which only show what the breasts may look like while wearing a bra.

What Should I Do in Preparation?

Before your breast augmentation in San Francisco, we recommend you do the following in preparation.

• Follow your surgeon’s diet, medications, supplements, and hygiene recommendations.
• Avoid taking blood thinners and certain anti-inflammatory drugs, as they may increase bleeding. These include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, and fish oil supplements.
• Stop all smoking and nicotine products, as these may affect your results.
• Stop drinking alcohol at least one week before your procedure.
• Complete all required lab tests, diagnostic tests, and medical evaluations if needed.

How Long Does the Breast Augmentation Procedure Take?

Generally, a breast augmentation procedure takes around one to two hours to complete. However, this may vary depending on the extent of the operation. For instance, if the breast augmentation is combined with another procedure, such as breast lift, your plastic surgeon may require more time.

What Is Breast Augmentation Surgery Like?

During your breast augmentation surgery, your surgeon will first make an incision. There are four common breast implant incisions available: under the breast, around the nipple, through the armpit, and through the belly button. Your surgeon will discuss which is best for you and your aesthetic goals at your breast augmentation consultation.

Next, your surgeon will place the implants, either under or above the pectoral muscle, depending on your unique breast augmentation plan. Once the implants are ideally placed and adjusted into position, your surgeon will close the incisions using sutures.

How Long Will My Breast Augmentation Results Last?

While breast augmentation results are long-lasting, breast implants do not last forever. Thus, follow-up procedures may be required to maintain results. However, you can expect your breast augmentation results to last for at least a decade if you follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions, maintain an optimal weight, and take proper care of your breast implants.

Other Things to Consider Before Getting a Breast Augmentation

Implant Types: Which is the Best for Me?

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone breast implants come prefilled with a synthetic silicone gel, which is a dense, thick fluid made to resemble human fat. In our experience, many individuals find that silicone breast implants look and feel most like natural breast tissue compared to other types of implants.

If the implant leaks, the silicone gel either stays within the implant shell or seeps into the implant pocket. Silicone breast implants do not collapse when leaking. Furthermore, silicone implants are only available to women aged 22 and older for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline breast implants are the most popular type of implant available for breast augmentation. These types of breast implants are filled with sterile salt water (saline). If the implant leaks, the saline solution is simply absorbed by the body, which is why saline breast implants are considered a safer option. It is easier to detect a leak with saline implants, as the entire implant collapses.

In some cases, saline breast implants are prefilled with the saline solution, while others are filled during surgery once the implant is ideally positioned.

Breast Augmentation with Fat Transfer

During a fat transfer breast augmentation, your surgeon uses your own body fat to reshape and enhance your breasts, rather than breast implants.

Using a liposuction technique, the fat is taken from another area of the body where it is in excess, such as the love handles or buttocks. Then, the fat cells are purified and injected into the breast area to strategically add volume and reshape the breasts based on your aesthetic goals.

Can Breast Augmentation Be Performed in Combination With Other Procedures?

At Plastic Surgery Associates of San Francisco, our experienced plastic surgeons often recommend combining breast augmentation with a breast lift to amplify your aesthetic results. A breast lift reduces sagging skin, restores the breasts’ height, and improves their shape.

While this will increase the price of treatment, it can be cost-effective if multiple plastic surgery procedures are needed to achieve your desired results, as you will only be billed for one anesthesia fee and one facility fee, lowering the final cost considerably.

Furthermore, the risk of complications is significantly reduced by only going under general anesthesia once, rather than several times for multiple surgeries. Additionally, by combining procedures, you can effectively overlap your respective recovery times, which means you will see results more quickly with less time off from work.

Will Insurance Cover Breast Augmentation?

In most cases, insurance does not cover plastic surgery procedures used for cosmetic purposes. However, this depends on your individual insurance plan. We recommend consulting with your insurance company to learn more about what procedures are covered.

If you are still interested in breast augmentation but your insurance does not cover this procedure, we offer financing options to help.

You’re In Good Hands with Plastic Surgery Associates

At Plastic Surgery Associates in San Francisco, our doctors are highly skilled in performing breast augmentation to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. If you are ready to add or restore natural-looking fullness with breast augmentation surgery, contact Plastic Surgery Associates online or call our office at (707) 504-3277. Rest assured, when you choose us, you are in good hands.