Breast augmentation is the popular name for augmentation mammaplasty, which is a procedure performed by a cosmetic surgeon to increase the size of breasts. With the advancements in surgical techniques and approvals by the FDA for saline and silicone implants, breast augmentation has emerged as a highly sought after procedure.

Each year nearly 300,000 breast implant procedures are performed in the U.S. Dr. Eugene Kim is a board certified plastic surgeon providing breast augmentation surgery to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby locations.

Why is Breast Augmentation Needed?

The cosmetic surgeon may recommend breast augmentation to a patient due to one or more of the following reasons:

• The patient’s breast size is naturally small.
• The breasts are of uneven size.
• Breast volume has been lost following a pregnancy or weight loss.
• Breast reconstruction is required after a mastectomy.

As an experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Kim will examine the patient’s condition carefully and evaluate her aesthetic goals before recommending breast augmentation. Patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding areas may consult with Dr. Kim for this procedure.

Types of Breast Implants

One of the most important decisions in breast augmentation procedure is the right choice of breast implants. Both saline and silicone gel based implants have been approved by the FDA. The sizes of implants range from 120cc to 960cc, their shapes may be round or teardrop and the surface may be plain or textured. The choice of the implant type will have a bearing on the final outcome of the surgery. Therefore, patients should make this decision in close consultation with the surgeon.

Implant Procedure

Breast augmentation procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The surgeon may use general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. The procedure begins with the surgeon placing the incision at a pre-decided location. A breast cavity is created through the incision to place the implants in the breast tissue. The implants may be placed underneath the chest muscle or between the breast tissue and chest muscle.

The location of the incision can be underneath the breast crease, around the lower half of the areola, in the underarm, or encircling the navel. The entire procedure may be completed within one to two hours, depending on a particular case. Sometimes the surgeon may perform breast augmentation in conjunction with breast lift to achieve more effective results.

Recovery Process

The patient should have someone to driver her back home after the surgery, and preferably stay over with her for the first 24 hours. Mild to moderate pain will be experienced in treated area for the first few days, which can be managed with pain medications as per the surgeon’s guidance.

Most patients will be ready to go back to work within a week to 10 days after the surgery. Full effects of the surgery will appear over several months as bruising and swelling resolves completely. Results with breast augmentation procedure are usually long lasting, but most patients may need to repeat the surgery at least once in their lifetime.

Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

After your breast augmentation surgery, Dr. Kim will provide you with a course of antibiotics and a list of post-operative care instructions to avoid infection and other complications. However, even when you diligently follow all of your care instructions following surgery, it is still possible for infection to occur at your surgical site.

Some of the most obvious symptoms of infection include:

• Persistent redness and tenderness over a month after surgery
• Excessive swelling over a month after surgery
• Fever
• Drainage
• Local heat

If you notice any of these signs of infection, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Kim immediately. The sooner symptoms are followed up on, the more likely it is the infection can be eliminated without the need for implant removal. Close follow-up with Dr. Kim is key to ensuring a smooth and safe recovery process.

Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

A breast augmentation surgery can bring in a positive change in your life. The surgery will certainly make you feel good about your body and boost your confidence. However, to get the best out of the surgery, you need to ensure that you follow the advice given by your cosmetic surgeon. Your body will need some time to heal after the surgery. Dr. Eugene Kim, who has been helping women in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and West Hollywood, CA get the perfect set of breasts, advices on the following:

During the first week of recovery

• There are chances of a feeling of  fatigue after the surgery, for a couple of days. So it is important to give your body all the rest that it needs.
• You may notice some firmness in the operated area, which is absolutely normal. The tightness is the effect of your body trying to adjust to the implants and the difference brought in by them in your breast size.
• Your breasts and nipples may also feel a little numb post the surgery. You may be advised to massage your breasts or try some simple exercises (suggested by your plastic surgeon) to reduce the numbness. The sensitivity may last for a month. You may also notice the operated part getting swollen.
• You may be asked to wear a compression bandage, a jog bra or a special post-operative bra, to provide the required extra support to your breasts. Ironically, some surgeons advice patients to not wear a bra at all, during the recovery period.
• In case of external sutures, your plastic surgeon will take them off in a week.
• You will be able to return to work in a couple of days after the procedure.

Follow the advice given by your cosmetic surgeon

You will need to make sure that you do not build up any pressure on your arms and chest. This will require you to stay away from strenuous exercises or similar physical activities. You will have to be extremely gentle with your breasts for at least a month. In any case, you need to stick to your surgeon’s advice as he/she will draft out some specific guidelines for you

In the long term, routine mammograms are recommended, whose frequency rate will depend on your age. You should continue self-examining your breasts and should notify your cosmetic surgeon in case of pain or any discomfort in the area

Lasting results of the surgery

Breast augmentation is also preferred by women due to its long-lasting results. However, the results may vary based on factors like aging, childbirth, gravity, weight gain or loss and so on. You will have to get your breast implants replaced, if they burst or leak. After  a few years, if you feel that your breasts do not look as attractive as before, you can opt for a breast revision surgery to change the existing breast implants. You can also go for a breast lift surgery, which will satisfy you with firm and perky breasts.

Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

Immediately following a breast augmentation procedure, some patients may notice that their breasts appear much larger and higher than their intended results. This is the result of post-operative swelling, which usually takes 2-3 months to completely subside – however, it can last longer in some patients. When swelling is at its peak, patients can expect their breasts to be around ¼ of a cup size larger than their final results.

As swelling goes down, your breast implants will also undergo a change in shape, becoming rounder and sagging slightly to achieve a more natural look. This will eliminate the “high” appearance that worries many patients.

While you are healing, steps can be taken to help your breasts settle into their final position, such as massaging and displacement exercises. Dr. Kim may also recommend that you wear a strap that helps your implants drop into place more effectively, minimizing the time that it takes for you to notice your final results. Patients should closely follow-up with Dr. Kim throughout the recovery period to ensure their breasts are healing normally and that they are on the right path to their desired results.

Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.

All surgeries will leave some scarring. With breast augmentation, the location of your incision will be a determining factor in the final visibility of your scars.

Your breast augmentation procedure options include the size and type of breast implants, placement of your breast implants, and the location of the breast implant incision. In most cases, the scars are concealed and faint; however, the scars will not vanish completely.

Incision options include:

• Periariolar: Around the edge of the areola
• Inframammary: In the crease under the breast
• Transaxillary: In the armpit

When you visit Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim for your breast implant consultation, he will discuss your incision options with you. The best incision option for you will depend on a number of factors, including your skin elasticity and the size of your breasts.

Each incision site will conceal your scars to some degree, although there are varying levels of control of breast implant placement depending on the incision type.

Inframammary incisions are the most popular choice because the site is largely hidden but also provides good visibility for the breast implant procedure. Periareolar incisions tend to work better for women with naturally small breasts. The transaxillary incision requires the use of endoscopic tools for placement of the breast implants; transaxillary incisions are used only with small silicone implants or saline breast implants, which are not filled prior to insertion.

If you live in the Los Angeles, Beverly Hills or Newport Beach, California, areas and are interested in learning more about breast augmentation, please contact Dr. Eugene Kim at E. Kim Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.

Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.