A breast augmentation is a procedure that involves placement of breast implants beneath the breasts to enhance size and shape.
During your consultation with Dr. Tarola, you will discuss your overall goals and desired outcome. Many women will talk about increasing their bra cup size by a certain amount, for example going from an A cup to a D cup. However, given the fact that every bra manufacturer is different, it is better to describe your desired result and bring example photos for you to review with Dr. Tarola.
There are multiple factors to consider in planning for the breast augmentation procedure including the type of implant to be used, whether the implant will be placed below or on top of the pectoralis muscle, the incision location, and the size of implant to be used.
The two basic types of implants are saline and silicone. Of the silicone implants, there are round and anatomically shaped, or teardrop implants. Each of these implants has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed during your consultation. To assist in choosing the appropriate implant size based on your measurements and goals, Dr. Tarola uses a sizing system so that you may visualize, during the consultation, how an implant of a certain size will look after surgery.
Preparation
Once you schedule your breast augmentation with Dr. Tarola, you will be given a breast augmentation surgical packet, which includes medications to avoid before your procedure, postoperative instructions, and information on what to expect in the weeks and months following your procedure. You will also be provided with all of your prescriptions so that they may be filled in advance of the procedure day.
The procedure
On the day of your procedure, you will arrive early to the surgery center to speak with your board certified anesthesiologist and be prepared for surgery. Doctor Tarola only performs procedures at fully accredited surgery centers. The procedure will be performed under general anesthesia both for your comfort and to provide Dr. Tarola with the ideal conditions to perform your surgery in order to achieve optimal results.
When you awake, you will be sore but kept comfortable in the recovery room. All of the stitches will be below the skin surface and dissolvable. Your incision will be covered with skin glue and there will be no dressings. Your chest will be wrapped in a compression garment that will be left in place for 24 hours after which time it can be removed and you can shower.
Recovery
Strict adherence to Dr. Tarola’s postoperative instructions is critical to your result. Some of the instructions include wearing a sports bra or soft cup bra around the clock for the first 2-3 weeks following surgery. You will be restricted to no strenuous activity or heavy lifting, nothing greater than 10 pounds or gallon milk, for 4 weeks following surgery. The scars from a breast augmentation tend to heal extremely well as long as scar care instructions are followed.
