Board Certified Female Plastic Surgeon Specializing in Breast Augmentation Surgery
If you would like to improve the appearance of your breasts, you're not alone. Many women experience the same feelings as you do, which is why breast augmentation is consistently one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed every year.
Breast augmentation is an excellent option to help you achieve your desired breast appearance. The procedure can improve the size and shape of your breasts, allowing you to look and feel your best.
Often, breast augmentation can be a life-changing procedure, providing the boost in self-confidence that typically occurs when you’re happy with the way you look.
Dr. Hayley Brown has 25 years of experience performing breast augmentation procedures. As a female plastic surgeon, she understands the unique issues and concerns impacting women in a way that most male surgeons can never truly grasp. This allows her to forge deep, meaningful relationships with her patients, and enables her to more effectively understand their goals and desired outcome.
You can learn about your options and receive individualized breast augmentation recommendations by speaking with Dr. Hayley Brown in person. Please call 702-260-7707 today to schedule a consultation. We proudly serve patients in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada.
- What is Breast Augmentation?
- Dr. Brown's Patient Discusses Her Breast Augmentation
- Benefits of Breast Augmentation
- Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation
- Your Customized Breast Augmentation Procedure
- How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in Las Vegas?
- Breast Implant Options
- Breast Implant Styles
- Breast Augmentation Incision Options
- Breast Implant Placement Options
- Breast Implant Sizing
- Recovery after Breast Augmentation
- Breast Augmentation with Lift
- Contact our Las Vegas Breast Augmentation Surgeon
What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation, also called breast enhancement, is a procedure that uses saline or silicone breast implants to increase the size, volume and contours of the breast. Dr. Brown will devise a customized treatment plan to address your unique needs and goals.
In order to achieve beautiful, natural looking results, Dr. Brown will evaluate the following factors when planning your breast augmentation:
- Your desired breast size
- Your natural breast size and the amount of natural breast tissue you have
- Your body frame and dimensions
- Whether you experience breast asymmetry
- Whether you lead an active, athletic lifestyle
Dr. Brown's Patient Discusses Her Breast Augmentation
Benefits of Breast Augmentation
The greatest benefit of undergoing breast augmentation is an improved breast appearance. In addition, you'll achieve a more balanced and proportionate body contour, resulting in an improvement to your overall figure.
This improved appearance isn't limited to the size of your breasts. Breast augmentation provides a wide range of aesthetic benefits, including:
- Improved breast shape
- Correction of breast asymmetry
- Restoration of lost breast volume caused by weight loss, pregnancy and breastfeeding, or aging
- Improved breast projection
- More attractive cleavage
- Improved appearance in clothing, bathing suits and lingerie
Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
If you would like to improve any aspect of your breast appearance, you are most likely a candidate for breast augmentation. It's important to be in good overall health and have realistic expectations for the outcome of your procedure. In addition, you should not currently be pregnant or breast feeding. In order to achieve natural looking results, you will also need to have enough natural breast tissue to cover the implant.
Smokers must be willing to quit prior to surgery and throughout the recovery period since smoking can adversely impact healing and your results.
In general, the best candidates for breast augmentation surgery would like to achieve one or more of the following goals:
- Increase the size or improve the shape of their breasts
- Have closer cleavage
- Correct breast asymmetry or a congenital deformity of the chest, such as tubular breast deformities or pointy-shaped breasts
- Restore lost breast volume
- Correct mild sagging issues (severe sagging issues are best corrected by a breast lift)
Due to age restrictions mandated by the FDA, you must be at least 18 for saline implants and at least 22 for silicone implants.
Your Customized Breast Augmentation Procedure
Breast augmentation is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. Dr. Brown uses the most advanced techniques to ensure that you achieve the beautiful, natural look you desire.
During your consultation, she will listen carefully to your concerns and goals and evaluate your body type. She'll then discuss your options in detail and work closely with you to develop a customized plan that will deliver your desired outcome. The factors that will impact your breast augmentation plan include:
- Breast implant type
- Breast implant style
- Incision location
- Implant placement
- Implant size
How Do I Prepare for Breast Augmentation?
During your initial consultation for breast augmentation surgery, Dr. Brown will provide you with a list of instructions you can follow to prepare for the procedure. Before your surgery, make sure to:
- Fill prescriptions for your pain medication
- Purchase any medical supplies you may need, such as sterile gauze and the underwire bra specified at your preop visit
- Find a trusted family member or friend to drive you to and from your surgery
- Ask for a family member or friend to take care of you in your initial days of recovery
- Clean your house
- Have on hand lots of prepared healthy food such as soups and electrolye solutions such as gatorade.
- Set up your recovery area with pillows, blankets, a TV, and books to read
Most patients begin to feel much better within a week of their surgery. Dr. Brown will be able to give you a timeline for your recovery period.
Will the Results of My Breast Augmentation Look Natural?
Breast augmentation is intended to look very natural. However, people who are intimately close to you will notice a difference in the shape of your breasts since they are most familiar with your body. At first, the implants are high and firm, but as months pass, the implants will drop and settle. Individuals you meet in the future will not likely realize that you have undergone a breast augmentation procedure. Alternatively, some patients desire a "fake" look, which can be achieved with larger and higher profile implants.
How Long Will the Breast Augmentation Procedure Take?
The time required to complete a breast augmentation depends on your unique situation. Various techniques may be used to complete a breast augmentation procedure, and the type of method used can affect the length of your surgery.
Most surgeries may be completed 1-3 hours. Dr. Brown can give you a customized estimate of the time that your breast augmentation will take to finish.
How Soon After My Procedure Will I Be Able to See the Results?
You’ll immediately notice a difference in your breasts following your surgery. However, optimal results are apparent 2-4 months. The implants need time to drop, settle, and soften into your natural breast pocket.
In most cases, your results can be long-lasting. However, implants are not expected to last forever. Most manufacturers warranty the implant shell for 10 years. Whether or not you have had surgery, it is normal to experience breast appearance changes from aging, gravity, weight fluctuation, pregnancy, and menopause. Maintenance surgery is therefore recommended for rupture or cosmetic reasons.
When Will I Be Able to Sleep on My Side After Breast Augmentation?
Following a breast augmentation, it’s recommended to sleep on your back for 3 weeks in a slightly elevated position to prevent any pressure on the incisions and muscles surrounding the breast. After 3 weeks, if sleeping on your back is uncomfortable, you may choose to sleep on your side if you take certain precautions.
If you choose to sleep on your side, you’ll need to wear your underwire bra and place a soft pillow beneath the breasts to prevent any added pressure or shift of the implant as it heals.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?
At Desert Hills Plastic Surgery Center, the cost of breast augmentation starts at $8,000. One of the primary factors is whether saline or silicone implants are used. Saline breast implants are less expensive than silicone implants. There may be other factors influencing the cost, such as whether any other procedures are combined with breast augmentation. For example, when a breast augmentation is combined with a breast lift, the cost starts at $15,000.
When you visit Dr. Brown and our staff for your consultation, we will provide you with a cost estimate after you meet with Dr. Brown. We do accept cash and credit cards. If you wish to apply for financing through Prosper or CareCredit, we can walk you through how to do so.
Breast Augmentation before and after photos
Breast Implant Options
At Desert Hills Plastic Surgery Center, we offer both saline and silicone breast implants. There are three companies on the market providing FDA-approved implants:
- Mentor
- Allergan
Dr. Brown uses breast implants manufactured by all of these companies since they all provide excellent results. During your consultation, she will help you choose the various styles, fillers (saline vs. silicone) and shape or profile that will achieve the best results for your unique personal goals.
Mentor MemoryGel® Xtra: A type of silicone implant, cohesive gel implants offer an exciting way to augment your breasts with results that feel natural. MemoryGel® Xtra breast implants are made of the latest generation of cohesive gel. You may have heard these referred to as "gummy bear" implants. The reason being, if you were to cut a gummy bear in half, the filling would hold together similiarly to if you cut one of these implants in half. That is to say, the implant retains its uniform shape and does not leak. It is not composed of liquid, but of uniform gel.
Here are some of the most exciting features of the MemoryGel® Xtra:
- Looks and feels like natural breast tissue
- Mimics the appearance of real breast fat when placed beneath the tissue
- Comes with a 97% satisfaction rate according to Mentor®
- Made in America
- Comes in many sizes and profiles
- Comes in textured and smooth surface styles
According to the manufacturer, Mentor®, millions of women have received MemoryGel® implants over the past 30+ years. They have a long-standing record of safety and reliability. One of the best things about these implants is the quality of the results. Your breasts will look and feel like the tissue is natural, but your breasts will be larger, with an overall improved shape as well.
The only way to know if MemoryGel® or another option is right for you is to visit Dr. Brown. She makes sure you know all of the implant options and what each offers, and then she can help you narrow down your choices to the best one for you.
Saline breast implants consist of a silicone shell filled with a sterile saline (salt water) solution. The benefits of choosing saline implants include:
- The implant is filled after being inserted into your breast, making it easier for Dr. Brown to correct breast asymmetry, and to adjust the size and volume of the implants as needed
- A smaller incision is used, which will minimize scarring
- In the event of an implant rupture, your body will safely absorb the saline solution
However, saline implants feel less natural than silicone implants. Therefore, they are not a good option if you have a petite frame and minimal natural breast tissue. Other drawbacks of saline breast implants include:
- Your breast implant will immediately deflate in the event of a rupture, resulting in an uneven breast appearance that requires a revision procedure to correct
- More prone to rippling
Silicone breast implants consist of a silicone shell filled with a silicone gel material. These implants are pre-filled by the manufacturer according to the volume specifications requested by Dr. Brown.
The primary benefit of silicone implants is a more natural feel. For this reason, they are the most popular option chosen by our Las Vegas-area patients. In addition, you will experience the following benefits from silicone implants:
- Silicone gel material maintains its shape in the event of a rupture, eliminating the uneven breast appearance occurring when a saline breast implant ruptures
- Reduced likelihood of rippling
The one drawback to silicone breast implants is actually related to one of their benefits. It will be difficult to recognize an implant rupture since they will maintain their shape. Therefore, you will need to undergo an MRI periodically in order to make sure a rupture hasn't occurred.
Breast Implant Styles
You have several options when it comes to breast implant profiles and shapes. Moderate profile implants often provide the most natural look. Higher profile implants are designed narrower with more outward projection, providing a slightly rounder appearance. These implants work will for women with smaller or narrower frames who desire larger cup sizes than would typically accompany their frame. Moderate plus profile implants are a nice compromise between high and moderate. Extra high profile implants appeal to women wanting a very large, round look.
Breast Augmentation Incision Options
Dr. Brown will determine the best incision site based on your anatomy and aesthetic goals. The scars are typically 3 cm in length for saline implants and slightly longer for silicone implants, but they fade nicely and are relatively inconspicuous. She prefers to use the following incision locations because they provide a direct approach to the breast pocket:
- Inframammary incision
- Periareolar incision
The inframammary incision is made along the breast crease. Benefits of this option include:
- Provides the greatest amount of control when placing the breast implant
- Scar is discreetly hidden by the breast fold
- Greater preservation of nipple sensation
- Less interference with breastfeeding
- Less risk of capsular contracture (scar tissue forming around the implant)
The periareolar incision is made around the nipple. Benefits of this option include:
- Results in a very precise formation of the breast implant pocket
- Scar discreetly blends in with the areola
- Most effective incision for correcting nipple inversion
- Less conspicuous in a woman prone to pigmented scarring
- Best for rounding out the lower aspect of the breast in tubular or pointy shaped breasts
- Best for mild to moderate sagging in a woman hoping to avoid a breast lift, to allow the implant to sit half under and half over the muscle (dual plane)
Breast Implant Placement Options
Dr. Brown offers three different breast implant placement options:
- Submuscular placement - Implant is placed beneath the chest muscle
- Dual plane placement - A portion of your implant is not covered by the chest muscle
- Subglandular placement - Implant is placed behind your breast tissue and over the chest muscle
Submuscular placement is advantageous because it provides more natural soft tissue coverage and padding over the breast implant. Therefore, it's an excellent option for women with minimal natural breast tissue. Because submuscular implant placement fills the breast pocket with a "push-forward" technique, the best candidates for this option have breast positions somewhat high on their chest and experience minimal sagging.
In women who have mild sagging or lowness of the breast, "dual plane" implant placement is often common.
The portion of the implant not covered by the chest muscle can range from one half to one third of the lower portion of the breast implant. This results in the lower pole of the breast gland being filled out more directly.
Subglandular placement is preferred in women with thicker natural breast tissue, where muscle coverage simply is not necessary to achieve natural looking results. With this option, the implant and gland act as a unit. Women with mild to moderate sagging issues who do not want to undergo a breast lift often benefit from subglandular placement. Patients with minimal natural breast tissue typically achieve better results with one of the other options since subglandular placement provides the least amount of coverage for the implant.
Breast Implant Sizing
There are several factors that impact the ideal breast implant size to achieve your desired results:
- Your height, weight and chest dimensions
- Your skin elasticity
- The amount of natural breast tissue you have
- Your desired cup size after surgery
- Whether you lead an active, athletic lifestyle
It's important to understand that breast implants are measured in cubic centimeters (cc's), not cup sizes. There are several reasons for this:
- Not all bra sizes are standard. A C cup bra from one manufacturer may be very different from a C cup bra from another manufacturer. Therefore, it's virtually impossible to arrive at a standardized unit of measurement for cup size.
- In contrast, cc's provide a much more standardized unit of measurement that lead to much more precise breast augmentation results.
Breast implants come in a wide range of sizes. They can be as small as 120 cc's and as large as 850 cc's. To provide a clearer frame of reference, 200 cc's will equate to an approximate increase of one cup size in smaller bra sizes (32 and 34), while a slightly larger implant volume may be required to achieve a comparable increase for larger bra sizes (36 and above).
Dr. Brown always strives to use an implant size that will achieve beautiful, natural looking results. She will recommend the right sized implant to deliver a beautiful shape, cleavage and breast size that enhances your overall figure.
For most women, a moderately sized implant will achieve this goal. However, if you live an active lifestyle, you should consider how larger breasts will impact your ability to engage in your favorite athletic activities. In some instances, very athletic women may want to consider a slightly smaller implant size for this reason.
Recovery After Breast Augmentation
There will be some swelling and bruising which will gradually subside over the first few weeks of your recovery. You may experience some discomfort, but this is easily managed by the oral pain medication and muscle relaxers prescribed by Dr. Brown.
Dr. Brown will provide you with a surgical bra after your procedure. As soon as 24 hours after surgery, you may change into a shapely underwire bra, size and style specified by Dr. Brown, which should be worn day and night for several months or until your implants drop and settle into their final position. The underwire stabilizes the lower and outer breast pocket dimensions, leading to predictable implant position and central cleavage as the implants drop and settle with gravity. Bra support is encouraged long term to decrease the risk of sagging. The larger your implants, the greater the risk of sagging due to gravity.
You should plan on taking 1-2 weeks off work while you recover. Refrain from upper body activity, heavy lifting or fitness activities for 3-4 weeks. You can gradually resume exercise as tolerated after the first month of recovery.
Over time, your breast implants will soften, settle and drop. This typically starts in 2 months, but the time frame can vary depending on your tissue tightness and skin tone. Mild changes in breast appearance can continue for up to 6 months after surgery.
Breast Augmentation with Lift
Breast implants alone do not treat sagging breasts, especially in cases of moderate to severe sagging. If you would like to improve the size or shape of your breasts and also address sagging issues, Dr. Brown may recommend breast augmentation with a breast lift for the most effective results.
Dr. Brown uses both saline and silicone breast implants for this procedure. Silicone implants tend to feel more natural, making them the more popular option. Dr. Brown prefers submuscular implant placement for the majority of women who undergo breast augmentation with a lift.
Your surgical plan will be tailored to your unique needs, ensuring a beautiful outcome that achieves your aesthetic goals.
Sagging affects the majority of women, and most women at some point in their lives may need a breast lift procedure to restore a more youthful, perky breast appearance. The individual personal benefits of breast contouring surgery in women are always remarkable. Breast augmentation with a lift is effective in restoring your perception of yourself as attractive, sexy, healthy, confident, fit, and youthful. This improved confidence and self-esteem carries over into daily life and interactions with others so that quality of life is improved.
FAQ
What Is The Difference Between Breast Augmentation and Breast Enhancement?
Breast augmentations and breast enhancements are often thought of as the same thing. In a way, both aim to enhance the appearance of a woman’s breasts. However, breast augmentations are procedures that are performed before the enhancement, such as implants and a breast lift.
How Often Do Breast Implants Need to be Replaced?
A common misconception is that breast implants need to be replaced every 10 years. However, they can last up to 15 years, but implants can potentially sustain damage, such as a rupture. If this occurs, you will need to have the implant replaced sooner.
There are signs that your breast implants are ruptured:
- The size of your breasts has changed.
- You feel sudden pain or tenderness in your breasts.
- You feel ripples or lumps in your breasts.
- The shape of your breasts has changed.
If you notice any of these signs, contact Dr. Brown immediately.
What Are The Types of Breast Implants?
There are four different types of breast implants you can get: silicone, saline, gummy bear, and fat graft. Although each of these options accomplishes the same thing, there are distinct factors that separate them. For example, fat grafting is when fat is taken from another part of your body and placed into your breasts for a fuller appearance. Gummy bear implants are similar to silicone implants, but they also contain the volume of saline implants.
How Long Does Breast Augmentation Surgery Last?
Breast augmentation surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Patients do have the option to stay overnight as a safety precaution. It is important for patients to arrive at least an hour or two before the procedure begins. As for the procedure itself, breast augmentation surgery usually takes no more than two hours.
Contact Our Breast Augmentation Surgeon
Dr. Brown can relate to women who desire breast contouring. She understands the desired shape and cleavage that women want, as well as how the fit of various clothing styles enhance your appearance. She identifies with women who desire a very natural look, yet also understands and satisfies the goals of those women who prefer a very full, curvy, and voluptuous figure.
If you'd like to learn more about your breast augmentation options, please contact us at Desert Hills Plastic Surgery Center using the form on this page or call 702-260-7707 today to schedule a consultation. Dr. Hayley Brown serves patients in Las Vegas, Henderson and the surrounding areas of Nevada.
