Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammaplasty, Breast Enlargement)

This operation enlarges the breasts by inserting a silicon rubber bag, filled with salt water (saline) or silicon gel, into a pocket either behind the breast (subglandular, retromammary), or behind the pectoralis muscle (subpectoral, submuscular).

We, however, perform a special technique, “Dual Plane” Breast Augmentation, to place the implants. With this technique, the implant sits both behind the pectoralis muscle and behind the breast gland. It has several advantages over the other pocket locations, in that it allows for reduced visibility of the implant at the upper pole of the breast, reduced risk of capsular contracture, reduced interference with mammography, reduced muscle distortion of the implant, and decreased risk of double bubble deformity with certain breast types.

Breast Augmentation is a common operation at our clinic, and very much a favorite. The vast majority of our breasts end up delightfully soft to touch, imminently huggable and wonderfully natural in appearance. Our experience is immense and our results are among the best anywhere! After surgery it is difficult in most to discern that anything surgical ever took place. Physicians too are commonly unaware of any alteration, even when examining the breasts. These features, together with our unique science of identifying the best possible scar location for each person, aid immensely in protecting the sanctity of a woman’s secret.

Salt water (saline) or gel? Salt water implants allow smaller incisions, are more likely to stay soft after fifteen years and feel very natural when the fill volume is limited, and pockets remain large. Some like the less “bouncy” softness of the silicon gel - provided no encapsulation occurs. In very thin persons there tends to be less rippling and implant visibility with gel. In skilled hands both can be superb substitutes for the real thing, especially with the new shell designs for saline filled implants.

More about the scars: Placing an implant behind the breast or behind the muscle requires access to that area, thus incisions are required. Because of different ethnic scarring characteristics, different incisions may be preferred over others in certain people.

Infra-mammary incisions (beneath the breast) are the older, more traditional approach. These scars are not noticeable, and healed well.

Axillary incisions are often prominent and detectable early after surgery, especially in dark-skinned persons and East Asians. This makes them undesirable in warm weather locales where sleeveless apparel is common place.

Peri-areolar (just beneath the areola) incision gives a good exposure during the surgery, and either a silicone or a saline filled implant can easily be placed through this hidden incision, while it almost gives invisible scars after the healing is complete.

What’s different at our clinic? Our approach to Breast Augmentation differs in philosophy from that of most surgeons. As we emphasize a very large pocket, occupied by a smooth shell implant (of desired size), containing either saline or gel, which is mobilized daily to make sure the pocket does not diminish in size. The difficult art for most to master is that of preventing the pockets from closing up. Those large pockets combined with our meticulous technique, extra soft implants give the breasts a full but beautiful and natural tear drop contour when the woman is vertical, and a natural, somewhat flattened contour when supine (lying on her back). The softness makes lying prone (face down) – on bed or beach – also comfortable.

To see before and after pictures for breast augmentation, click here.

Our plastic surgery clinic is located in Panama City and Destin, on Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast.

Our plastic surgery clinic is located in Panama City and Destin, on Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast. Also serving Panama City Beach, Destin, Tallahassee Florida and Dothan, Alabama