Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical enhancement procedure to accentuate the size and shape of a woman's breasts. While breast augmentation will make the breasts larger, the surgery will not move the breasts closer together or lift sagging breasts.  Breast augmentation is very helpfulk fort patients who desire a fuller profile, who have lost breast volume due to pregnancy or nursing, or who have undergone mastectomy and wish to reconstruct the breast(s).

Reasons for Considering Breast Augmentation:

• Enhance body shape if breasts are too small
• Increase breast volume after pregnancy and/or nursing.
• Equalize a difference in breast size (cup size) to gain breast symmetry.
• Reconstruct breasts following a mastectomy or injury.

General Procedure

Breast augmentation involves making a small incision to insert a breast implant into the breast area in order to enlarge the breast.  The surgery is commonly performed on an outpatient basis in a certified surgical facility while the patient is asleep.  There are several possible locations for the small incision that will be used for inserting the breast implant.  The most frequent technique utilizes an incision made in the lower portion of the breast.  Another technique uses an incision around the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple).  A newer technique uses an incision in the belly button, thus reducing the chance of scarring in the breast area.  The best technique will be decided together between the patient and the surgeon during the consultation.

During surgery, the breast tissue is raised to create an open pocket under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle.  Inserting an implant behind each breast can increase a woman's breast size by one or more bra cup sizes.  Implants typically contain a saline solution, or silicone. Surgery typically lasts from 1 to 3 hours.

Dr. Pfeifer is one of the few surgeons in New York, and the only surgeon on Long Island who can use the new Gummy Bear (Form-Stable) implants,  in selected patients. Please click the tab for Gummy Bear Implants on our website to learn more about them.

Recovery Process

Generally, post-operative instructions call for a week or so of rest or limited activity in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time.  Bandages or a surgical bra is applied right after surgery to aid the healing process and this specialized surgical bra will need to be worn for several weeks.  Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with the surgery.  This pain can be treated effectively with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the directions given by the physician after surgery.

Visit www.plasticsurgery.org to fins out more about breast augmentation.