Breast Augmenation

Charlotte Breast Augmenation

Our breast augmentation surgery in Charlotte gives you the opportunity to transform your breast size, shape, and volume. This specific procedure will use breast implants to increase the size of your breast and volume. There can be many reasons why you want to change the shape, size or “feel” of your breasts. And all of those reasons should be yours and yours alone! For many women breast size is part of feeling healthy, confident and attractive.

Breast Augmenation Surgery Options

As for your all of your surgery options, we’ll discuss everything with you during your breast augmentation consultation. You have a few different options for breast implants, and this is a decision our plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Gear will make with you. The size and type of breast implant you need will depend on a number of factors, such as the anatomy of your breast, the specific breast size increase you want, as well as your body type and skin elasticity. We have several resources available to help you evaluate and understand all the options you have with your breast augmentation in Charlotte. We understand you likely have questions, so don’t hesitate to give us a call for immediate help.

Are You A Good Candidate?

While many women are interested in breast augmentation, not every woman is a good candidate. With our Charlotte Plastic Surgery Center, our top priority is your safety and well-being. This is why we carefully screen all of our patients to ensure you’re a good fit for breast augmentation, which we’ll do in your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Andrew Gear. 

Top 5 Things to know about Breast Augmenation

Pricing starts $6000

Implant options include USA made saline or silicone

Surgery is less than an hour long

Financing monthly payments as low as $211

Back to work in 5 days

Breast Augmenation Before and After

Before

After

Breast Augmenation FAQs

Pre-op appointments, surgical, anesthesia, post-op care, concierge nurse, long lasting numbing medication, compression garment, Breast Healing supplements, recovery gear, step by step instruction books.

Implant pricing does not change with size. It does, however, change with the material chosen.  Saline implants, for example, are cheaper than silicone implants due to fabrication costs. There are also some differences in the cost of specific types of silicone implant.   Cohesive styles of silicone, such as the Mentor “Boost” are more expensive than the standard “gummy bear: silicone formulation.

No, they are not a lifetime device.  Implant replacement is suggested every 10 years.

Breast augmentation is a plastic surgery procedure in which medical grade, “biocompatible” implants are inserted underneath the breast tissue.  Breast implants are composed of a silicone shell and either a silicone or saline filling. Carefully selected for size, shape, and profile, breast implants expand the chest to create natural-looking curves.

Issues that can be corrected through breast augmentation include:

  • Small size or “hypomastia”
  • Breast deflation following pregnancy or weight loss
  • Asymmetrical or uneven breasts
  • Reconstruction after breast cancer treatment
  • Changes in breast tissue due to aging

Women aged 18 and over who are in good general and emotional health are good candidates for breast augmentation. This procedure may be sought for several different reasons, all of which are equally valid. Candidates for breast augmentation may wish to address:

  • Naturally small breasts
  • Asymmetry, where one breast is noticeably larger than the other
  • Changes to breast shape after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
  • Age-related deflation and sagging
  • Physical defects caused by breast cancer treatment
Breast augmentation has been a leading cosmetic surgery procedure for many years. The physical improvements that breast implants can achieve enable women to feel more like themselves. Our sense of self and self-esteem relate to appearance. When a woman’s breasts do not harmonize with the rest of her body or with her personality, she may feel dissatisfied. Breast augmentation is a minimally-invasive procedure with a short recovery period and lasting cosmetic improvements.

Breast augmentation is a highly tailored process. There are many different implant types, and placement options from which to choose.

Saline Implants
Saline breast implants are composed of a silicone shell filled with sterile salt water that your body can safely process if a leak occurs. These implants give a uniform feel, shape, and firmness.

Silicone Implants
Silicone breast implants also employ a silicone shell but with a soft, silicone gel filling.  They can provide a more natural feel, especially for women with little to no breast tissue.  They are also less prone to rippling.  Women who choose silicone implants will require radiologic imaging at 5 years to ensure integrity of the implant.

Gummy Bear Implants
The term “gummy bear” is a euphemism for the tear drop or shaped implants that result from using a more cohesive, thick silicone filling.  A shaped implant can be useful for breast reconstruction and certain congenital anomalies, but as a rule they are firmer and less natural feeling and when they rotate, they look crazy and you will need another operation to fix them.  I do not use them but have taken quite a few out in exchange for round implants.

Smooth vs. Textured Implants

In addition to the choice of filling, the implant can be textured or smooth.  At one time, Textra devices were in vogue, but now they’re falling out of favor, due to their connection to higher levels of inflammation and ALCL, a rare type of lymphoma.  Dr. Gear has never use textured devices in his career.

We only use implants made by Mentor which are proudly manufactured in the USA.

Dr. Gear’s consultation for plastic surgery is focused on getting to know the patient and their motivations behind breast enhancement. A brief medical history review and medical exam is conducted in addition to sizing exercises to better envision the desired outcome. Breast augmentation involves more than increasing the volume of the breasts to achieve a certain cup size.  Despite being deceptively simple operation, it is very nuanced, and requires skill to choose the right device for the right breast to achieve a safe and natural outcome with minimal complications, long-term.

Blood work is often needed for breast augmentation patients. This ensures that relevant levels are within normal range. Two weeks before surgery, patients are advised to stop smoking and consuming alcohol. Each habit inhibits optimal tissue healing. Medications that thin the blood, including aspirin, will need to be avoided. The few weeks before surgery should also include steps that will make recovery more comfortable. Patients will need to arrange time off work, pick up prescriptions for post-operative pain management, and can also benefit from gathering supplies that will be needed during recovery.

Breast augmentation surgery is performed in an accredited outpatient surgical center. Before entering the operating room, the surgical team reviews procedure details and answers any last-minute questions. In the operating room, the patient receives an intravenous general anesthesia (TIVA) that will cause a deep sleep state. After anesthesia has taken effect, a breathing tube is inserted into the throat to assist with breathing. This is removed before the patient wakes up after surgery.

The patient is comfortable and unaware of the procedural details as they are being performed. As discussed in the preoperative briefing, Dr. Gear makes incisions to accommodate the insertion of breast implants. The implants are placed in a pocket of tissue either above (subfascial) or beneath the muscle (subpectoral, dual plane).  After both implants are in place, shape is observed for symmetry and size. Incisions are closed and the patient is moved to the recovery area for observation.

Patients can expect to feel sore after breast augmentation. A compression garment is applied after surgery to assist with swelling and discomfort. This may be worn for up to six weeks and should not be removed unless instructed by the surgical team. Sensations such as tightness and heaviness are common for the first 48 hours. Prescription medications are provided to alleviate pain. Most patients stop prescription medications within 4 to 5 days, after which over-the-counter medications are sufficient. Light activities may be resumed in a week to 10 days, with more strenuous activities and exercise resuming gradually over the ensuing weeks.

Breast augmentation carries inherent risks including infection, bleeding, changes in nipple sensation, implant displacement or “malposition”, and more long term complications such as capsular contracture.  Dedicate surgical technique, proper choice of implant size, and inflammation and pain management significantly decrease these risks particularly capsular contracture which is the most common reason for surgical revisions.  It is important to obtain care from a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience using various breast implant devices.  Dr. Gear values conservative cosmetics that complement a woman’s frame. The outcome of breast augmentation should be a natural-looking enhancement and improved femininity.

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Providence Plastic Surgery Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Located In Charlotte, NC
Breast augmentation is among the most popular types of cosmetic surgery and is an area of specialty for Dr. Andrew Gear of Providence Plastic Surgery Skin Center. Many women from in and around Charlotte, North Carolina, come to Dr. Gear based on the recommendation of friends and family who’ve worked with him for their own aesthetic needs. If you’re ready to explore the possibilities afforded by breast augmentation, schedule a consultation today. Online scheduling is available, or you can reach the office by phone to set up your visit.