Breast Augmentation Boston, MA

The breasts are one of a woman’s power centers. Not only do they feed your children, but they help define and shape the feminine physique. However, some women are not satisfied with the size and shape of their breasts. They are either too small or not the same size (asymmetric). This dissatisfaction may negatively affect your sense of self, ability to wear the clothes that you’d like and even your confidence level. In addition, breasts that are out of proportion to one’s body can throw off your entire body contour, making you look heavier when you actually are not.

A breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. This can be achieved with breast implants (saline or silicone), fat or a combination of the two. The right choice for you is going to depend on your anatomy,  quality of skin and goals. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Sean Doherty has extensive experience in breast surgery. His aim for his Boston area patients is to deliver a completely natural and rejuvenated looking breast.

Breast Augmentation / Breast Implant Before & After Photos

*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary

With the proliferation of information on the web and social media these days, many patients come into the office thinking that they need a specific breast implant. But it is important to remember that no one implant looks the same on any two patients. So, it is imperative to be assessed in person. During your initial breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Doherty will perform a physical exam, listen closely to what bothers you about your breasts and go through before & after pictures to get a clear idea of your desired outcome.

Since cup size varies by bra manufacturer, it is vital to focus more on the “look” that you want than the bra or cup size. Dr. Doherty spends considerable time walking you through the implant options that will work best with your unique anatomy. For him, a successful breast augmentation is one that increases the size of your breasts, improves your body contour and maintains your desired form and firmness.

Are You a Candidate for Breast Implants?

If you are considering breast implants, your reasons and goals may be very different than someone else’s. Women tend to seek a breast augmentation because:

• they are dissatisfied with the size of their breasts and would like to enlarge them
• their breasts are different sizes (asymmetric) and they would like to restore balance
• pregnancy and/or breastfeeding has caused their breasts to lose volume and sag
• weight loss and/or aging has deflated the size and shape of their breasts
• having breasts that are a disproportionate size to the rest of the body makes it difficult for them to exercise and find flattering clothes

While women of all ages seek breast implants, Dr. Doherty does require that his younger patients wait until their breasts are fully developed before considering a breast augmentation in Boston. Eighteen is typically the earliest age to discuss surgery unless there is a significant medical issue.

*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary

Choosing the Right Breast Implant for you

There are any number of things to consider in addition to size when choosing a breast implant. The first is what type of implant you’d like: saline or silicone. While each has its pros and cons, Dr. Doherty more often uses silicone implants for his patients. He finds that more of his patients request silicone implants than saline. The new generation silicone gel breast implants are one of the most tested medical devices in the world and have an extremely high safety factor They also look and feel more natural than saline.

There are pros and cons to each. As mentioned, Dr. Doherty typically places silicone gel breast implants as they tend to look and feel more natural. However, some patients do not like the idea of a foreign substance in the body. Saline is naturally occurring, but these implants can be more palpable in some patients. The Ideal Implant is a saline implant that acts more like silicone gel so it can be a good option for patients who do not want silicone. All implants, however, have a silicone shell that surrounds the fill.

The main benefit of saline is that if it ruptures, you will know immediately as your breast will deflate. With silicone, the only way to tell if there is a leak is with an MRI. That is why it is called a silent rupture. It’s important to keep in mind that while all implants have a very low rupture rate, this rate is actually slightly higher with a saline implant than a silicone implant. The FDA also recommends that all patients with silicone gel implants have an MRI 5 years after their implants are placed, and then every 2-3 years after that in order to monitor for silent ruptures.

The second consideration is shape. There are certain instances where a teardrop or “gummy bear” implant may be more appropriate, but, in general, Dr. Doherty uses a round implant in most of his breast augmentation patients. Again, he feels that it delivers a more natural look and it is associated with more predictable and safer outcomes.

Fat grafting, which is a procedure in which fat is removed from one part of the body and placed in another such as the breasts, can be an option for patients who only want a small bump in size. Dr. Doherty will often combine fat grafting to the breasts with an implant to smooth out transitions and deliver a superior look and feel to your breast augmentation. All of this will be discussed with you in detail during your initial consultation. Fat is typically harvested from the lower abdomen or flanks.

Breast Augmentation Procedure in Boston

Dr. Doherty performs all of his breast augmentation surgeries under general anesthesia in the operating room at a Boston area hospital or a fully accredited surgical center. Depending on your body type, native breast size and desired implant, he will make an incision in one of two locations:

• within the crease underneath the breast (inframammary fold)
• around the edge of the areola (peri-areolar)

The right breast implant for you will be discussed during your initial consultation.

After making the incision, Dr. Doherty will insert the breast implants either above or beneath the pectoral muscle. The right choice will be based on your body type, implant size and activity level. He uses the Keller Funnel to place the implants via a “no-touch” technique. This greatly decreases the risk of capsular contracture as well as other complications that can occur after breast surgery with implants.

Breast Augmentation / implant Real Patient Testimonial in Boston

Breast Augmentation Recovery for patients

Once your breast augmentation is complete, your chest will be wrapped with gauze and/or a support bra. You can expect to feel more discomfort than pain for the first few days following surgery. You will be asked to move around but with limited activity for the first few post operative days. This will be controlled with over the counter or prescribed medications. There will be some swelling for the first couple of weeks after the breast augmentation surgery, but patients are typically able to resume many of their normal activities such as driving and working at a computer within 2-3 weeks. Patients may start exercising at 3 weeks, and resume upper body workouts at 4-6 weeks after surgery.

It may take anywhere from 3-6 months for your swelling to fully subside and for your breast implants to drop into their final position. So, patience is a must. However, before you know it, your new silhouette will emerge and you can begin to enjoy your new body shape.

*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary

To find out more about a breast augmentation with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Brookline office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.