Breast Augmentation Information

Specialist in breast implants, breast augmentation, and breast implant exchange for Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, & Washington DC

If you are searching for breast augmentation surgery in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington,DC, plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael J. Brown is an excellent choice to have this procedure from. His patients come from Loudoun, Fairfax, Reston, Herndon, Leesburg, Dulles, Ashburn, Middleburg, Great Falls, Potomac Falls, Alexandria, Vienna, Falls Church, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, Richmond,Washington, DC to name a few areas. He also has patients travel from all over the US for his expertise and dramatic results.

General information on breast implants & breast augmentation

Indications for breast enlargement using breast implants

Breast augmentation surgery using breast implants is a plastic surgical operation performed for breast enlargement. Breast augmentation using breast implants is performed for a number of reasons:

1) To enhance the breast contour of a woman, who for personal reasons feels that her breast size is too small and not proportional.

2) To correct or restore a loss in breast volume after pregnancy.

3) To balance breast size, when there exists a significant difference (asymmetry) between the size of the breasts.

4) As a reconstructive technique for various breast loss conditions.

5) Replacement of breast implants for medical or cosmetic reasons.

The shape and size of a woman’s breasts prior to breast augmentation surgery will influence both the recommended breast implants size and the final results after the breast augmentation. If the breasts are not the same size or shape before breast augmentation surgery, it is unlikely that they will be completely symmetrical after breast enlargement surgery. Different sized breast implants may be selected in an effort to adjust or correct for the breast mound asymmetry. Usually subtle or minor breast volume asymmetries will be corrected with the breast implants.

Understanding breast anatomy and where breast implants are placed is very important for a woman considering breast augmentation using breast implants.

To see the steps of breast augmentation using 3-D illustrations, visit the breast implant surgery page.

Breast implants filled with saline or silicone gel

Breast implants are either filled with saline or silicone gel. Currently silicone gel-filled breast implants are restricted for use in the United States when used for cosmetic breast enhancement or breast reconstruction. Breast implants that contain silicone gel have been restricted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since February of 1992 to women who are participating in approved study programs. The controversy about silicone gel centered around concerns about auto-immune diseases and the silicone gel.

Saline-filled breast implants are still widely available for both breast augmentation and reconstruction. All breast implants are subject to device tracking according to federal law. The FDA has recently begun the timely process of lifting the restrictions on the use of silicone-gel breast implants. The time required to actually see silicone gel-breast implants on the market without restriction can only be guessed at or approximated. Suffice it to say that at least there is some light at the end of the tunnel to begin to allow silicone-gel breast implants back on the open market. It may be as soon as 2006?

Breast implant life expectancy

Patients undergoing breast augmentation surgery must consider the possibility of future revisionary or secondary breast implant surgery. Breast implants cannot be expected to last forever. It is not known how long the current breast implants on the market will last if filled correctly and placed correctly. All data that is used to make predictions or recommendations about how long a breast implant will last are based on anecdotal or retrospective reviews. The reviews cover broad eras in time, reviewing different surgeons using different techniques, and in some cases, even different breast implants. The older silicone gel devices that were placed in the late 1980s and even early 1990’s should be replaced today. The same can not be said for saline filled devices that were placed during the same time period. The outer shells of these breast implants may be different and the inner ‘filler’ certainly is different. If the saline device is not deflated, then it does not need to be replaced.

The breast implants used today are excellent devices and come with a lifetime replacement guarantee. So if a breast implant was to deflate, the company would replace the device. In most cases, you may have an extended warrantee that may cover all costs associated with replacing a deflated breast implant that occurs during the first 10 years.

Incisions used for breast augmentation

Breast enlargement, or breast augmentation using breast implants is accomplished by inserting a breast implant either behind the breast tissue or under the chest muscles. Incisions for breast augmentation are made to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, usually under the breast, or around the lower part of the areola, or in the armpit. The method of inserting and positioning breast implants will depend on your preferences, your anatomy and your surgeon’s recommendation for breast augmentation.

Alternatives to breast augmentation surgery

Breast Augmentation is an elective surgical operation. Alternative treatment would consist of the use of external breast prosthesis or silicone padding, or the transfer of other body tissues to enlarge breast size. These would be alternatives to avoid breast implants used for breast enlargement surgery.

Financial responsibilities of breast augmentation surgery

The cost of breast augmentation surgery involves several charges for the services provided during breast enlargement surgery. The total includes fees charged by Dr. Michael J. Brown, the cost of breast implant devices and surgical supplies, anesthesia, laboratory tests, and possible outpatient hospital charges, depending on where the breast augmentation surgery is performed. Additional costs may occur should complications develop from the breast enlargement surgery. Secondary breast implant surgery or hospital day-surgery charges involved with revisionary surgery would also be your responsibility.

Risks of breast augmentation surgery

Every surgical procedure involves a certain amount of risk and it is important that you understand the risks involved with breast implants used for breast enlargement. Additional information concerning breast implants may be obtained from the FDA, package-insert sheets supplied by the implant manufacturer, or other information pamphlets required by individual state laws.

An individual’s choice to undergo a surgical procedure, like breast augmentation is based on the comparison of the risk to potential benefit. Although the overwhelming majority of women do not experience the following complications after breast augmentation, you should discuss each of them with Dr. Michael J. Brown to make sure you understand the risks of breast augmentation, potential complications, and consequences of breast enlargement surgery.

To see the steps of breast augmentation using 3-D illustrations, visit the breast implant surgery page.

To learn more about silicone-gel breast implant, click on the link.

For more information click on the icon above or to see the actual breast augmentation surgery be performed on a live person, visit one of Dr. Brown's breast specific web sites.

Prior to any surgical procedure, it is imperative that you have read and understand the consent forms required for a plastic surgical procedure.

Return to our Virginia breast augmentation overview.

Breast Aug 5'0"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'0"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'1"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'3"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'3"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'5"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'6"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'6"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'7"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'7"
Click to enlarge & animate


Breast Aug 5'9"
Click to enlarge & animate

Click to see another
250 photo sets