At St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery, our board-certified and board-eligible plastic surgeons perform hundreds of breast augmentation procedures every year on women from Missouri; Decatur and Champaign, Illinois; Terre Haute, Indiana; and surrounding communities. We have helped many women enhance the size of their breasts and gain a sense of pride in their appearance. Our plastic surgeons have been recognized nationally for their outstanding results by Allergan, a leading breast implant manufacturer. We specialize in a customized, rapid recovery breast augmentation technique that allows our patients to get back to their lives more quickly and enjoy their results sooner.
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What Is Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation?
The rapid recovery approach to breast augmentation minimizes tissue damage and the bleeding and bruising that usually accompany any surgical procedure. While experiences vary, for most of our patients recovery is not only shorter, but more comfortable, as well. Our approach cuts the amount of time most patients need to take off from work. Some of our patients even go out to dinner the same evening.
There are a number of specific steps our surgeons take during surgery so our patients experience a rapid recovery. The rapid recovery approach was introduced more than 10 years ago and includes:
- Minimizing tissue damage, bleeding, and bruising. Our surgeons use precise electro-cauterization instead of blunt dissection to create pockets to hold the breast implants. This technique results in much less postsurgical discomfort. In fact, virtually all of our patients use over-the-counter pain relief medication rather than narcotics during surgery.
- More efficient surgery. Our surgeons’ advanced training allows them to perform breast augmentation in a methodical, yet efficient manner that ultimately leads to less discomfort during recovery.
- Breast implants that are proportional to the patient’s body. Our surgeons explain the relationship between your natural body proportions and the size of the breast implants. Patients who choose implants with the goal of getting results that look natural experience a faster, more comfortable recovery.
Who Is a Good Breast Augmentation Candidate?
Women who are in good overall health and want to change the size and shape of their breasts are good candidates for breast enlargement. Saline breast implants are approved by the FDA for use in patients who are at least 18, while silicone implants are approved for use in women 22 and older. Some of the common reasons you might consider breast augmentation include:
- You think your breasts are too small for your body
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding resulted in your breasts losing volume
- Your breasts are smaller after losing weight
- You want more flexibility when shopping for clothes and bathing suits
- Your breasts are asymmetrical
Women with positive attitudes about surgery and realistic expectations about what breast augmentation can accomplish are typically very satisfied with the procedure’s results.
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Customizing Your Breast Augmentation
Patients come to St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery with unique aesthetic goals. Our surgeons customize treatment plans based on the patient’s physical characteristics and desires. A plastic surgery procedure is never seen from a one-size-fits-all perspective, whether it is rapid recovery breast augmentation, liposuction, or a tummy tuck.
The foundation of the excellent results we achieve is established during your consultation, when you and your surgeon discuss in detail all aspects of the procedure and decisions are made based on your goals and the surgeon’s physical assessment.
Breast augmentation patients, for example, choose from a range of breast implant options and decide on surgical choices such as incision placement in partnership with their surgeon. We offer 3 incision options: periareolar (around the areola), inframammary (along the breast fold), and transaxillary (in the armpit).
Patients also choose where they want their implants to be placed — either under or over the pectoral muscle.
Our surgeons are happy to help you find the right options for you.
Preparing for Breast Augmentation Surgery
Some patients feel like they’ve been preparing for breast augmentation surgery for years. That may be true emotionally, but there are also some practical steps to take in the weeks and days leading up to your operation. Your surgeon provides detailed preoperative instructions listing certain medications to avoid, such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, for at least a week before surgery. Other steps to take before your breast augmentation surgery include:
- Getting a mammogram to establish a baseline image that can be compared to post-augmentation mammogram results
- Stopping smoking at least 6 weeks prior to surgery
- Arranging for a ride home on the day of surgery and ensuring you have an adult to stay with you for at least the first night
- Wearing comfortable clothes to our clinic the day of the operation, including a top that doesn’t have to be pulled over your head
- Ensuring you have books, magazines, or a TV remote handy at your bedside
Taking these steps before your procedure helps set the course for a smooth recovery afterward.
Your Breast Augmentation Recovery
Most breast augmentation patients can return to work or their normal daily activities just 2 days after surgery. We encourage patients to move around after returning home from surgery, most are able to move around fairly easily that night. While the rapid recovery surgical techniques we use help limit the discomfort and downtime associated with breast augmentation surgery, but we do recommend getting adequate rest during the first couple of days after surgery.
Our surgeons take the time to answer all questions about the rapid recovery techniques they use to enhance the healing and recovery process. Patients receive detailed aftercare instructions, and we check in during follow-up appointments to ensure healing is progressing quickly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does breast augmentation cost in St. Louis?
The price of breast augmentation, like all cosmetic surgery, depends on several factors. For example, the procedure cost differs based on the region of the country where it’s performed and may be lower or higher even within a particular area if you live in a large city. A plastic surgeon’s training and experience influence the cost, as does the extent of the procedure itself. Saline implants are slightly less expensive than silicone implants, and the procedure may cost more if combined with other treatments, to name just a few factors. Cost is an important consideration when choosing a plastic surgeon, but it’s wise not to base a decision only on getting the best bargain. We try to help all of our breast augmentation patients realize their cosmetic dreams by offering [link pid=203]financing options[/link].
How long after breast augmentation can I swim?
For most breast augmentation patients, it’s safe to go swimming 3 weeks after surgery; although it’s important to keep the incisions dry as soon as they leave the water. While you may feel “ready” to head to the pool or beach before 3 weeks, it takes some time for the incisions to heal properly. Feel free to put on your swimsuit and lounge by the pool or even sit in the water up to your waist while you heal.
Will breast implants affect my ability to breastfeed?
In most cases, women are able to breastfeed if they have undergone breast augmentation. There is more risk of complications if the surgeon uses a periareolar incision (around the lower edge of the areola) and places implants above the muscle, putting more pressure on glandular tissue. If you are planning to have children in the near future, be sure to talk to your surgeon about it so you can choose surgical options that fit within your family plans.
Should I get breast augmentation or a breast lift?
Women with minor breast sagging may get the results they want with breast implants, which can create the illusion of lifted breasts in those cases. But moderate to severe sagging requires a [link pid=67]breast lift[/link], which can be combined with augmentation if desired.
Can I combine breast augmentation with other procedures?
Absolutely. Many of our patients who have raised children come in with the goal of getting their pre-pregnancy bodies back. That may include liposuction and a tummy tuck, in addition to breast surgery, a combination that’s often called a [link pid=79]mommy makeover[/link]. Combining procedures saves patients money and recovery time and provides the benefit of an all-over transformation.
Our board-certified and board-eligible plastic surgeons explain your breast augmentation options during your personal consultation. [consultation]Request an appointment[/consultation] online or call our office at [phone] to book your visit.