Breast Augmentation

Breast Enhancement with Implants

Like many women, you may desire a breast augmentation due to a loss of volume in your breasts. What once enhanced your physique and complemented your femininity may now look dull or flat. Perhaps you have never felt completely comfortable with your current shape and have always wanted a full-bodied figure. Either way, your breast size can significantly impact the way you feel about your appearance.

Whether due to weight loss, the results of pregnancy or simple heredity, your breasts can lose their natural shape, begin to droop, or lack structure altogether, but with a Detroit breast augmentation, you can restore that natural fullness and regain an appreciation for your figure.

If you choose to have your breast augmentation surgery at our Michigan cosmetic surgery center with Dr. George T. Goffas, you will have peace of mind knowing that your results will be artfully designed to look natural to your body. You will even find added security in our AAAHC-accredited and licensed surgical facility or a private hospital setting, which ensures your safety and confidentiality during the surgical process.

• Why Consider Breast Augmentation
• Things to Consider Before Surgery
• What Is the Procedure Like?
• Your Recovery
• Life After Breast Augmentation
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why Consider Breast Augmentation

Your breast augmentation will involve the use of implants to restore a natural volume to your breasts, which will give them a better projection off of your chest. If you are feeling self-conscious about your breasts and the way they shape your body contour, then breast augmentation may improve your self-image and help your body look more proportional.

Your decision to receive a breast augmentation is a personal one, and it’s a choice that should be made for your benefit alone. Boosting your self-esteem, rejuvenating your appearance, and enhancing your body contour are all good reasons to get a breast augmentation.

Boosting your self-esteem, rejuvenating your appearance, and enhancing your body contour are all good reasons to undergo breast augmentation.

Who is a good candidate for breast augmentation?

A good candidate for breast augmentation surgery is typically someone who is in good overall health, does not smoke, maintains a stable weight, has realistic expectations about the achievable outcomes, and wishes to enhance the size and shape of their breasts. Candidates may include patients looking to restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy, achieve a more rounded breast shape, or improve natural breast size asymmetry. To best determine if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation with implants, potential patients should have a thorough consultation with a qualified cosmetic breast surgeon to discuss their goals and any potential risks associated with a breast enhancement procedure.

Things to Consider Before Breast Surgery

Your Consultation

To create the most personal result that is unique to you, you will meet one-on-one with Dr. Goffas to discuss your aesthetic goals and determine your candidacy for breast implant surgery. You will review your medical history together and discuss your options for surgery, which will include decisions about the type of implant to use, the proper incisional technique, the shape of your new breasts, the best location to have the surgery performed, and recovery instructions.

We want you to feel completely comfortable receiving your breast augmentation and make sure that we answer all of your questions during your consultation. Together with Dr. Goffas, you can view our before and after gallery and weigh the options of whether breast augmentation surgery is right for you.

Video transcript

“I think generally with breast surgery, the main determinants are what the patient might want or what they think they might want and what they’re willing to deal with. If they want potentially an ideal result and have like perfect breasts, they might need an implant and a breast lift. But sometimes they don’t like the incisions from the breast lift, so you may tell them the only way you can basically fill the skin envelopes is with a larger implant, which is fine. If they’re willing to accept that. If patients have ideal breasts, then I try and steer more towards smaller implants just because over time, women’s breasts seem to get bigger obviously, and it’s a harder fix if you’re going to remove an implant, and now you have to do a lift. So if you can keep people with smaller implants and get good results that way and with the broad technologies like they are nowadays that didn’t exist 15 years ago, you can get good results with it.

But I do try and have the patients kind of guide us as to what they would think was good. So I’ll send them to an implant website and try to have them find before and after photos that they feel would look good for them. And then if we can do that, it’s worth it because otherwise, I tell them if I don’t see a photo, I have about a one in three chance of making them happy. Either they’re going to wake up and say my doctor’s great or they’re going to say I wish I was a little bigger or maybe I’m too big. So if they bring in the photos, we actually use those during surgery. We’ll put them up on the operating wall and then use sizers and determine what size implant to use for them. Beyond that, with the other breast surgery, sometimes some patients come in if they’re happy with their breast size and they’re just unhappy with the shape or the look of the breast, then we’ll guide them more towards a mastopexia or breast lift. And that simply moves the nipple, rearranges the skin tissue and the gland so that the breasts are in a better position. You know, with our markings and that, and it gives a more youthful appearance. The only disadvantage really is the incisions. But if you’re careful with those, you can usually get very good results with just a mastopexy alone.”–Dr. George T. Goffas

Choosing the Right Implant for You

During your breast augmentation consultation, you will decide which incision and implant type is best for the result you want to achieve. Both saline and silicone gel implants are used to increase breast fullness, and the material you choose will depend on the size, shape, and consistency you desire along with your budget.

Choosing a Silicone Implant

Silicone breast implants are filled with a viscous silicone gel that closely mimics the feel of natural breast tissue. They consist of a durable outer shell made of silicone elastomer and are pre-filled with a cohesive silicone gel before insertion. Silicone implants are the more popular choice, as many patients find them to have a more natural texture and consistency, which closely resembles real breast tissue. Silicone implants are also less likely to cause rippling compared to saline, which is an important consideration for women with thinner skin or less natural breast tissue. Silicone implants are also available in a wider range of shapes, such as round or teardrop (anatomical), allowing for a more customized breast contour.

On the other hand, it’s worth noting that silicone implants require a larger incision for placement since they are pre-filled, potentially leading to more noticeable scarring. They are also more expensive than saline implants and require patients to be at least 22 years old for augmentation. In case of a rupture, the silicone gel may stay within the implant shell or leak into the breast implant pocket, which is why most cosmetic surgeons recommend periodic monitoring through MRI scans to ensure implant integrity in the years following your procedure.

Choosing a Saline Implant

Saline breast implants are filled with sterile saltwater (saline). They consist of a silicone elastomer shell that is inserted empty into the breast area during surgery and then filled to the desired volume with saline. This unique structure allows for some flexibility in adjusting the size of the implant during the procedure, which can help in achieving better symmetry between breasts.

Saline implants are typically chosen by patients who prefer a less invasive insertion technique, as the smaller incision required to insert the empty shell can lead to potentially less scarring. Additionally, because saline is a natural substance that the body can safely absorb, some patients feel more at ease knowing that in the case of a rupture, the saline can be harmlessly absorbed. Saline implants are also available to patients 18 years and older, compared to silicone implants which are only available to patients 22 and older for breast augmentation, making them an option for younger patients.

Video transcript

“As you know, there are like two types of implants nowadays. There’s saline, which is a saltwater implant, but the outside bag basically is silicone. And then there are silicone implants where the outside is silicone, and the insides are silicone. You probably get the most natural-looking breast using a silicone implant. I favor those generally. They have a lifetime warranty, and I think they give you your best overall results. I might feel differently because I do get some patients that are very holistic, and they don’t want silicone. But if maybe the saltwater implant wasn’t silicone on the outside, and it was something else that was better tolerated by the body, I might feel that it makes more sense. But I just think, you know, as far as that being the reason, there are significant disadvantages with the saline implants, many of which are just the look, the feel, and the fact that they do leak. And when they do, you know, it’s another surgery; it’s not a simple fix.”–Dr. George T. Goffas

Implant Shape & Size

Another key consideration in your breast enhancement journey is the shape and size of your implants. It is important to choose an implant shape and size that best suits your frame and overall body proportions. Dr. Goffas will show you different implant samples, as well as before and after photos, so you can see firsthand how different implant shapes and sizes will look in the final result.

Some of the common implant shape and size varieties include:

• Round Implants: These implants provide a uniform fullness throughout, contributing to a fuller appearance, especially in the upper portion of the breasts.
• Teardrop (Anatomical) Implants: Have a sloped contour with more fullness at the bottom than the top, mimicking the natural shape of the breast.
• Low, Moderate, and High Profile: Implant profiles determine how much the implant projects forward from the chest wall. Low profile implants offer a subtler increase and a more natural look, moderate profile implants offer a balanced look, and high profile implants provide a more pronounced and dramatic silhouette.

Your Breast Augmentation Procedure

To begin your procedure, one of our physicians will place you under general anesthesia to ensure your comfort during surgery. Dr. Goffas will then expertly make an incision based on the type of implant you are using and its size.

Dr. Goffas can either perform submuscular placement (implants placed under the pectoral muscle) or subglandular placement (implants placed over the muscle) during your augmentation procedure. Again, the placement chosen will depend on your aesthetic goals, which you will have discussed during your consultation.

Once your implants have been placed, Dr. Goffas will close the incisions with sutures and take you to the recovery area of our facility. Breast augmentation procedures typically take no more than two hours to complete.

Recovery After Breast Augmentation

When your surgery is finished, your physician will bandage your breasts, which will help support them during the recovery process. You will be able to see and feel the results of your breast augmentation immediately after surgery, but it will take some time for your incisions to heal completely.

Generally, you can return home after a few hours in our recovery center, where you can begin caring for your breasts according to your physician’s instructions, ensuring that your incisions heal properly. It may help to have a friend or family member assist you during this recovery period since your mobility will be limited.

For the security of your incisions, we recommend that you limit physical activity for the first 24-48 hours after surgery. You will experience some soreness from swelling for the next few weeks as you heal, which is natural, and Dr. Goffas may prescribe medications to help with any pain and reduce the risk of infection. He will also schedule a follow-up appointment a few days after your surgery to make sure your recovery is going smoothly.

You can resume your normal daily routine at the discretion of your physician, and as you increase your activity you can begin incorporating your new breasts into your everyday life. As long as you follow your post-operative instructions and visit your physician for routine examinations, you can enjoy your new breasts for years.

Life After Breast Augmentation

To maintain the best breast augmentation results, its important follow a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a stable weight, as significant weight fluctuations can alter breast appearance. Regular exercise that includes chest strength training can help support the breast tissues, although it’s important to wait until your surgeon gives you clearance to resume physical activity. Proper support with well-fitted bras is also crucial to maintaining breast shape and position.

Breast implants do require some maintenance to ensure they remain safe and effective. For instance, patients with silicone gel implants are often advised to undergo periodic MRI scans to detect silent ruptures, typically starting three years after the initial surgery and every two years thereafter. This monitoring helps ensure that any leaks or changes in the implant’s integrity are addressed promptly.

Remember, breast implants are not lifetime devices. They typically last between 10 to 20 years, although this can vary widely based on the type of implant, individual factors, and any complications that may arise. Farther down the line, it will likely become necessary for you to schedule a breast revision surgery to exchange and update your breast implants.

Video transcript

“Generally, with the recovery from breast surgeries, placing an implant is probably the most difficult recovery because you’re dissecting a space for the implant, and usually, we’re going underneath the pectoralis muscle. So there is significantly more pain with breast augmentation initially. When you add a lift to that procedure, it’s not as painful because you’ve created the space, and that’s most of the pain. The recovery with augmentations and augmentation mastopexies is usually a solid week to 10 days where they’re very sore, and they can’t lift their arms very much. But you can usually get patients back to work, depending on their work, within a week or so.

The breast reduction patients that we do, just a straight breast lift, I feel the breast lift patients, we can get them back to work within four or five days. They do fairly well with those. A breast reduction, similarly, probably within a week or so, just because, again, you’re reshaping tissue; you’re not really creating a large space or creating a lot of trauma. So those patients have an easier recovery. The reduction patients are generally the happiest because you’re helping them physically as well as cosmetically. The augmentation patients are generally very happy too, but I don’t know if a lot of them are really prepared for some of the discomfort after. Some of them tend to be younger patients that haven’t been through as much.”–Dr. George T. Goffas

Frequently Asked Questions

Are breast implants safe?

Yes, breast implants are generally considered safe for augmentation and reconstruction. Both saline and silicone implants are FDA-approved, which ensures they meet strict safety standards. Regular monitoring and advancements in implant technology have made implants a reliable option for millions of women seeking augmentation or enhancement. While there are inherent risks, as with any surgical procedure, the widespread use and continuous improvement of these devices continue to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness.

How do I choose between saline breast implants and silicone breast implants?

Choosing between saline and silicone breast implants largely depends on your aesthetic goals, body type, and personal preferences. Silicone implants are known for their more natural feel and are less likely to ripple, making them a popular choice for patients seeking a natural appearance, especially for those with less natural breast tissue. On the other hand, saline implants offer adjustability in size during surgery and a smaller incision size, as well as peace of mind concerning leakage since the body can safely absorb saline. During your consultation with Dr. Goffas, he can help you decide which breast implants are right for you.

Do I need a breast augmentation or a lift?

Determining whether you need breast implants, a breast lift, or both depends on your specific aesthetic goals and the current state of your breasts. Augmentation with breast implants increases breast size and fullness, while a breast lift addresses sagging by removing excess skin and repositioning the breast tissue for a firmer appearance. Many women opt for both procedures to achieve a fuller and more lifted look if they experience volume loss along with sagging. Dr. Goffas can help you determine which option will be best to help you get the breast appearance you desire.

When can I go back to work after breast augmentation?

The timeline for returning to work after breast augmentation surgery typically ranges from a few days to a week, depending on the nature of your job and the specifics of your surgery. For jobs that are less physically demanding, many patients find they can return within 5 to 7 days. However, if your job involves heavy lifting or strenuous activity, Dr. Goffas may recommend a longer recovery period of up to several weeks to ensure you are healing properly.

Can I breastfeed if I have implants?

Yes, many women with breast implants are able to breastfeed successfully. The ability to breastfeed depends largely on the type of surgery performed and where the incisions are made, as certain techniques can preserve key milk ducts and nerves more effectively than others. It’s important to discuss your desire to breastfeed with your Dr. Goffas prior to surgery, so he can plan your procedure with this consideration in mind.

How much does breast augmentation cost in Detroit?

The cost of a Detroit breast augmentation will vary depending on your implant type, as well as if you require any additional procedures, such as a breast lift or liposuction, to achieve your goals.

How long do breast implants last?

Breast implants typically last around 10 to 20 years, although this can vary depending on the individual and type of implant. Scheduling follow-ups with your healthcare provider, as well as getting regular MRIs, are important to monitor the condition of the implants and decide when a replacement might be necessary.

Can I combine my augmentation with another procedure?

Yes, it’s very common to combine breast augmentation with other cosmetic surgery procedures to achieve more comprehensive results. Popular combinations include a breast lift to address sagging, liposuction for additional body sculpting, or procedures like tummy tucks (as part of a “mommy makeover”) to streamline and rejuvenate overall body contour. You can discuss adding these procedures to your personal surgical plan during your initial consultation with Dr. Goffas.

About Cosmetic Surgeons of Michigan, PC

Board certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Goffas has served patients in the metro Detroit area for over 15 years. He would be happy to discuss questions you may have about breast augmentation and to help you decide if our cosmetic surgery center Cosmetic Surgeons of Michigan, PC is the right fit for you. To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Goffas, contact us online or call (586) 773-6900.

Areas served:

• St. Clair Shores
• Detroit
• Grosse Pointe