Breast Augmentation & Breast Implants

Conveniently Located to Serve Pensacola, FL.

Breast implants for sample use only

Achieving your body goals is easier said than done. Often, it involves a lot of physical activity and a strict diet. These are also the reasons why it’s easy to give up, but don’t lose hope just yet!

Our body contouring and cosmetic body surgery options cater to diverse needs, empowering individuals to achieve their desired aesthetic goals. Whether it’s sculpting through liposuction, rejuvenating with a tummy tuck, or achieving comprehensive enhancement with a mommy makeover, our skilled surgeons specialize in tailoring procedures to meet unique aspirations.

Beyond physical transformations, these procedures often contribute to an improved quality of life and wellbeing.

Breast Augmentation Overview

Drs. Butler, Leveque, and Patterson have performed thousands of breast augmentations and other breast-enhancement procedures over the course of their careers. They make sure each operation is thoughtfully planned and carefully executed. Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery uses VECTRA 3D Imaging technology, which allows you to “try on” different sizes and types of breast implants BEFORE your breast surgery so you can be sure that your implants give you the look you want.

Planning For Breast Augmentation Surgery

Planning a breast augmentation surgery starts with a consultation with your doctor. Because breast augmentation surgery does require a week or so of recovery, planning the surgery for the best time is very important. Talk about your job and your overall lifestyle with your doctor so the best time for the surgery can be determined.

Types of Breast implants: Silicone vs Saline

Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery in Pensacola, FL offers both silicone and saline breast implants. In the hands of a highly-skilled surgeon like your doctor, either type of implant can have a beautiful and natural-looking result.

Access incisions for Breast Enlargement

There are several different types of access incisions for breast implants. The incision type depends on both patient wishes and doctor recommendations. These include:

  • Periareolar Incision: An incision that circles the areola of the breastthe 
  • Inframammary Incision: An incision under the breast
  • Transaxillary Incision: An incision in the armpit area
Breast Augmentation Pensacola, FL.

Position of Breast implants

The position of breast implants is an individual decision. Implant position – either over or under the muscle – can vary depending on the patient’s health, the type of implant, the size of the implant, and the patient body type. Patients who choose under the muscle position (the most popular choice today) benefit from having more breast tissue covering the implant. Under the muscle implants also tend to show less rippling and may have a more natural look. Over the muscle implants are easier to place, and the procedure is generally less invasive. However, over the muscle implants are not generally as natural-looking and are more likely to develop a rippling around the implant that can mar the appearance of the breasts.

Preparing for Breast Augmentation Surgery

Your doctor in Pensacola, FL. will give patients recommendations for proper preparation during a breast augmentation consultation appointment. Patients who are overweight may need to get down to a healthy weight prior to surgery. Lab tests, primarily blood tests, are required to verify that the patient is healthy enough to have the surgery. Patients should always disclose all medications – even over-the-counter and herbal supplements – that they are currently taking. Some of these medicines will need to be stopped before surgery. For example, drugs like ibuprofen and certain NSAIDS can cause thinning of the blood, which can be dangerous during surgery.

Recovery After Breast Augmentation

Recovering from a breast augmentation procedure in the best way means adhering to the recovery guidelines provided by your doctor. Most people can resume light activity after only a few days, like walking around the house. Most patients need to take at least one week off work to rest and recover, but people who have physical or strenuous jobs will need to wait longer.

Candidates for Breast Augmentation

Breast enhancement is used to improve breast size and shape using prosthetic breast implants. The usual candidates for this plastic surgery procedure are patients with small breasts who are looking for bigger breasts. Typically, breast augmentation patients are between the ages of 18 and 50.

In some cases, patients are interested in combining their breast augmentation with a breast lift for increased perkiness and volume. This procedure is known as augmentation mastopexy.

Breast Augmentation Pensacola, FL.

Breast Augmentation Process

The breast augmentation process in Pensacola, FL. is designed to add significant volume to the breasts. This surgery does not change the position of the breasts in most cases, but rather enhances them in their current position. A breast augmentation can greatly improve the symmetry of the breasts, however, ultra-precise symmetry is not a realistic expectation. After the breast augmentation process is complete, the patient will have enhanced volume and a much improved overall look in the breasts.

Breast Augmentation Techniques

There are several different techniques for the placement of breast implants. The techniques each have their own unique type of incision and method of placement for the implant. The technique used for the augmentation will depend on several things, including the patient’s wishes and your doctor’s recommendations.

Benefits of a Breast Augmentation

Most patients choose breast augmentation for aesthetic reasons. Breast implants can greatly improve a woman’s figure and even her overall appearance. Breast implants add volume to the breast, which is a welcome change for a woman who has never been happy with her breast size. Women who are looking for a more balanced figure can also benefit from breast implants. Anyone who wants the extra-curvy look that is becoming so popular today can use breast implants to easily achieve that look. In some cases, women may lose volume after breastfeeding their children, and breast augmentation can help restore that volume fully.

Breast implant Style, Texture, Profile, and Sizing

The breast implant can be either a round or a shaped (teardrop) style. Most women prefer the round implants (the traditional choice), but the newer teardrop style implants may be perfect for people who want to emphasize a specific area in the breast. Breast implant texture is also dependent on the specific patient and situation. Both smooth and textured implants are available. Smooth implants have less wrinkling, but may also have less traction within the chest than textured implants do, which may make them slightly more likely to change position. Both types of texture are safe, and your doctor can help each patient determine which will work best in their own body. Breast implant profiles vary from moderate to high to ultra-high. The volume of the implants varies from 125cc to 800cc, and your doctor will help patients to choose the ideal volume for their body type.

Guide To Breast Procedures

Guide To Breast Augmentation

What I Wish I Knew

The Breast Augmentation Procedure

Before breast augmentation, patients should be at a stable weight. Patients should not be pregnant, breastfeeding, or recently postpartum.

The procedure will take place at a surgery center or hospital in Pensacola, FL. General anesthesia is typically used to make the patient comfortable during the procedure.

A thoughtfully and carefully selected silicone or saline breast implant is placed under the breast tissue. The superior (top) part of the implant is usually placed under the pectoralis major muscle, as well (dual plane position). The top of the implant can be placed superficial to the pectoralis major muscle (total subglandular position) in appropriately selected patients.

The breast implant pocket is created and accessed from an incision in the inframammary fold (crease under the breast), an incision around the areola, or an incision in the axilla (armpit). If a trans-axillary incision is used, an endoscope may be utilized for better visualization during pocket creation. The dissection is done with electrocautery to create a bloodless field that is thought to reduce the risk of infection and capsular contracture.

After the pockets are created, temporary intraoperative “sizers” may be used to confirm or assist with the final implant selection. Once the final implant choices are made, the pockets are irrigated with an antibiotic solution.

The implants are then opened and placed directly from the manufacturer’s packaging into the pockets – being touched and manipulated as little as possible with a fresh pair of surgical gloves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thinking about breast augmentation, but have questions? Most patients have the following common questions, so here are the answers you’ve been looking for:

How long will the recovery be?

Recovery time can vary slightly based on implant placement. Whether you have over the muscle implants (subglandular placement) or under the muscle implants (submuscular placement), your recovery time will usually be no more than five-to-seven days. Most women are able to resume light activity after just a few days. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise must be delayed for longer, usually around six weeks post-surgery.

In most cases, recovery from breast augmentation is now faster and easier than it’s ever been thanks to your doctor’s expertise and skill.

How do I know if I need shaped or round implants?

Shaped vs round implants are largely a personal preference that depends upon the look you’re going for. Round implants are the most popular option. They provide fullness throughout the breast. The teardrop-shaped implants are designed to emphasize fullness at the bottom of the breast, much like the natural breast shape.

If you want the most natural look (but a less dramatic change), the teardrop shape may be best. However, most patients today still opt for the round implant. Your doctor can help you decide which works best for your needs and for your body type.

Is silicone or saline best?

The choice between silicone and saline is completely up to you. Both silicone and saline implants are used at Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery. The shaped gel “gummy bear” implants (silicone) are the most natural-feeling option. They have a set size that’s predetermined by your own preferences and your doctor’s recommendations.

Saline implants are filled with saltwater that’s much like the body’s own natural saline. Saline implants are firmer and are thus considered to feel less like natural breast tissue by some patients. Saline implants have adjustable volume, allowing your doctor to fill them to the optimal level during your breast augmentation procedure. At Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery, both types of implants have a warranty. The decision is entirely up to you, and you can base it on your personal goals.

How long after surgery can I exercise again?
We suggest waiting at least two weeks for any type of light activity. Delay moderate to heavy exercise until you get clearance from your doctor. He will typically advise you to avoid moderate to strenuous exercise for about six weeks post-surgery. The more closely you follow the exercise guidelines, the smoother your healing and recovery can be.
How much time off of work do I need?
Most breast augmentation patients need to take only a few days off of work. By that time, your pain is usually gone or is well controlled with Tylenol. However, this will be determined by how labor-intensive your job is. Your doctor will let you know the suggested time off based on your personal needs. Drs. Leveque, Butler, and Patterson, the most advanced techniques to ensure that your breast augmentation is as comfortable as possible — and that includes a quick recovery and relatively rapid return to work.

Flash Recovery Breast Augmentations. Resume Normal Activities in as Little as 24 Hours.

Flash Recovery Breast Augmentations are available at Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery in Pensacola, FL. By using advanced surgical techniques, Drs. Butler, Leveque, and Patterson can minimize downtime and increase patient comfort. In many cases, patients that choose a small to moderate implant can resume normal day-to-day activities such as showering, working, and driving in as little as 24 hours (provided you are no longer taking narcotic pain medication).

We use Vectra 3D Imaging which allows patients to “try on” implants virtually. Patients can see if a smaller implant will give them the look they want. If that’s the case, patients might be able to resume most daily activities in as little as 24 hours. Your doctor will help determine if you are a candidate for a Flash Recovery augmentation.

While many patients can resume many activities 24 hours after breast augmentation, most patients would benefit from taking a few extra days to rest and recover if possible. It is important that patients DO NOT engage in exercise that focuses on the chest muscles or lift heavy objects for at least four weeks after surgery. Your doctor will go over a complete list of “do’s and don’ts” with you at your pre-op appointment.

Cost

The cost of breast augmentation varies depending on the needs of each patient. Please see our cost estimator feature that will give you a good estimate of the price of breast augmentation. Better still, give us a call at 850-604-5949. We will be able to give you an exact price at your consultation appointment.

Exercise After Breast Augmentation

Following breast augmentation, strenuous exercise should be avoided for a period of six weeks. Even moderately strenuous exercise can cause swelling and can delay recovery, so it should be avoided for two weeks. Light exercise can be fine, but patients should stick to exercise like walking for a full six weeks to achieve the best recovery.

Contact Our Office

If you’re interested in learning more about breast augmentation in Pensacola, FL, don’t hesitate to contact Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery to schedule your informative consultation today.

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Before & After Gallery

Procedures are performed by board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Butler, Dr. Leveque, and Dr. Patterson in Pensacola, FL.

Breast Before and After images
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Meet Our Team

At Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery, we understand that the selection of a plastic surgeon is an extremely important decision for any prospective patient. We believe communication, education and individualized patient care are the foundation for creating a strong and trusting patient-physician relationship. Our entire staff is absolutely committed to providing compassionate, personalized, individual attention before, during, and after surgery. We work together to deliver the best possible aesthetic outcomes in a setting that embodies the standards and lifestyle you seek.

 

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Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery offers a variety of payment options so that your cosmetic surgery will suit your budget. All major credit cards are accepted, and financing plans are available.

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