Breast Augmentation New Jersey
When women are considering breast augmentation here in New Jersey, they often worry that breast implants will look false or unrealistic. It's good to know that breast augmentation techniques have changed greatly over the last few years, and breast augmentation is now a safe procedure that can result in long-lasting, convincingly larger breasts.
Who is a Good Candidate?
Dr. Richard D'Amico performs cosmetic breast enlargement for New Jersey and New York metro women. Saline implants are available for women 18 and older, while silicone gel implants are an option for women age 22 and older. In addition, Dr. D'Amico routinely performs corrective breast surgery for young women under the age of 18 who have tuberous breasts or other breast development issues. If you are 35 or older we ask that you have a mammogram before your implant procedure, so you will have an "original mapping" of your breasts as they appeared before surgery. Of course, if any abnormalities are found on the mammogram, these must be addressed before your procedure.
Generally, a healthy woman of any age is a good candidate for breast enlargement.
Types of Implants
In November of 2006, silicone gel-filled implants were approved by the FDA, giving you two choices for implants: silicone and saline. Based upon your needs and goals, New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. D'Amico will recommend the appropriate breast implant for you.
Silicone gel breast implants are pre-filled. Saline implants are inserted empty and are then filled; therefore a slightly smaller incision is needed to insert a saline implant. Saline implants are filled with a sterile salt-water solution.
How It's Done
Dr. D'Amico performs a variety of techniques in placing breast implants. The site of the incision, the size and type of implant (whether silicone or saline) and the position of the implant relative to your chest, will be covered at your consultation. Essentially, after general anesthesia is given, an incision is made and a pocket is created for the implant, which is then inserted, after which the incision is closed. The implant can be placed either above or beneath the muscle. Placing beneath the muscle takes a bit more time, but creates a more natural appearance and may be better for mammography.
Breast implants can be inserted through an incision around the areola, under the fold of the breast or under the armpit. Dr. D'Amico will discuss the appropriate implant method with you at your consultation. Absorbable sutures are used. Some women, particularly those who have had children or seen their weight fluctuate significantly, choose to combine breast augmentation with a breast lift procedure. In addition, liposuction or a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) can further accentuate your new breast size and contour.
Breast Enlargement Recovery in New Jersey
You will find that you'll feel back to normal in about a week, and should be fully healed in about 4-6 weeks. Although you will see results immediately, keep in mind that some swelling will make your breasts appear slightly larger than they will be after things settle down a bit, which takes about 30 days or so.
After your surgery, we will instruct you to avoid raising your arms over your head or doing any exercise that uses your chest muscles, as well as avoiding heavy lifting, for about 6-8 weeks.
You should keep in mind that breast implants are not permanent. We suggest that you visit us every year after implant surgery, so we can confirm that your implants are still functioning as they should.
Postoperative Pain
Because of the surgical manipulation of muscle required during this procedure, significant postoperative pain used to be a problem. Fortunately, the pain can be virtually eliminated with the use of what we refer to as the "pain pump," which is a tiny catheter inserted at the time of surgery. The pain pump drips Novocain right onto the affected muscle 24 hours a day to relieve virtually all the muscle pain and avoid the need for heavy drugs or narcotics by mouth. This means a more comfortable, quicker, and better quality of recovery!
Getting Started
The first step in achieving your cosmetic goals is to request a consultation with Dr. D'Amico, serving New York, New Jersey, and the Tri-State area. He enjoys spending time with you one-on-one to understand your objectives and give his professional opinion about the procedures that are best for you. You will never feel pressured to choose surgery and you will even have a second consultation visit (included with your fee) to bring along family or loved ones and ask follow-up questions. The consultation fee is applied toward any surgical procedure you choose. We are also happy to schedule appointments by phone at 201.399.4268.
