Breast Augmentation

What is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is a procedure that places implants to enlarge small breasts and improve breast symmetry. Dr. Bennett C. Yang uses both silicone and saline implants. Breast implants come in a large variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate each patient’s specific needs.

Why have Breast Augmentation?

Women may have different reasons for deciding on cosmetic breast augmentation. For example, they may wish to:

• Enhance the size and shape of their breasts
• Improve body and breast proportions
• Correct a loss of breast volume and firmness due to pregnancy, nursing, or weight loss
• Improve breast symmetry, sometimes using different breast volume implants to correct breasts that are of different sizes
• Improve overall appearance, confidence, and self image
• Improve the fit of clothing

If you are interested in getting a breast augmentation, patients need to understand that the ideal size and shape for their breasts depends on both their body’s frame and their own personal goals. Dr. Bennett C. Yang will work closely with you to create a customized breast surgery plan that helps achieve your desires for the image of your breasts’ size and shape.

Types of Breast Implants

Women now have more options than ever before in choosing a comfortable, safe, natural-looking implant for a breast enhancement. Implant options can be narrowed to two types: silicone (gel) and saline (salt water). There is now a new generation of silicone gel implants, which are approved by the FDA. You will be able to talk about those options with Dr. Bennett C. Yang during the consultation. Dr.  Yang uses both Allergan Natrelle silicone gel implants and Mentor gel implants. All current FDA-approved silicone gel implants are cohesive gel.

How Is The Surgery Performed? What Are The Risks?

Dr. Yang performs  breast enlargement  in a fully licensed outpatient surgery center. General anesthesia is used. The procedure typically takes 2–3 hours. Most patients require a week off of work to recover. Sometimes women take a longer period off work if the work is strenuous. Scars are usually well hidden from view by regular clothing. It will take a month before you can resume any exercise.
Breast implants are placed behind the pectoralis muscle. The incision is placed in the breast fold. Once the breast implants are placed, the breast lift is performed. Dissolving sutures are used. Typically, there is no need for a drainage tube.

 The Consultation

Your consultation will be with Dr. Bennett C. Yang. He will discuss your overall health and the safety of having breast surgery. Please take the opportunity to try on sizers to best match your frame and breast augmentation goals. Dr. Bennett C. Yang will help you to determine what size best meets your realistic expectations for your post-surgery breast result. If you have sagging, this, too, affects how Dr. Yang will perform the breast augmentation, as you may need a breast lift.

About the Procedure

Dr. Bennett C. Yang will make a small incision, usually located under the lower portion of the breast at the crease or fold of the breast. A pocket is created for the implant under the pectoralis major muscle. Once this pocket is created, the implant is carefully placed, centered beneath the nipple. Then the skin is sutured, using multiple layers of dissolving sutures.

Breast augmentation takes approximately one hour. This surgery is done on an outpatient basis with general anesthesia. Because safety is always our first concern, Dr.  Yang always uses a board-certified anesthesiologist at a fully licensed and accredited outpatient surgery center. We want to ensure that your surgery is as safe as possible. Following your breast surgery procedure, you will be able to rest in the comfort of your own home.

Most patients take a week off of work to recover. Breast implants require time to heal after a the augmentation procedure. Initially, the breast implants will look high and tight. It can take up to three to six months for the implants to settle and relax and give the kind of natural look that patients seek. This is something that patients need to understand before undergoing a breast augmentation. It takes about one month before you are healed enough to return to light exercise. You will need to wait two to three months before engaging in competitive sports.

Recovery and Aftercare

Follow-up visits are included in the procedure and will be arranged at the Rockville, Maryland or Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia both locations near Washington DC.
Following the plastic surgery procedure, breast enhancement patients should expect some post-operation effects and should follow specific instructions as described below.

• Patients may experience some degree of bruising and swelling. The first two days are usually the most uncomfortable. Pain medication will be prescribed for this. An antibiotic and an anti-nausea medication are also prescribed.
• Limit activity for the week following surgery.
• Avoid strenuous activities for about one month.
• Patients can typically return to work after the first week.
• A surgical bra should be worn for the first two weeks following surgery.
• Some constipation is common when taking pain medications. Added fruit, fiber, and stool softeners are recommended before and after surgery.
• Post-surgical breast augmentation massage is a key component in having a great outcome. Patients will be instructed on performing proper breast augmentation massage after

More Than One Procedure (Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift)

If there is significant sagging, a breast lift may be used in conjunction with breast augmentation to enhance the overall position of the new breasts. Dr. Bennett C. Yang can discuss this with you at your consultation.

Insurance Guidelines

In Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC, breast enhancement is usually deemed cosmetic in nature and is therefore not covered by insurance. An exception is when the indication for surgery was due to breast reconstruction.