Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants) in Clearwater

What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation, also known as a “boob job” or augmentation mammoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that increases the size of the breasts using fat transfer or implants (which can be made of either silicone or saline). Breast augmentation can also be used to restore the loss of breast volume after significant weight loss or pregnancy and improve overall breast symmetry.

Breast augmentation surgery can not only increase the size of your breasts but can also improve your body’s overall symmetry and proportions, leading to improved self-image and self-confidence.

To learn more about your breast augmentation options at our Clearwater clinic, contact Egozi Plastic Surgery today. Our clinic is conveniently located for residents of Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area, including Largo, Dunedin, and Pinellas Park.

Are You a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

Each patient’s reasons for undergoing a breast augmentation procedure will differ, whether to restore fullness after a dramatic body change, increase size, or improve overall symmetry and proportion. But while there is no “right” reason for choosing a breast augmentation surgery, there are some considerations to take to ensure you are an ideal candidate for this type of cosmetic procedure.  

Ideal candidates for breast augmentation surgery are in good physical health, with fully developed breasts. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should not consider breast augmentation in Clearwater until after they have given birth and finished nursing. 

In addition, those who are considering breast augmentation should have desired results that can be achieved with a breast augmentation, such as larger or more proportional breasts; those who are looking to correct severe drooping are likely better suited to a breast lift, which can be performed at the same time as a breast augmentation procedure.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation Surgery

If you and your surgeon have determined that breast augmentation surgery in Clearwater is right for you, you can expect to experience several benefits after your surgery, including:

• A More Proportionate Silhouette: One goal of breast augmentation may be to increase the size of your breasts so they are more in line with the size of your hips, buttocks, and thighs. Doing so will result in a pleasing, proportionate “hourglass” silhouette.
• Better Symmetry: For most women, one breast is larger than the other. This lack of symmetry varies from woman to woman. If one of your breasts is significantly larger than the other, a breast augmentation procedure can correct this lack of balance, resulting in better physical symmetry on the upper body and a more even, pleasing silhouette overall.
• Enhanced Self-image: Small, uneven, or “empty”-looking breasts can cause insecurity and low self-esteem in many women. A breast augmentation procedure to correct these issues can significantly boost your self-confidence and self-image.
• Restore Youthfulness: With age, our bodies naturally change; for breasts, this may mean drooping and sagging and a loss of fullness, especially among those who have given birth and breastfed. While breast augmentation may not be able to address severe drooping and sagging, restoring fullness to your breasts can help you look (and feel) more like your younger self, which can, in turn, improve your self-esteem.

How Much Does Breast Augmentation / Implant Cost on Average?

The cost of breast augmentation in Clearwater depends on many factors, including the type and size of the implant. Generally, the surgery ranges in price from $5,000 to $10,000. Because breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure, health insurance will not cover this cost. When consulting a cosmetic surgeon at Egozi Plastic Surgery regarding breast augmentation surgery, we’ll lay out a pre-surgery estimate of the total fees so that you can make an informed financial decision about your procedure.

Different Types of Breast Implants

Saline or Silicone Implants?

There are two different types of breast implants: saline and silicone. While both types of implants offer natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing results, there are differences in how each implant is inserted and the kind of result achieved. 

Saline Implants

Saline implants are silicone shells that are placed into the breast unfilled. Once the implant is in place, it is filled with a sterile saline solution. A smaller incision, generally made in the armpit or near the areola, is necessary for a saline implant; However, saline implants are not as commonly performed as cohesive silicone implants. Very large saline implants can easily be inserted through a telescopic incision.  

Saline implants were popularized in the US between 1992 and 2006 when they were the best — and, indeed, only — option for patients choosing to undergo a breast augmentation procedure. This is partly because the FDA temporarily banned silicone implants due to unsubstantiated rumors about their safety. Saline implants have a long history of safety and are often more affordable than silicone implants. However, they tend to feel less natural than their silicone counterparts, are more prone to rippling, and may leak.

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants are more costly, but they often produce a more natural-looking result than saline implants. Silicone implants are made of a soft gel, which means they can retain their shape effectively over time. This implant is typically inserted through an under-the-breast incisional approach, called an infra-mammary fold incision. 

Over the past decade, the advent of the modern, cohesive gel (silicone) implant has dramatically increased patient satisfaction, as this type of implant is far less likely to leak, ripple, wrinkle, or deflate than its saline counterparts. Over 95% of today’s patients choose the cohesive gel implant over the salt-water saline option.

Gummy Bear Breast Implants

Gummy bear breast implants are teardrop-shaped silicone implants rather than rounded (half-spherical). This shape of cohesive gel implants ultimately results in a more natural-looking breast for the patient.

How Is Breast Augmentation Performed at Our Clinic in Clearwater?

Dr. Egozi performs breast augmentation procedures in our state-of-the-art surgical suites in Clearwater. The surgery has five steps:

Anesthesia

Because it is an invasive procedure, breast augmentation patients are placed under anesthesia prior to their surgery. Patients can select general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. They will be able to consult with Dr. Egozi before surgery on which of these two options is more suitable for their needs. 

Incisions

After the incision is made, Dr. Egozi will insert and position your implants. The implant will be inserted either into a pocket under the pectoral muscle (submuscular placement) or directly behind the tissue of the breast, over the pectoral muscle (submammary or subglandular placement). Placement and insertion are both dependent on the size and type of implant that has been selected. 

Insertion and Placement

After the incision is made, Dr. Egozi will insert and position your implants. The implant will be inserted either into a pocket under the pectoral muscle (submuscular placement) or directly behind the tissue of the breast, over the pectoral muscle (submammary or subglandular placement). Placement and insertion are both dependent on the size and type of implant that has been selected. 

Incision Closure

Dr. Egozi will use layered sutures, skin adhesive, or surgical tape — or a combination of any of these — to close the incisions. These incisions are generally small, and proper care during recovery will ensure that any scarring is minimal. 

Results

While some rest and recovery time is required to ensure a safe, complication-free recovery, the patient can see the results of their breast augmentation surgery immediately. 

How Long Is a Breast Augmentation Procedure?

The breast augmentation procedure will take 45-75 minutes to complete depending on your choice of implant and incision area. Should you require a breast augmentation with lift, the surgery can take longer depending on the amount of tissue to lift. After the procedure, most patients remain in our recovery area for an hour for the anesthesia to wear off before going home.

Combining a Breast Augmentation with a Breast Lift

In some cases, a breast augmentation with lift is performed when the patient would like larger breasts that are higher and firmer, too. This is particularly effective when there has been a volume loss due to sagging. This is most common after children and breastfeeding. Breast augmentation is a standard procedure sought by women looking to increase the volume of their breasts. A mastopexy surgical procedure, otherwise known as a breast lift, is often used to complete the process. 

The breast lift intends to alter the shape of the breasts. It does not add volume. While the two procedures can be done separately and independently, they are often performed simultaneously. This breast augmentation and dual mastopexy procedure are often referred to as breast augmentation with lift. 

When considering this combined procedure, you should ask yourself the following questions: Would I like larger breasts? Would I like higher, firmer breasts? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, you should consider getting a breast augmentation with a lift.

Are There Any Side Effects Affiliated with Breast Surgery?

Side effects after breast augmentation surgery include soreness, discomfort, and some mild swelling and bruising. These side effects are temporary and should return to normal after a couple of weeks. Should you experience prolonged discomfort or a decrease in sensation, make your surgeon aware in one of your follow-up sessions.

Breast Augmentation Surgery Recovery

What You Can Expect Post Surgery

• In the weeks that follow breast augmentation surgery, you should avoid certain activities and habits to ease your recovery.

  • Wear a surgical bra 24 hours a day for two weeks post-surgery.
  • No sleeping on your sides or stomach for six weeks post-surgery.
  • No strenuous activity that causes your breast to bounce for at least five weeks.
  • No baths, no swimming, or soaking for two weeks after surgery.
  • Showers are allowed after a couple of days, and then you pat the area dry after a shower.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothing as much as possible.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Breast Augmentation?

Immediately after your surgery, you will feel sore and groggy, but these effects should wear off in an hour, after which you can return home. The following three to five days will have some mild discomfort treated with medication and improve rapidly. Most people only take these medications for 2-3 days. Each patient’s recovery will be different, but, on average, you can expect to return to work a few days after going home. 

Light exercise can often be resumed within one week, while more strenuous activity and heavy lifting are best delayed by at least three weeks. Breast implants take time to settle in, and your final result may take up to three months. To aid your recovery from breast augmentation, patients must follow the surgeon’s care instructions closely. Dr. Egozi prides himself on his focus on the small details, which minimize the recovery process, decreasing his patients’ downtime and bruising after cosmetic surgery. Our patients often report minimal discomfort and often claim they did not require pain pills post-surgery.

What are the Risks of Breast Augmentation?

At Egozi Plastic Surgery Center, your comfort is our priority, and all procedures are performed in a sterile and technologically advanced environment. As with any procedure, breast augmentation has risks such as bleeding and infection, but they are extremely rare in Dr. Egozi’s hands. Longer-term complications include rupture/deflations, displacement, and capsule contracture.

Why Choose Dr. Egozi for Your Breast Augmentation Surgeon

If you are looking for breast augmentation surgery in Clearwater, Florida, Dr. Egozi is recognized as one of the top plastic surgeons in the area. Dr. Egozi is a Board Certified surgeon, accredited by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. 

Alongside knowledge, Dr. Egozi has over fourteen years of experience as a solo practitioner, and breast augmentation has been one of the most common procedures performed. Visit Dr. Egozi’s photo gallery to see the results of recent Breast Augmentation procedures and to better understand how each patient is unique. 

With Egozi Plastic Surgery Center, you will be in caring hands from your initial consultation to aftercare. To learn more about your breast augmentation options and to receive a recommendation, contact Dr. Egozi’s office to schedule an initial consultation appointment.

Breast Augmentation FAQ

How Long After Breast Augmentation Can I Lift My Arms?

After breast augmentation surgery, it is recommended that patients refrain from lifting their arms by keeping them below shoulder level for approximately two weeks. It is best to wait three months before lifting anything that weighs more than 10 pounds. It is important not to raise the arms too soon to allow enough time for a capsule or pocket to form around the implants and keep them in place. 

Pushing or lifting too soon can cause breast implants to squirt out of the pocket that is forming and into the armpit or below the breast. If this occurs, it can be difficult and costly to repair.

How Many CCs Are in a Bra Cup Size?

There is little standardization across different bra brands regarding the volume capacity of cup sizes. However, studies show that a one-cup-size increase generally equals roughly 130 to 150 cc. Bras with narrower bands tend to require 130 ccs, and bras with wider bands need 150 ccs for an increase of one cup size.

What Is the Most Common Breast Implant Size?

Although women have vastly different goals for their breast implants, most breast augmentation patients wish to achieve a C cup. While breast implant sizes do not correlate to cup sizes, this typically translates to 300 to 400 cc implants. Of course, there is far more possibility than this, as implants are available from 100 to 1000 cc. During your consultation, Dr. Egozi will provide you with implant sizers to try on to determine the best size. 

How Do I Choose a Breast Implant Size?

Although shape and profile are just as important as size when choosing your breast implant, size does tend to be the most difficult decision. Women usually make their choice based on what their frame can support, the shape and size of their natural breasts or current breast implants, whether they want a natural look or a more dramatic look, whether their breasts are sagging and could benefit from larger implants to restore lost volume and numerous other factors. During your consultation, Dr. Egozi will help you make the decision best suited to your unique goals! 

Will My Breast Implants Look Bigger If I Lose Weight?

Although weight loss will not directly impact your breast implants, it may affect how your breasts appear. While a slight weight loss after breast augmentation surgery will probably have little to no bearing on your appearance, your implants will look more prominent on your smaller frame if you lose a considerable amount of weight post-op. In most cases, this will not have been intended, so the result may be disproportionate. 

Enough weight loss may also cause your implants to lose some of their fullness or even droop. If you plan to lose weight, it is important to do so before having breast augmentation surgery and to then maintain your body weight post-procedure. 

Is It Normal to Feel Your Breast Implants?

Some patients can feel the outline of their implants underneath their breasts, especially at the sides and the bottom. It is considered normal to feel these implant edges, particularly if you are thin or have less natural breast tissue. As long as you aren’t experiencing any issues, such as constriction or discomfort, then all is well.

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