Breast Augmentation in Farmington Hills

What breast augmentation addresses

Breast augmentation can create fuller, more proportionate breasts, restore volume lost after pregnancy or weight loss, or correct asymmetry. Each plan is built around the patient’s anatomy and aesthetic goals.

Augmentation and implants

The two terms are often used interchangeably. Breast augmentation is the overall surgical procedure to increase breast size and improve shape, and it includes both implant-based methods and fat transfer. Breast implants are the devices used in most augmentations: silicone shells filled with saline solution or silicone gel, made in a range of shapes, sizes and profiles.

How the procedure is performed

At consultation, Dr. Hardaway explains the implant options, including silicone gel implants, which have a natural feel, and saline implants, which can be inserted through smaller incisions. She also covers implant shape, size and profile. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours.

Several incision locations are available:

• Inframammary — in the crease beneath the breast.
• Periareolar — around the nipple.
• Transaxillary — in the armpit.
• Transumbilical — through the navel, in some cases.

The implant can be placed in one of three positions:

• Submuscular — under the chest muscle.
• Subglandular — over the muscle and under the breast tissue.
• Dual-plane — partially under the muscle.

Which incision and placement suit you is decided at consultation, with the aim of a result that looks and feels natural and keeps visible scarring to a minimum.

Combining augmentation with a lift

Women with drooping breasts (ptosis) who also want more volume, common after pregnancy, breastfeeding, significant weight loss or aging, can have a lift and augmentation in one surgery. The lift removes excess skin and reshapes the breast tissue, and the implant is then placed, so position and volume are addressed with a single recovery period. Lift incision patterns include periareolar, vertical (lollipop) and anchor-shaped. See breast augmentation with lift.

How long implants last

Most breast implants last approximately 10 years. The figure is an average, and some patients keep their original implants for 20 years or more, while others need earlier replacement because of complications or aesthetic changes. Implant type, placement, body changes and lifestyle all play a part.

Silicone gel implants generally keep their shape and feel longer than saline implants, which may be more prone to rippling over time. Submuscular placement typically reduces the risk of capsular contracture compared with subglandular placement.

Regular follow-up appointments monitor the implants over time. For silicone implants, the FDA recommends MRI screening three years after placement and every two years after that to check for silent rupture. A saline implant rupture is noticeable straight away, because the breast deflates as the body absorbs the saline.

Recovery

Moderate discomfort, with pressure, tightness and soreness in the chest, is usual for the first three to five days. Pain medication is prescribed for this period, and most patients move to over-the-counter pain relief within a week.

The first 24 to 48 hours need the most rest, with limited arm movement and help with daily activities. Most patients return to desk work within three to seven days. Avoid lifting anything over 5 to 10 pounds for at least two weeks. Light cardio is usually possible after two to three weeks, and full exercise, including chest workouts, is typically resumed around six to eight weeks after surgery.

A surgical support bra is worn throughout recovery. Most visible swelling and bruising subsides within two to three weeks, though subtle swelling can persist for several months. The breasts sit higher and firmer at first and settle into a more natural shape and position over two to three months.