Breast augmentation, or augmentation mammoplasty, is a breast surgery performed using implants or fat from another part of your body to increase volume and enhance appearance.Â
Breast size and symmetry can play a valuable role in one's self-image. That's why Dr. Jessica Belz, a board-certified plastic surgeon, provides breast augmentation surgery and breast implants to patients in San Antonio, TX, and surrounding areas.
Call today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Belz or to learn more about this procedure.
See What Our Patients Have To Say!
"Dr. Belz was amazing! Love my results from my breast augmentation! She has great bedside manner and very informative on whatever questions I had! I searched through several surgeons and had multiple consultations and decided on Dr. Belz! No regrets on my choice! She's awesome!"
Candidacy For Breast Augmentation
Women with small or asymmetric breasts or those whose breasts have changed in appearance following weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding may benefit from restoring their breast volume and improving the balance of their figure with breast implants. This procedure can also be performed in conjunction with a breast lift for patients with sagging breasts.
Breast Lift vs. Breast Augmentation
A breast lift is intended to raise sagging, flattened breasts to a higher position on the chest. It removes excess skin and repositions underlying tissue. In many cases, the nipple/areola complex is also moved up.Â
Breast lifts do not return volume to the breasts. They simply lift the volume that has gathered in the lower breast area and bring it back up.
Breast lifts can result in a one-size decrease in bra size, but research has shown that this is due to the breast mass being moved rather than a loss of volume. Still, many women opt to have Dr. Belz perform a breast lift with augmentation.
Breast augmentation, on the other hand, does not remove excess, sagging skin. Augmentation has the specific goal of adding volume with implants, particularly to the upper breast area.
What to Expect During a Breast Augmentation Consultation
When you meet with Dr. Belz for a breast augmentation consultation at our San Antonio office, you will discuss your goals and expectations.
Dr. Belz recognizes that breast size and appearance are very personal preferences. You will have the opportunity to try on sizers to help determine the right size implant for you.
She will review the different types of implants available, incision options, and where the implant will be placed, either above or below the muscle. She will also discuss the risks of surgery and your post-operative recovery time.Â
Dr. Belz enjoys answering your questions and wants to ensure you feel comfortable, educated, and confident about your decision to have surgery.
Types of Breast Implants
There are two common types of breast implants: saline and silicone. Both are viable options, but some factors separate the two.Â
Silicone is an inert polymer made with no human allergies or reactions. They have a similar texture to a gummy bear. The reason for this is because the molecules within are stuck together. Silicone is thicker than saline and encapsulates a more natural feel.
Saline is a more universal option than silicone, as women as young as 18 can have it done. A board-certified plastic surgeon fills a silicone shell with a saline solution. Saline implants can be filled with any desired volume but have the same consistency as water, which creates a "ripple-like" effect in the breasts.
Dr. Belz will thoroughly discuss the different types of breast implants, as well as implant and incision location, during your personalized breast augmentation consultation. She will also review the risks and benefits of surgery and your anticipated post-operative recovery course.
How Long Will My Breast Implants Last?
Breast implants, like any manufactured product, have a lifespan. At some point, the implant shell will probably begin to degrade, allowing for leakage or rupture. The point at which this happens can vary dramatically between women.Â
All breast implant manufacturers currently guarantee their implants for 10 years and will pay for all replacement costs if their implants fail before then.Â
Implant durability is also increasing, as is the cohesiveness of the silicone gel if you opt for silicone implants. This means any leakage usually stays within or outside the shell and is easy to remove when the ruptured implant is replaced.
Still, it's a good idea to anticipate having at least two implant replacement surgeries during your lifetime, depending on how old you are at the time of your initial augmentation. Replacement surgery is easier than the original augmentation, as Dr. Belz can use the original incision locations again.
Breast Augmentation Incision Options
Several different incisions are used in breast augmentation surgery. Dr. Belz prefers using an inframammary incision (underneath your breast) or an incision just along the lower border of your areola. Both approaches have different advantages and disadvantages, which Dr. Belz will discuss during your personalized consultation.
Breast Augmentation - Before & After
Will I Have Scars After Breast Augmentation?
As with any surgical procedure, there will always be a scar. Fortunately, the scars associated with breast augmentation are usually well disguised.Â
To insert your implants, Dr. Belz typically makes incisions around the areola or along the inframammary fold, which is along the breast crease at the bottom of the breast. The incision made around the areola is usually well hidden, but with silicone implants, this incision location limits the size of the implant that can be placed.Â
Inframammary crease incisions allow for a larger implant with a slightly more sizeable scar. This can be effectively hidden beneath a bra or bikini top but will still be present.
Breast Augmentation Risks
Breast augmentation is surgery, so its risks include those associated with surgery: excessive bleeding, reaction to anesthesia, and poor incision healing.
Beyond those general surgical risks, there are some others specific to breast augmentation, including:
- Capsular contracture
- Implant leakage or rupture
- Implant shifting
- Changes in nipple sensation
- Impaired ability to breastfeed
- Breast asymmetry
- Visible rippling of the implant
Dr. Belz will discuss all of the possible risks involved with breast augmentation during your consultation.
Breast Augmentation Recovery
You may be pleasantly surprised by your recovery from this surgery. You'll return home a couple of hours after your surgery with your breasts bandaged. You'll need pain medication for 2-4 days, but the pain isn't overwhelming.
You'll return to our office one or two days after surgery, and Dr. Belz will remove your dressing. You'll then be placed in a surgical bra for support.
At this point, Dr. Belz will demonstrate breast massage techniques that will relax the muscles and help the implants settle into their breast pockets. This massage is important, as it may reduce the risk of capsular contracture (where scar tissue contracts and hardens around the implant) and decrease initial discomfort.
Most patients can return to work approximately 3-5 days after surgery. Your sutures will be removed at your subsequent visit.Â
Be diligent about wearing your bra at all times, except while showering. This keeps any stress off your incisions, which is important for their healing and makes them less noticeable down the road.Â
Normal activities can resume in 1-2 weeks, but any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise must wait for 4-6 weeks.
FAQ
The cost of breast augmentation with Dr. Belz varies depending on several factors, including the type of implants and the incision location chosen. Once Dr. Belz discusses your goals during your consultation, she can give you a clear idea of what your augmentation will cost.
Breast augmentation doesn't affect pregnancy or childbirth. There is a chance that your breast milk production can be impacted by augmentation, but Dr. Belz uses her extensive expertise to minimize this risk.
Before you can undergo a breast augmentation, there are a few things you must prepare.
Dr. Belz may ask you to have a blood test first. This is to ensure that you are in good health and can withstand the procedure's effects.
Next, you must consult your physician about the medication you are taking. If required, you may have to stop taking your medication or have the prescription altered to decrease the risk of bleeding and other complications.
Some patients notice temporary changes in nipple sensation. These include increased sensitivity, numbness, or tingling, which usually resolve within a few months as nerves regenerate. However, in rare cases, permanent changes in sensation can occur.
The risk of sensation loss is generally higher if the incision is made around the areola. This may impact the nerves that supply feeling to the nipple. Choosing an experienced surgeon like Dr. Belz and discussing incision placement can reduce the likelihood of lasting changes.
The breast augmentation procedure usually takes one to two hours to complete. The duration depends on factors like:
- Surgical technique
- Implant placement
- Whether you undergo other surgeries (like a breast lift) at the same time
Once the surgery is complete, patients spend time under observation in a recovery area before being discharged the same day.
The procedure itself is relatively quick. However, the total time at the surgical center, including pre-operative preparation and post-operative recovery, can range from four to six hours.
Since breasts contain both glandular tissue and fat, changes in body weight can alter their size, shape, and appearance.
Significant weight gain can increase breast size and may lead to a fuller or heavier look. This may cause mild sagging, especially if the skin stretches due to greater volume.
Considerable weight loss can also reduce the fat content in the breasts, making them seem smaller or less full. Weight loss may also cause skin laxity, sagging, or changes in breast shape.
Implants themselves do not change with weight fluctuation. However, the surrounding breast tissue does. This can affect how the implants sit, as well as symmetry and contour.
No. You should avoid sleeping on your stomach after breast augmentation. This is especially important during the first six to eight weeks of recovery.
Sleeping on your stomach can put too much pressure on the implants and surgical incisions. This may affect healing, implant positioning, and results.
The best sleeping position is on your back, elevating your upper body with pillows or a recliner. This position reduces swelling and promotes proper healing.
After a few weeks, side sleeping may be allowed with proper support, such as placing a pillow under your breasts for stability.
Once you've healed, you may be able to return to stomach sleeping. However, some patients find it uncomfortable due to the added volume of the implants.
Why Choose Dr. Jessica Belz?
Dr. Jessica Belz is a skilled plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. She performs various cosmetic procedures and non-surgical treatments at her practice, but she is particularly known for her exceptional expertise in breast augmentation.
Dr. Belz earned her medical degree from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. To refine her skills, she completed an elite aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery fellowship in Grand Rapids, MI, under the renowned Dr. Dennis Hammond, a pioneer in breast surgery and the inventor of the SPAIR technique.
With her careful approach and advanced training, Dr. Belz delivers natural, beautiful outcomes. She is the top choice for patients in San Antonio seeking breast enhancement.
Schedule a Breast Augmentation Procedure
Dr. Belz proudly offers breast augmentation surgery and breast implants to patients from San Antonio, TX, and surrounding areas. Call (210) 497-7100 or fill out a contact form here to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options.