Breast Augmentation FAQ

They’ll know only if you confide in them. Our doctors strive to achieve beautiful, natural-looking results for breast augmentation patients. Often the incisions can be placed inconspicuously along the breast crease where they cannot be seen – with or without clothing.

If you have minor sagging, breast implants will fill out your breasts enough to take care of the sagging. If you have significant sagging, Dr. Chang might recommend having a breast lift along with breast augmentation to elevate your breasts while adding fullness.

While both saline and silicone implants are available, choosing breast implants is basically a personal matter. Saline implants are rolled up, inserted, and then filled with salt water; therefore, they usually require a tiny incision. The size of saline implants can be customized after placement by adding and removing saline. Many women say that silicone implants feel more like natural breast tissue, but because this type is pre-filled it often requires a larger incision than saline implants. Implant size, placement, and surgical technique are determined by personal preference as well. Dr. Chang will help you decide which is best suited to your individual preferences and body type.

After over a decade of study, the FDA found no scientific link between silicone breast implants and breast cancer. You should still have regular mammograms after breast augmentation because your chances of having breast cancer don’t diminish with breast implants. Skilled X-ray technicians can perform a mammogram without compromising your implants.

Women considering breast enlargement should know that implants are not made to last for a lifetime. While it may take 20 to 30 years, the outer covering of the breast implant may break down and leak. With saline-filled implants, harmless salt water is released into the body and absorbed. With cohesive gel implants, the filling stays intact. Either way, the implants can be exchanged with new implants during a simple procedure. Many women use this as an opportunity to change their implant size or material, as well.

Women who have breast enhancement surgery can often breastfeed, but it is important to share your intentions prior to surgery. Dr. Chang can take special precautions during surgery to maximize your chances of breastfeeding in the future. He might also discuss the possibility of delaying your breast surgery until after you have children, as pregnancy and nursing impart significant changes in the breasts for many women.

It is often both safe and advisable to combine breast augmentation with other procedures like a tummy tuck. Women who combine surgical procedures not only achieve more comprehensive enhancement but minimize their recovery time, which can make surgery much more convenient to fit a busy schedule. Many patients will combine breast augmentation with a breast lift or liposuction.

Choosing between saline and silicone depends on how you want your breasts to look and feel, as well as your body type and your surgeon’s assessment. Saline implants require a smaller incision but may feel firmer, while silicone implants tend to feel more like natural tissue but require a slightly larger incision.

Yes, breast augmentation can improve symmetry by selecting an implant size and shape tailored for each breast, and placing the implants to balance the two sides. Your surgeon will evaluate any disparity and recommend the best approach to harmonize your results.

Scars are typically placed in discreet locations such as under the breast fold, around the areola, or in the armpit, depending on the technique chosen. The goal is to hide them under clothing or in natural contours so they are minimally visible in everyday wear.

Many patients experience temporary changes in sensation immediately after surgery, but in most cases, sensation gradually returns to normal. Permanent loss of sensation is uncommon, though it can happen in rare cases depending on incision and placement choices.

Yes, you can continue with standard mammography screenings after breast augmentation. It’s important to inform the imaging technician about your implants so they can use special views that capture the breast tissue effectively.

Most patients can resume light daily activities within a week or two, while more strenuous activities and weight lifting can typically be resumed in 4 to 6 weeks. Your surgeon will provide you with specific guidelines based on how quickly your body is healing.

Most women are still able to breastfeed after breast augmentation, though you should discuss your goals with your surgeon ahead of time to ensure this is made part of your customized treatment plan. Pregnancy may change the shape or volume of your breasts, so timing your surgery appropriately supports long-term satisfaction.

While implants don’t have a strict expiration date, they may need to be exchanged or removed if complications occur or your preferences change. Many implants last 10 to 20 years or more, and ongoing monitoring helps to ensure your results remain safe and satisfying.

You’ll see changes right after surgery, but swelling, tightness and settling of the implants mean the final shape and position will gradually develop over 3 to 6 months. The “drop and fluff” phase is when the implants settle into a more natural appearance, usually around 3 months after your procedure.

Yes. Combining breast augmentation with other procedures such as a tummy tuck or liposuction is very common and can achieve more comprehensive results in one recovery period. Whether this makes sense for you depends on your individual goals.