Because many females with small breasts are dissatisfied with their body image and feel limited in their fashion choices, they elect for breast enhancement. Wisconsin women who are making this big decision are advised to get the care of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Breast Augmentation is a cosmetic procedure designed to enlarge a woman’s breast through the surgical placement of a breast implant.*
- The Goals of Breast Augmentation
- Good Candidates for Breast Augmentation:
- Before Breast Augmentation: What Gives the Breast its Shape?
- Your Breast Augmentation Consultation
- The Breast Augmentation Procedure
- What About Breast Implants?
- The Breast Augmentation Recovery
- Risks of Breast Augmentation
- Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation
The Goals of Breast Augmentation
The primary goal of this procedure is to enhance breast fullness and projection and secondly, to place the chest and body in a more proportional state.* Clinically referred to as augmentation mammoplasty, this cosmetic procedure aims to:
- Enlarge a naturally small breast, which is most commonly the result of an inherited condition
- Restore breast volume following pregnancy, as a result of breast-feeding or weight loss
- Achieve better symmetry when breasts are moderately disproportionate in size and shape
Breast enlargement surgery does not correct the sagging of breasts. In those women who desire an improved contour as well as increased fullness, a breast lift in conjunction with breast augmentation may be the proper choice.*
Adult women of any age can benefit from breast augmentation. It is recommended, however, that breasts be fully developed prior to breast augmentation. Women who wish to have children should know that breast augmentation does not generally interfere with a woman’s ability to breastfeed.*
Breast Augmentation Surgery Before and After Photos
* Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Good Candidates for Breast Augmentation:
- Women who choose breast enhancement procedures to fulfill their own desire for enhanced breast size, not the desire of others for larger breasts.
- Healthy women who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical condition that can hamper healing.
- Women with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for improving their own body image.
- Women with some form of Breast asymmetry who want to solve it.
Before Breast Augmentation: What Gives the Breast its Shape?
The breast consists of milk ducts and glands, surrounded by fatty tissue that provides its shape and soft feel. Situated beneath the natural breast tissue is the pectoralis major muscle. The skin envelope surrounds the breast mound and the nipple-areola complex is connected to the underlying system of milk ducts.
Your Breast Augmentation Consultation
Before undergoing breast enhancement surgery all patients will enjoy a personal pre-operative consultation. We’ll review your medical history and perform a physical examination to ascertain if you are indeed a candidate for augmentation mammoplasty. During your initial consultation, the breast augmentation costs, procedure, recovery, expected outcome, and risk of possible complications will be discussed.
Experienced Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon
For over a decade, Dr. Ember Ewings has taken pride in delivering excellence in plastic surgical care. She earned her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and completed her residency training in cosmetic surgery at Saint Louis University. Additionally, she gained extensive experience in pediatric and craniofacial surgery during her fellowship at the University of Tennessee – Memphis, and Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris, France. Dr. Ewings is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
How to Plan your Breast Augmentation
Our office will provide you with information regarding potential dates for performing the Breast Augmentation procedure, a detailed list of pre and postoperative instructions, and they will highlight any required preoperative tests.
If you would like to talk with someone who has already undergone this procedure, our office will direct you to another patient who may be able to answer additional personal questions you may have. Our staff is available to provide you with information on the type of anesthetic that will be used, where the surgery will take place, and a more detailed outline of what to expect after your breast augmentation.
The Breast Augmentation Procedure
Breast augmentation is performed under a general anesthetic in our fully licensed in-office operatory on an outpatient basis. In the preoperative holding area, any last-minute concerns are discussed with the patient, and the chest wall is then carefully marked to ensure accurate breast implant placement. Although there are several ways to insert the implant, Dr. Ewings prefers to make a small (2-inch) incision beneath the breast. The implant is then placed behind the chest muscles. Dr. Ewings prefers this approach for several reasons:
- It is easier to develop the pocket to house the implant from this approach
- The avoidance of the nerve which gives sensation to the nipple is easier with this approach
- There is no nipple areola distortion, which may occur when placing the entrance incision around the nipple.
- The placement of the implant behind the chest wall muscle, Dr. Ewings feels, gives a more natural (not operated on) look. (see the above diagram)
It takes about one hour to perform Breast Augmentation. Care is taken to make the breasts symmetrical and to preserve sensation in the nipple. Following the procedure, a support bra is placed on the patient and they are subsequently discharged about 2 hours after the procedure.*
What About Breast Implants?
Available Breast Implants:
Silicone vs. Saline Implants – 90% of my patients choose silicone over saline breast implants.
A significant number of patients that have chosen saline over silicone return in 1 to 3 years and request an exchange for Silicone breast implants.* My rationale for choosing one type of breast implant over the other is:
- Silicone is much more natural feeling than saline implants
- In my experience, there is less of a chance of leakage
- There is a smaller chance of detecting rippling on the side of the breast with the use of Silicone.
Over the past year I have chosen to use High Tension Silicone Gel Implants (Gummy Bear) in many of my patients for the following reasons:
- It has the same natural feel as the older silicone implant
- In the rare event of a rupture, the gel in this type of implant has a tendency to hold its shape and does not leak from the shell
- It has a lower rate of scarring around the implant. *
How Is the Desired Breast Size Determined?
During the initial consultation the patient’s height, weight, body type, and shoulder width are evaluated to give us a better idea of what size breast implant will produce a proportional augmentation result. Also, test implants of varying sizes are placed beneath the patient’s bra in order to give her a reasonable estimation of her desired outcome. It is interesting to note that the most common concern prior to breast augmentation is that the surgeon will overly enlarge the breast and the most common response after augmentation is: “You could have made me just a little larger”. We attribute this to the immediate moderate swelling after augmentation that eventually resolves.*
Why Choose Dr. Ember Ewings
For over a decade, Dr. Ember Ewings has taken pride in delivering excellence in plastic surgical care. She earned her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and completed her surgical residency training in plastic surgery at Saint Louis University. Additionally, she gained extensive experience in pediatric and craniofacial surgery during her fellowship at the University of Tennessee – Memphis, and Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris, France. Dr. Ewings is also Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Ewings has enjoyed caring for patients of all ages from across the upper Midwest, and performs both cosmetic surgical, non-surgical, and reconstructive procedures, and is delighted to be able to provide outreach services in Durand, Wisconsin.
She owns and operates the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire in Eau Claire. Prospective patients can reach Dr. Ewings through her online Consult Form, or at her practice, Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire – 715.833.2116 or 800.456.8222.
The Breast Augmentation Recovery
Most patients rate the pain intensity as a level 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.* All patients are given detailed postoperative written instructions, prescriptions for pain control, and an antibiotic. Light activity is tolerated well in the first week. Most patients are never so incapacitated that they can’t take care of their own basic needs. We see you one week after your procedure. At that time, all of your dressing and your sutures are carefully removed, your postoperative recovery and activity levels are again reviewed and an anticipated date for your return to work is discussed. Light employment is tolerated after one week with heavy lifting and regular activity in 3 to 5 weeks.* You are also given detailed instructions for care of your suture lines so as to help prevent excessive scarring. Your final consultation usually occurs 5 months after your procedure.
Risks of Breast Augmentation
There is a potential for complications in any surgical procedure, and breast reduction or augmentation are no exceptions. The most common complications are infection, capsular contracture, scarring, and sensation changes. During your consultation, a detailed discussion of these potential risks will be given to you before the treatment planning.
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Why Choose Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire
Dr. Ewings and the staff of the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire hope that this information will be of help to you if you are considering breast augmentation. Wisconsin women have come to us from all around the state because our staff has gained a considerable amount of knowledge regarding breast augmentation during their experience in helping more than 1,000 patients undergoing this procedure. Your inquiries are welcome.
Call us at 800.456.8222 or email us! Our staff is happy to help you!
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation
If you live near Eau Claire, WI, Plastic Surgery Clinic of Eau Claire offers breast augmentation among its services, and is conveniently located at 3221 Stein Blvd #2 Eau Claire, WI 54701
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