Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, and Breast Reduction
Each year, an increasing number of women come to our office seeking breast enhancement, whether breast augmentation with breast implants, breast lift or breast reduction. Breast enhancement surgery has become a popular cosmetic surgery choice for many.
We offer a range of superior breast enhancement services, including breast augmentation with breast implants, breast reduction and breast lift. Our patients return to our office because they trust the expertise, experience and professionalism provided by our practice. Dr. Dolsky and staff take the necessary time and care to ensure that every patient enters their procedure with confidence and realistic goals. For those aspiring to healthfully enhance their image, there is no better choice than Cosmetic Surgery of Philadelphia.
We encourage you to use the following information as an educational tool to aid you in determining if breast reduction or breast augmentation might be beneficial for you. Thoroughly researching a cosmetic procedure before committing to surgery is not only wise, but has a positive impact on the entire breast enhancement process. As always, our team is always ready and able to answer any questions you have. Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.
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Breast Augmentation
At our practice, breast augmentation involves the surgical placement of silicon or saline-filled implants behind the breast tissue or muscle for the purpose of increasing cup size. Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia. Recovery period varies depending on the patient’s age and the type of implant used. Implants placed underneath the muscle usually require a lengthier recovery period than those placed behind the breast tissue.
Choosing Size
During your ‘sizing’ consultation, Dr. Dolsky and his expert staff will assist you in choosing an implant size. You will also be given a preliminary sizing consultation which will allow you to become familiar with what your new appearance will be. Patients usually find this time to be the most exciting and interesting part of the consultation period. Preliminary sizing is also a good time for patients to really determine if they want to proceed to surgery.
Our office is equipped with a variety of breast implant ‘sizers’ and surgical bras to allow you real life experience of post surgical results. The sizers are placed inside the cups of the bra to give you a realistic idea of what you will look like after your surgery.
You will always be given ample time to make a decision on your breast implant size and this decision is not required at the preliminary sizing. Often patients will request a second sizing to make a final decision.
Incisions in Breast Augmentation
Dr. Dolsky, offers his breast augmentation patients choices regarding incisions for the insertion of saline breast implants. Each incisional approach has its advantages and disadvantages. All of the incisions are good. None is perfect. If you have no preference, Dr. Dolsky will make a recommendation based upon your physique, pre-operative breast size and shape, and your level of physical activity.
Inframammary (in the fold under the breast): An incision, one to two inches long, is made in the fold in the shadow under the breast. Through this incision, a pocket is made either behind the breast or behind the pectoral muscle. The implant is inserted into the pocket and inflated.
The only disadvantage of this incision is that there may be a noticeable scar under the breast. This would be especially true if there is no defined fold in the breast prior to the operation or there is no ptosis (or hanging) of the breasts overlying the fold. In general, ninety percent of these incisions heal with minimal scarring. To learn more about this type of breast enhancement, contact Dr. Dolsky.
Periarolar (around the lower border of the nipple/areola): This incision is made at the margin of the pigmented portion of the areola and the skin of the breast. Pockets for the implant can then be made either behind the breast or behind the pectoral muscle. The breast implants are inserted, inflated, and adjusted for symmetry.
This incision produces almost universally excellent scars. In my experience, ninety-nine percent of the periareolar scars are excellent. The periareolar approach allows for the placement of the implant either above or below the pectoral muscle and allows for precise adjustment of the height of the breast during the surgical procedure. In some patients, who either have a very small areola or desire even further camouflaging of the periareolar incision, Dr. Dolsky has developed the zigzag incision. This application of scar revision and diminishing technique to breast augmentation, results in almost imperceptible scars. To learn more about this type of breast enlargement, contact Dr. Dolsky.
Axillary (armpit): The axillary incision is made through a crease in the armpit. The pocket for the breast implant can be made in front or behind the pectoral muscle.
The advantage of this approach is that there are no scars on the breasts. This approach tends to be slightly more uncomfortable in the immediate post-operative period. In women with breasts that require significant adjustment of the height of their breasts or lowering of the inframammary fold, this approach is not as precise as the periareolar approach. To learn more about this type of breast augmentation, contact Dr. Dolsky.
Umbilical (belly button): A small incision is made in the belly button. With a special instrument, a tunnel is made from the incision to behind each breast. The breast implants are rolled up like cigars and passed up these tunnels. They are inflated, checked for symmetry, and the incision is closed.
The advantage of this approach is the absence of scars on the breasts. The disadvantage of this approach is the necessity to place the mammary prosthesis in front of the pectoral muscle and behind the breast. In women who are either very thin or have minimal breast tissue, the placement of the prosthesis in front of the pectoral muscle, might result in some visible or palpable folding of the implant edges. To learn more about this type of breast enhancement, contact Dr. Dolsky at his offices near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Breast augmentation can help reverse the effects that aging and pregnancy have on the body, and has provided many women with an enhanced quality of life and a stronger self-image.
People throughout the world, including thousands of our patients seeking superior results have had successful breast augmentation. Our staff’s experience in the breast augmentation procedure will minimize any risks and increase the likelihood that your procedure will be a success. In addition, you will always be given detailed information about the benefits and risks of breast augmentation and any other procedure you are considering.
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Breast Augmentation “Pain Suppression Pump”
In an effort to make our patients as comfortable as possible during the first 72 hours following surgery, Dr. Dolsky uses a state-of-the-art pain suppression pump.
The pain suppression pump that Dr. Dolsky uses is called an ON-Q®. The ON-Q® has two slender catheters (about the size of sewing needles) that are inserted into the breast cavity next to the implants. There should be no scars produced at the site of the catheter insertion. For 72 hours an IV drip will be directed to the implant site to make post-operative recovery more comfortable.
Dr. Dolsky will see you one to two days following surgery for a post-operative examination. The pain suppression pump will be removed shortly after the examination. Most patients will feel much better by the time the suppression pump is removed. There is no discomfort involved in having the pain suppression pump removed. In fact, many patients cannot even feel the catheter being removed. At this stage, the patient can shower and wash their hair as long as they follow Dr. Dolsky’s specific instructions.
Dr. Dolsky is able to make breast augmentation patients feel much more comfortable using a combination of surgical techniques, oral pain medication and the pain suppression pump. For optimum comfort, Dr. Dolsky recommends breast augmentation patients use the pain suppression pump. You will be given a brochure on ON-Q® to take home with you.
People come to our practice seeking breast augmentation for any number of reasons, including to reduce sagging that occurs after nursing a baby or to enhance small breasts. Whatever your reason, we encourage you to contact our office to schedule an appointment.
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Breast Reduction
Woman with large breasts can suffer from a host of maladies, from back pain and breathing problems to low self-esteem and depression. Dr. Dolsky’s extensive experience and expertise in breast reduction has helped countless patients achieve completely natural looking, more proportionate breasts. If you decide to have breast reduction, choosing our practice is the first step in ensure outstanding results.
Breast reduction involves the removal of fat, breast tissue and skin to relieve the adverse effects associated with excessively large breasts. To achieve a natural look, the nipples are also artfully repositioned during the surgery. Breast reduction is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. During the recovery period, you may experience some discomfort, swelling and numbness in the nipples; however, these effects should fade with time. The surgery is not scar-free although a bra can effectively hide any scarring.
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Breast Lift
Breast lift ( mastopexy) is a procedure used to raise and reshape sagging breasts. Breast lift can significantly improve appearance and self-confidence.
The procedure usually takes one to three hours and is performed under general anesthesia. Several techniques can be used depending on breast size and amount of sagging. Generally, an incision is made along the natural line of the breast. Next, excess skin is removed, the nipple is repositioned and the breast is moved to a higher position. As incisions can be made along the natural crease of the breast or in the areola (dark area around the nipple), visible scarring is minimal. Some patients choose to have breast implant surgery at this time to further enhance results.
The best candidates for breast lift surgery are individuals in good mental and physical health with realistic expectations on the outcome of their procedure.
As always, we will help you establish realistic expectations for the outcome of your breast enhancement surgery, and our experts will provide you with a detailed assessment of your case. Please contact our office for further details.
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