Breast Augmentation

A breast augmentation surgery, also known as a boob job, is a surgical procedure that uses implants in order to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. Many women who were born with small breasts, lost breast volume during pregnancy or suffer with signs of aging seek breast augmentation surgery to improve their appearance. Breast surgery is one of the most sought-after procedures among women and is always tailored to meet your needs and reasonable expectations.

• Improved proportions in and out of clothes
• Filling out a bikini
• Wearing a strapless dress
• Avoiding use of plastic inserts or “chicken cutlets”
• Better self-confidence, relationships and sex life
• Restoring breast volume that has been lost following pregnancy or weight loss
• Regaining a more youthful appearance

There are many more choices available to women today than there were years ago, especially concerning breast augmentation surgery in Florida. Breast augmentation, or a boob job, has never been safer and more predictable. Your choices that Dr. Ress will advise you of can include the following:

• Choice of implant type – saline versus silicone gummy bear
• Choice of pocket – under the muscle, above the muscle or the newest one, subfascial
• Choice of implant size and shape
• Choice of incision location – around the areola, underneath the breast, or through the underarm

Dr. Ress will advise you during your consultation what procedure and implant best suits your needs. The cost of a breast augmentation is lower in Florida than in other places in the country, which is why many patients fly from out of state to come to Boca Raton. However the adage, “one gets what one pays for,” rings true. Bargain basement prices are low for a reason. Our cost for breast augmentation surgery is priced to achieve the best value for your money: the best price for the best quality of work.

A breast implant is a device that is used to change the shape, size and/or contour of your breasts. There are three main types of breast implants that you can choose from to gain a desired look through breast augmentation:

• Silicone breast implants: these implants are filled with silicone gel. If you are looking for an implant that feels more like a natural breast then these may be the choice for you.
• Saline breast implants: these implants are filled with sterile salt water. A benefit to saline implants is that if leakage occurs the saline water will be absorbed and naturally removed from the body.
• Gummy bear breast implants: these implants are filled with a silicone gel that is thicker than the traditional silicone gel implants. The benefit of these implants is that they maintain their shape even when the implant is broken.

The choice for breast implants should be based on several factors including how much breast tissue you already possess, how active a lifestyle you have, and your unique fashion preferences.

When you come to Dr. Ress for your breast augmentation, the first step will be for the anesthesiologist to administer general anesthesia in order to keep you safe and comfortable throughout the surgery. Then, the surgery begins. Dr. Ress will make a small incision in the crease of the breast, the armpit, or around the areola. Where the incision will be made is something that will be decided by you and Dr. Ress during your consultation. The placement of the incision determines how visible scars will be following surgery. Dr. Ress will discuss with you your options so that the two of you can decide which fits you and your body best.

Following the incision, Dr. Ress then inserts the implants in one of two ways. The first way is to place the breast implant in front of the pectoral muscle and under the lining covering the muscle. This is called the subfascial pocket. The other option is to place the breast implant under the pectoral muscle. This is called subpectoral. The placement of the implant is something that you and Dr. Ress will also decide upon in the consultation prior to your breast augmentation surgery.

Once the implant has been placed in the proper place, Dr. Ress will stitch up the incision in a way that will minimalize scarring. You will be able to see the incredible difference immediately, and the appearance of your new breasts will only get better as you progress through your healing.

Preparation for the Surgery

All instructions for after surgery are provided at a pre-operative meeting a week or two before surgery. At that meeting one of our Liv Plastic Surgery clinical providers will:

• Answer your questions (write them down before)
• Go over all the aftercare instructions
• Take “before pictures”
• Electronically send your prescriptions to your pharmacy
• Provide you Dr. Ress’ and his nurse’s cell phone numbers in case you need to reach him 24/7.

Patients 40 years old or older will require a pre-surgery medical clearance by an internal medicine doctor. You will need to stop or avoid any blood-thinning medications such as aspirin.

How Long Does the Surgery Take to Perform?

Breast augmentation surgery in Florida usually takes one to two hours to perform under gentle general anesthesia. Breast augmentation with a lift at the same time takes approximately 3 hours.

Will There Be Scars?

Any incision will leave a scar. The good news is that scars become much less prominent over 6-12 months, at which point the scars have completely matured. Healing also depends on a number of factors: your skin type, age, sun exposure, incision type and healing history.

Breast Augmentation for Moms

We also perform breast augmentation surgery for moms who want to restore their breast volume that has been lost after childbirth, in order to restore the volume lost and to obtain a natural-looking, fuller bust.

If any of the following conditions apply to you, you may be a candidate for breast augmentation:

• One or both breasts did not fully develop
• The breasts vary in size or shape
• The breasts lost their fullness or shape after childbirth
• Aging has caused the breasts to sag or lose shape
• You feel your breasts are too small

Which Patients Are Not Good Candidates for Breast Augmentation?

A person is considered a poor candidate for plastic surgery if they have unrealistic expectations of what will be achieved with the procedure. For example, cleavage is usually obtainable but not if the breasts are widely spaced apart. Breast augmentation gives a minor lift but does not substitute for a complete lift procedure when required. Unwillingness to follow instructions after surgery or hold off on heavy exercise for a short period of time. Also, if a person is a heavy smoker or vapes heavily, the risk for skin loss is much higher. Other factors that affect outcomes are history of bleeding disorders, opiate abuse, unmanaged mental illness and severe diabetes.

Dr. Ress recommends that you have a friend or family member stay with you following your surgery to ensure you are safe and comfortable. Mild discomfort and swelling are all normal following a breast augmentation. Dr. Ress will prescribe you a special combination of pain medication and muscle relaxers to help ease those symptoms. The first two days following surgery will be the most difficult, but the side effects of your breast augmentation will lessen over time. Many of Dr. Ress’ patients are able to return to work within just a week of their surgery.

Simply stated – no. Breast implants are not expected to be a lifelong device but they DO NOT need to be swapped out every 10 years.

There may be times when breast implants should be removed. Though breast implants have significantly improved over time and are safer and more reliable than ever before, there still may be situations where removal needs to occur. One such condition is referred to as capsular contracture, which is abnormally severe scar tissue formation around the implant causing pain, firmness and sometimes malposition of the implant. The scar tissue capsule should be removed or released and typically a new implant is placed.

Implant rupture or deflation requires attention but is not an emergency nor does it threaten illness; however, it should be addressed relatively quickly. Saline implant deflation is a relatively minor problem. When silicone implants rupture, in the vast majority of times, the silicone material, which is cohesive, sticks to itself in a blob and does not spread. The material stays within the capsule that has formed around the implant.

Removal and replacement of implants is a relatively minor operation with a much faster recovery than an original breast implant insertion as pocket for the implant has already occurred. Typically we recommend replacing both implants even if the second implant has not ruptured. Many times patients wish to either switch implant types to saline or silicone and include a breast lift or other procedure like liposuction.

At liv Plastic Surgery, we can remove and replace your implants for you quickly and safely. Breast surgery for the removal of breast implants can also be performed if you no longer have a desire to have breast implants.

Schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Ress and he can guide you through the steps of breast implant removal, replacement and all possible options with no pressure or pushing.

With his board certification and fellowship training, Dr. Ress is the best judge in the greater South Florida area of how to provide you with the breasts you want. A consultation with Dr. Ress will provide you with realistic options and expectations for a breast augmentation.

How do I schedule a consultation?

Easy as pie! Call the number at the top of the page and speak to one of our highly trained and knowledgeable schedulers to make your appointment. We typically see patients within 3 days of your call.

If you prefer to email, try us at info@livplasticsurgery.com for a quick response.

All consultations for cosmetic procedures are complimentary (free); however, we require a $50 deposit in case you don’t show up for your appointment.

How fast can I get my breast augmentation surgery?

How soon your breast augmentation surgery in Florida will happen following your consultation with Dr. Andrew Ress depends on a number of factors, including your work schedule and breast augmentation surgery cost if you need financing options. We offer CareCredit and other financing partners. We can schedule your breast surgery in as soon as a week following the consultations or up to a year in advance.

Post-surgery appointments

Usually, your first post-surgery appointment will be scheduled the day after surgery. When it comes to plastic surgery, South Florida breast augmentation surgery requires frequent follow-up appointments in order to examine your incisions and the skin flaps and remove any stitches.

Dr. Ress gives his post-op patients his cell phone number so you can reach him for any concerns by text message. Good communication is key to a quicker recovery and better outcome.

Plan on returning for follow-up appointments on the schedule listed below:

• Day after surgery
• 1 week after breast surgery
• 2 weeks after breast augmentation surgery when any outside stitches are removed (the vast majority of stitched are internal and dissolve on their own.
• Every 3 weeks after that
• Then at 6 month and 1 year after surgery.

This post-operative schedule mainly depends on how well and how fast you heal, therefore you may need to visit your surgeon more often if a complication, such as infection, develops after your procedure.

The purpose of these appointments is to monitor your healing progress, as well to check the cosmetic appearance of your breasts. They will appear swollen and bruised for some time after surgery, so you may only be able to see the final results six months to a year after surgery.

At liv Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ress has performed countless successful breast augmentations and his reputation is evidence of this. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and start the path to having the body you’ve always wanted.

There are 2 main methods to perform scarless breast surgery: 1. Trans-Axillary Breast Augmentation – this technique is done with a small incision in the armpit. 2. Peri-Areolar Breast Augmentation – this technique is done through the border between the areola and the breast.