Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery that uses implants or the patient’s fat to increase the size of the breasts. It is consistently one of the most popular types of plastic surgery each year in the United States, especially in sun-loving communities like Miami Beach.

If you want to change the way your breasts look, a breast augmentation procedure could be the perfect solution. Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gabriel Salloum offers breast augmentation with implants or fat transfer to patients in Miami Beach, FL, who are looking for beautiful, natural-looking results.

About Breast Augmentation surgery

Sometimes called augmentation mammoplasty, breast augmentation surgery changes the size of the breasts by increasing their volume. A surgeon can add breast volume in two ways: with implants or fat grafts.

The most common way to increase breast volume is with synthetic breast implants filled with silicone gel or a saline solution. Surgeons have been using implants for decades to enhance the breasts and to create natural-looking results. The results you’ll get from your surgery will depend in part on the type of breast implants you choose, and they may last anywhere from 10 to 20 years.

A breast enlargement that uses fat transfer is a two-step process. The first step is to harvest the fat from the patient’s body. To do this, a plastic surgeon will perform liposuction to remove fat from areas like the stomach or hips. Then the provider will purify the harvested fat before injected it into the breasts to enhance their size and shape.

Fat grafting is ideal for women who only want to subtly increase the size of their breasts with natural volume. It’s also ideal for women who might have extra fat in certain areas of the body, such as around the abdomen.

Breast Augmentation vs. Reconstruction

Who Can Get Breast Augmentation?

If you’re not happy with the size of your breasts, then you might be a good candidate for breast augmentation. You could be dissatisfied for a variety of factors, from changes to your breast size caused by age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, asymmetrical breasts, or weight loss, to a lifelong feeling that your breasts are smaller than you like. You might also be a good candidate for breast augmentation if one of your breasts is notably smaller or larger than the other.

Your health is an important consideration if you’re thinking about breast augmentation. Ideally, you should be in good health overall, without any untreated, chronic conditions. The ideal candidates for breast augmentation will be non-smokers who have realistic expectations about what this surgery can and can’t accomplish.

Your Consultation for Breast Enhancement

An initial consultation for breast augmentation in Miami Beach, FL, will allow you to get to know Dr. Salloum, ask any questions, and learn more about the breast augmentation procedure. Dr. Salloum will use the consultation as an opportunity to get to know you, too.

Don’t be surprised if he asks you about your goals for the surgery during your meeting or if he asks seemingly personal questions about your medical history. Any questions he asks are to get to know you better and to assess whether or not the surgery is safe and appropriate for you.

Dr. Gabriel Salloum will use any information you provide during your consultation when recommending a fat transfer or traditional implant augmentation, implant type and size, and the best surgical technique for your procedure. He might also suggest complementary or alternative breast enhancement procedures depending on your goals.

At the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery, we understand that it’s a big decision to move forward with breast augmentation. That’s why we take every step to make the experience relaxing and comfortable for our patients. Complementary valet service is available when you drive up to our practice. When you come in through the doors, you’ll enter into a luxury spa environment, complete with well-appointed and inviting consultation rooms.

No question is too big or too small to ask during your consultation with Dr. Salloum. He’s there to listen to you and guide you through the plastic surgery process.

Types of Breast Implants

Breast implants are classified based on the material used to fill them. Silicone breast implants tend to be the more popular implant type, but saline implants are a good choice for some women.

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water while silicone implants contain silicone gel in various consistencies. Saline implants are FDA-approved for cosmetic breast augmentation in women over the age of 18, while silicone implants are FDA-approved for cosmetic reasons in women over the age of 22. Either implant type can be used for breast reconstruction in women of all ages.

Implants can also differ in shape. Anatomical implants are made of a cohesive silicone gel and feature a tear-drop shape. They have a textured surface and mimic the shape of the natural breast better than round implants.

Finally, implants can vary considerably when it comes to size. The size of an implant is determined by the individual’s desired outcome and physical characteristics such as build and height. If you have a small frame, then very large implants might look unnatural and oversized. If you have an athletic build or are very tall, you might need larger implants, even if you don’t want to make your breasts that much bigger.

Keller Funnel™ Breast Implants

BENEFITS: The design of the Keller Funnel™ allows surgeons to reduce incision lengths. The ease and precision of the delivery of the implant with the Keller Funnel™ increase the options for placement. These factors benefit patients (especially those who scar easily) because incisions can be better concealed. The Keller Funnel™ can also reduce the risk of complications for patients by minimizing the potential for implant damage.

DOWNSIDE: An axillary incision (the armpit incision) is a highly specialized technique that often requires the use of an endoscope. So although it may result in a smaller scar, the patient risks a lack of symmetry because of the distance from the breast. The dangers of peri-umbilical incision include a larger area for possible infection and the possibility of abdominal scarring because the surgeon creates a tunnel from the navel to each breast. Although it’s not a remote incision, the areola incision, as the name suggests, will be made around the areola of the nipple. Though it is well camouflaged, this type of incision can cause a larger increased change of nipple or partial breast numbness. And if revisional surgery is needed later for any reason, the breast augmentation surgeon will have to create an incision in the crease beneath the breast anyway.

Contoured Anatomic Breast Implants

BENEFITS: These are the newest in breast implant shapes. These implants are known as Memory Shape, Anatomic, or Contoured. Unlike round breast implants, these have a teardrop shape. They are thinner on top and slope to a fuller projected point near the bottom of the implant. This closely imitates the shape of a natural breast. Contoured implants only come in silicone and are textured. They are textured to help keep them in place and carry the same benefits as “gummy bear” silicone implants.

DOWNSIDE: If these implants shift, the breast will look unnatural. This implant mostly provides fullness at the bottom of the breast. Teardrop implants are also more expensive than both silicone and saline.

Saline Implants

BENEFITS: Saline implants are breast-shaped silicon shells placed into the body while they are empty. The surgeon will then fill them with sterile salt water. This type of breast implant tends to feel firmer or fuller than silicone implants, which means the feel is not as close to that of natural breast tissue. Because Dr. Salloum fills saline implants to a precise size, he can produce a more exact result. Saline implants are a less invasive procedure because they are inserted empty and filled once they are inside the body.

DOWNSIDE: If a saline breast implant ruptures, the implant will deflate — causing the affected breast to change in size and shape. The leaking saline solution will be absorbed by your body without posing any health risks, but you’ll probably need surgery to remove the silicone shell. If you wish, a surgeon can likely insert a new implant at the same time. Another possible downside to this type of implant is that some women complain of being able to manually detect the outer edge of the implant, and there is a higher risk of “rippling.”

Silicone Implants

BENEFITS: Many people find that silicone implants look and feel the most natural. These breast implants are made of a cohesive gel with a gummy texture. For example, Mentor Lumera Memory Gel implants are thick with a jello-like appearance. When they are cut, they will not spread or spill. Under pressure, these implants will then return to their original form. This type of implant is preferred for those with a low level of soft tissue coverage.

DOWNSIDE: Silicone implants also have a risk of rupture and capsular contracture, which is a hardening of the tissue around the implant. Silicone implant ruptures are more difficult to notice than saline. When the implant breaks, the leaking silicone stays in the body. It can sometimes spread outside the breast and into distant lymph nodes. As unnerving as that sounds, no studies have found that this results in any increased risk of disease. Nonetheless, if a silicone implant ruptures, you will need to have it removed along with any loose silicone.

How to Choose the Right Breast Implants

Dr. Salloum can help you pick the right implants during your consultation. Choosing the implants that are best for you goes beyond picking a size. You should weigh the pros and cons of each type of implant material and consider how the shape of your implants will affect your results.

You should also know that different implants will feel different in your body. Saline implants tend to feel firmer to the touch, while silicone breast implants often create a softer, more natural breast feel.

How Is Breast Augmentation Performed?

The process of performing breast augmentation with implants varies based on the surgeon, the type of implants, and the patient. Depending on the amount of natural breast tissue a woman has, implant placement might occur over or under the chest muscles.

A board-certified plastic surgeon has multiple options for making the incisions necessary to place the implants. Common incision techniques used during breast augmentation are:

• Transaxillary
• Inframammary
• Periareolar

Dr. Salloum specializes in the transaxillary approach for breast augmentation, which involves making incisions in the patient’s armpits. The transaxillary incision is a special technique that results in a smaller, less noticeable scar. The technique requires precision and often the use of an endoscope to provide visibility during surgery.

Before breast augmentation surgery, the patient will receive anesthesia. General anesthesia, which puts the patient completely to sleep, is the most common choice for breast enhancement. A benefit of general anesthesia is that patients will not remember any part of the surgery.

Once the patient is anesthetized and Dr. Salloum has made the appropriate incisions, he will focus on placing the implants. Since every patient is different and there are many variables involved in breast surgery, Dr. Salloum will decide on a case-by-case basis which techniques are the most appropriate.

The last step during breast augmentation is to close the incisions. Once the incisions are closed, the patient will wait in the breast augmentation recovery room for the anesthesia to wear off. Initial results will be visible right away, but the patient will likely experience some swelling and bruising that affects the appearance of the new breast contours.

Recovering from Breast Augmentation

Initial recovery time can take 1-2 weeks after surgery. During that period, you should stay home from work or school and give yourself time to rest and relax. Dr. Salloum will provide you with activity restrictions and detailed instructions on how to improve your comfort and reduce swelling during your healing process. He will also let you know when you can return to work.

Why choose Dr. Salloum for Breast Augmentation?

Gabriel Salloum, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who is renowned for providing patients in South Florida with natural-looking surgical results. He is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He’s passionate about working one-on-one with his patients and giving them the focus and attention they need.

Whatever your reasons for wanting breast augmentation, Dr. Salloum is happy to work with you to help you choose the right type of breast augmentation surgery for your goals. He’s available to answer any questions and explain the procedure to you during and after your consultation.

FAQs about Breast Augmentation 

Real Patient Testimonial

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Ready for a consultation?

If you’re ready to learn more about breast augmentation, request your free, private consultation with Dr. Salloum in Miami Beach, FL, today. To schedule a breast augmentation consultation at the Miami Center for Plastic Surgery, call 305-405-6910.