Breast Augmentation in Allentown, PA

Dr. Guarino specializes in breast augmentation surgery and offers this procedure to patients throughout Allentown, PA. This procedure is performed to enhance the size and shape of the breasts with the placement of either silicone or saline implants. Breast augmentation enhances breasts that are naturally small, asymmetrical, or have lost volume after pregnancy or weight loss. Results following this surgery include a fuller, shapelier breast appearance. This surgery is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States with over 350,000 surgeries performed each year.

Saline breast implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution and offer no risk to the patient in terms of extracapsular spread or silicone leakage. Saline implants are appealing to many because they generally cost less than silicone implants. In some patients, silicone may be a better option due to the rippling that may occur along the edges of the saline implant that can be visible in thin-chested women. Patients considering saline implants must be at least 18 years of age.

Silicone breast implants are filled with a gel substance that looks and feels similar to natural breast tissue. They are ideal for women who are thin-chested. Silicone implants are specially engineered so that if the shell should become compromised (a surface crack), the silicone will remain intact within the implant (known as cohesive gel implants). Silicone implant defects are rare and can only be found through an MRI, unlike saline implants which will deflate. Patients must be at least 22 years of age to receive silicone implants.

• Saline: MENTOR® or Allergan (branded as Natrelle®)

• Silicone:  Allergan (branded as Natrelle® Gel), Mentor (branded as MemoryGel®) and Sientra, known simply as Silicone Gel Breast Implants

An implant profile depicts the distance the breast will project forward from the chest wall. Implants are made in low, moderate, high and extra high profiles.

Breast implants come in two shapes. Round implants tend to offer more fullness on the top of the breast, while teardrop implants are touted to mimic the shape and look of natural breasts.

Breast implants are made with a smooth or textured surface.  Round implants can be chosen with either surface, while teardrop implants are made with a textured surface only.  

• Submammary (Retromammary):  Under the mammary gland, over the muscle (sometimes called 'subglandular')
• Subfascial (Retrofacial):  Under the fascia of the muscle       
• Dual Plane:  Along two planes/layers
• Submuscular (Retromuscular):  Mostly under the muscle
• Complete Submuscular (Full retromuscular):  Completely under the muscle

• Transaxillary:  The incision is made in the armpit (Recommended)
• Inframammary:  The incision is made in the breast crease where the breast meets the torso
• Periareolar:  The incision is made just under and along the areola
• Transumbilical:  The incision is made in the belly button (Not Recommended)

Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility and typically takes between 1-2 hours to complete. It is considered an outpatient procedure. After surgery, patients will need to rest for a couple of days, but will be encouraged to move around in order to promote circulation. As the skin adjusts to the new breast size, it is normal to feel tightness in the chest area. Patients may resume their normal exercise routines within 4-6 weeks. It typically takes around 6 months for the breasts to fall into their final position. The result is a softer, natural looking breast appearance.

The cost for breast augmentation surgery will vary depending on whether saline implants or silicone implants are used. The average cost for breast augmentation using saline implants is about $5,400-$5,700. Silicone implants generally run about $1,000 more.

Both saline and silicone implants are popular choices among surgeons and patients. In general, patients with a decent amount of breast tissue are good candidates for saline implants, while those with limited tissue and thin chest walls will benefit from silicone.

Patients sometimes have concerns about the safety of silicone breast implants because of the attention they received in the media years ago. However, the FDA did approve their safety. In addition, no evidence has ever been found to link silicone breast implants to cancer, auto-immune deficiency disease, or any other illness. Ultimately, 62% of today’s breast augmentation patients choose silicone over saline. For reconstruction cases, they choose them 3 times more often.

Breast augmentation will help with size, but it will not correct sagging. If you are happy with the shape and laxity of your breasts, then implants alone may meet your cosmetic goals. If sagging is what is most bothersome to you, then you may be considered for a breast lift. During your consult, we will determine if you are better suited for breast augmentation, a lift, or a combination of the two.

Modern engineering creates strong and durable implants. With proper care and regular check-ups, the risks for rupture are rare. If a saline implant does rupture, the solution will be absorbed by the body and the implant will deflate, becoming visibly noticeable. If a silicone implant ruptures, the cohesive gel will stay intact and will not leak into the body. An MRI will be necessary to detect a silicone defect.

Most implants will last about 10 to 15 years. Some can last even longer. If there is no rupture, leakage, deflation, or any other visible defects (such as rippling), then there is no need to change the implant or have any type of secondary surgery.