Breast Augmentation is the most common cosmetic surgery performed in the U.S. In Louisville Breast Augmentation is equally as popular. So, I thought it worthwhile to blog on the recovery following the procedure.

Silicone Implants: Because these are most commonly placed above the muscle, recovery is easier. I advise patients to expect moderate discomfort for the first 48 hours. From day 3 to 7 you should be able to increase your activity level to near normal, exercise excluded. If you have an office position getting back to work after 4 or 5 days is reasonable. Exercise is allowed starting 2 weeks after surgery. Full activity should be reasonable by 1 month.

Saline Implants: Recovery with saline is a little longer and more difficult because the muscle is involved. Moderate or more pain can be an issue for the first 3 to 5 days and can be accompanied by significant breast swelling. Return to activities of daily living is possible within 24 hours and to a desk job, 7 days is reasonable. Again, I recommend against exercise for 14 days. Full unrestricted activity can resume in the 3 to 6 week zone.

Remember though that everyone’s pain levels are different. Some women come back and say the operation was a breeze and other that it was as much as childbirth. In all cases, you will be given enough pain medicine and muscle relaxers to maximize your comfort.

All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Breast Implant specialist Dr. Lee Corbett.

Silicone Breast Implants for Louisville Breast Augmentations are on the rise.

From 1992 until November of 2007 Saline Implants were the only choice available for women considering augmentation in the U.S. The moratorium on the gel implants was lifted at that time after satisfactory safety data was submitted to the F.D.A.

In March of 2008, sales of the implants were still tilted in favor of the saline variety. About 55% of implants being used were saline and the other 45% were the silicone gel. In just a little over a year the ratios have basically flip-flopped. Now sales show about 60% of women are choosing silicone gel implants and 40% saline.

My practice stats show its about a 50:50 split.

I think a couple of important points are 1) that silicone implants are proven safe and a nice addition to your choices if you are considering augmentation and 2) that both implants are good, safe devices each with its own merits.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

All posts on this blog are presented by Kentucky Breast Implants surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett

This phone call comes into our office every day after Louisville Breast Augmentation, so I wanted to address it. The answer is there is probably nothing wrong. This can be totally normal.

Each breast has it’s own nerve supply and it’s own blood supply coming to it. The nerves come off each side of your spinal cord. They travel along with your ribs and as they do, they shoot off branches into your soft tissues. As the nerves come around under you arm they send off branches into your breast. Well, when we are making the pocket for your implant to live, we can irritate the nerves. That is why the side of the breast can get do tender.

Because each side has its own nerve supply, one side can be more sore than the other. It’s that simple.

If you have this problem, I recommend massage, non-steroidals (ibuprofen) and sometimes heat can help. The good thing is that it will go away and should get a little better each day.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

502.721.0330

All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville, KY Breast Augmentation surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett.

I have dozens of them on my website. Most every plastic surgeon does. There are Breast Augmentation sites all over the internet that have huge galleries of before/ after augmentations.

They serve a valuable purpose. I think they allow the prospective patient a glimpse at what their prospective surgeon produces, they show what implants look like, and the allow you to see how the different types of implants look.

BUT…be careful trying to use them to answer your most important question…”How am I going to look?

The first problem that I encounter when women bring in after pictures is that they don’t take into account the starting point they see in the photo vs. theirs. For instance, if you are 38 and have had 3 kids and breastfed, your tissues are not going to be the same as a 24 year old who has never been pregnant. You may be the same height, same weight, same starting bra size, but your breast is just different. So, your result will probably be different.

The other main issue is size. I can put the very same type and size implant in two women who on paper are identical, only to have them look totally different from a size perspective. Why? Because the width of your chest, the base width of your breast, the amount of skin laxity you have all factor in. Plus, your band size has to be taken into account. A C cup on a 34 bra is smaller than a C cup on a 36 or 38 band bra. Why? Because a woman with a 38 band has a bigger torso than a 34 band woman, so it takes more breast to make a C cup on her than it does on the 34 band woman.

My advice is to use the galleries as a guideline for size and appearance. If you print out a picture and tell your Plastic Surgeon you want to look exactly like this photo, he or she will probably hesitate. Look at lots of photos and develop a size range and then see how your surgeon thinks this will work for you.

Lee Corbett, MD

www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

502.721.0330

All posts on this blog are presented by Louisville Breast Augmentation surgeon, Dr. Lee Corbett.