Breast augmentation is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed in the United States every year. Women typically desire this procedure to improve their breast size and shape. 

What is breast augmentation?

There is a lot to understand about the type of breast implants (silicone or saline), where they are placed (above or under the muscle), placement of scars.

Additionally, a breast augmentation can be combined with a breast lift or mastopexy. This surgery changes the shape of your breasts, but it doesn’t alter the size.

How to find a surgeon

The most important part of considering breast augmentation is choosing the right surgeon. Make sure you see a board-certified plastic surgeon. 

Ask questions about your procedure and make sure you feel comfortable with your surgeon of choice 

Surgeons website to find a board-certified plastic surgeon near you.

And while preoperative planning is important to optimize your surgery, recovery is just as essential to ensure an excellent outcome. 

How long is a full recovery?

In general, full recovery from a breast augmentation can take on average 6 weeks. Each person is different, so for specifics make sure you talk to your board-certified plastic surgeon. 

Let’s break down the recovery into a few stages so you can better understand how to prepare.

Acute Recovery:

This period is usually immediately post-operation. 

Your breast will be wrapped and you will be transported to the recovery room, where you will likely feel groggy and sore. 

At this point, your surgeon may elect to give you a local numbing pain block to improve any discomfort you are experiencing and reduce narcotic use. This typically lasts around 12 hours. 

Because you have just woken up from anesthesia, you will need someone to drive you home and stay with you overnight.

The first 3 to 5 days

The first few days after surgery are the most uncomfortable.  

Your surgeon will recommend instructions on how often to take antibiotics and muscle relaxants or pain medications for the first few days after your procedure.

Ideally, any strong narcotic medications should be discontinued within the first few days since they cause constipation and prolonged use can lead to a longer recovery.  

While some patients report pain, most patients experience tightness or muscle aching at this time. 

This can be in the breasts, shoulders, neck, and back. These symptoms are best controlled with a muscle relaxant such as Valium. For most women, this sensation resolves over the next 3 to 5 days.

You will also have instructions on how to care for your incision and what bra or garments to wear.

Bruising, swelling, and minor bleeding from the site is all normal. If something does not feel right, call your doctor.

1 week

By this time, you should have minimal discomfort that can be managed with over-the-counter medications.  

You should be seen by your surgeon within this time frame, and most women are able to resume light daily activities. Women who work at desk jobs are usually fine to return to work and drive. Many physicians encourage a few short walks 1-2 times a day. 

Next few weeks

During this time, you will start to feel like yourself again and get back into your routine. 

It’s important to note that your wound heals approximately 10% per week and so most doctors do not recommend resuming an exercise routine, especially upper extremity focused workouts, until about 4-6 weeks after surgery. 

Additionally, patients with labor-intensive jobs may have to wait 3-4 weeks after their procedure before returning.

If you have a physically demanding job, you’ll need to be out of work for 3 weeks or more. You’ll also need to avoid heavy lifting and intense physical activities, like running.

2 months

After about 2 months, your physician should assess your healing and clear you for all normal activities. 

It's vital to follow your doctor's care instructions closely so that your breast implants heal properly and there are no complications.

Possible complications  

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure, and every procedure has potential risks. Complications can include

• Unsightly scars

• infections

• bleeding problems, like blood loss. 

• Asymmetries between your breasts

• Implant malposition

• Breast and nipple pain or numbness

• Poor cosmetic result 

• breast cellulitis

• breasts appear to merge (symmastia)

• skin dimpling or visibility of the implant 

• scarring around the implant 

• implant leak or break

• breastfeeding problems

• breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma  

• breast implant illness 

Tips for recovery

There are things you can do in order to avoid complications and enhance your recovery experience. 

Make sure you discuss all concerns with your physician before the surgery. 

Follow instructions regarding medication frequency and duration, wear your surgical garments as instructed, and avoid activities that your physician discourages. 

Ask friends and family to help. Prepare healthy meals ahead of time and take the rest you need to heal well. 

Summer is right around the corner. And despite your best efforts at diet and exercise, stubborn or excessive areas of fat may remain resistant to your routine. 

Contemplating liposuction or an alternative fat reduction procedure is very common and understanding your options can be confusing. The goal, of course, is to destroy fat cells. I’ve outlined the most popular treatments available and the benefits and risks of each procedure. 

Who is a good candidate for a fat reducing procedure?

These procedures are great for individuals who have great skin tone and texture, but who are looking to get rid of stubborn fat in the abdomen, thighs, flanks (“love handles”), back, arms, and double chin. 

The ideal patient:

• Is close to her/his ideal body weight and is confident she/he can maintain that weight after the procedure.

• Has an active lifestyle and good general health. Although fat removal usually is permanent, any cells left behind can continue to grow with weight gain.

• Has good skin elasticity.

• Has realistic expectations on what can be accomplished with the procedure.

LIPOSUCTION 

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a powerful cosmetic procedure to address stubborn areas of fat that are not conducive to weight loss and exercise. This minimally invasive technique has been popular for decades because it can predictably remove fat and consistently deliver dramatic results.

What areas of the body can be treated with liposuction?

Common areas of treatment include the abdomen, thighs, hips/flanks, chin, arms, and back. Other areas may be considered based on your body’s shape.

How does it work?

This surgical procedure involves making tiny incisions (holes) in your skin to initially place a specific type of fluid and then a cannula or metal tube to suck out the liquid and fatty deposits.  

There is minimal scarring and small stitches at the incision sites are usually removed in a week

How long does the procedure take?

Treatment time varies from 1 hour to several hours and can be done in an outpatient surgical facility. Compression garments are recommended postoperatively. 

What is the recovery time and downtime?

Depending on the amount of liposuction desired, your surgeon will determine if the procedure can be performed in an outpatient facility or in the hospital to monitor you overnight. 

You will likely be placed in a compression garment to limit and improve initial swelling. Most patients complain of dull pain and soreness. 

Downtime is minimal and results can be seen about 1 month after surgery with final results about 6 months postoperatively.

What are the risks?

Every surgery has risks. In this procedure, bruising and swelling are normal. Pain may be present but tolerable. Other complications include dimpling or irregularities in skin contour, infection, asymmetries, etc.

Who is properly trained to perform this procedure?

You should choose a board-certified plastic surgeon to perform this procedure as she is well trained and understands the subtle nuances to obtain the best result. 

COOLSCULPTING

What is Coolsculpting?

CoolSculpting is a noninvasive, office-based treatment that destroys fat cells by cryolipolysis, or by freezing the fat. 

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Once the cells have been frozen, the body naturally eliminates them over the course of a few months.  

What areas can be treated with Coolsculpting?

Treatment areas include a double chin, back, flanks, bra rolls, distal knees, abdomen, inner and outer thighs, distal thighs, underneath the buttocks and upper arms.

How does it work?

During your consultation, you will be fitted with an applicator to determine if you have enough fat for proper treatment. 

During the treatment, the applicator will be placed on the treatment area and there will be a light vacuum sensation. 

You will feel a cooling effect within the first 10 minutes and may experience tingling for the remainder of the time. 

Treatment times vary from 35 – 60 minutes. These applicators cause less bruising, swelling, cramping, firmness, and stinging. 

After the applicator is detached, your provider will do a brief massage on the area to break up the treated fat cells and enhance the fat reduction. 

Describe the recovery and downtime?

There is no downtime, but some patients may experience redness, bruising, lightweight feel tingling, numbness but this is temporary and eventually disappears completely. 

Results are visible after one treatment. However, depending on the desired outcome, multiple treatments may be encouraged. 

When will I see results?

According to clinical tests, the CoolSculpting procedure achieved a satisfaction rate of 95% among patients. 

Although transformation can occur in some patients during the first three weeks following their session, the most dramatic results usually appear one to three months after treatment.

Most patients do not require more than one treatment session for a final result.

KYBELLA

What is Kybella?

Kybella is an injectable medication that hat breaks down the fat by stimulating

a chemical reaction. 

What are the on-label treatment areas?

Kybella is currently only FDA-approved to be used to address small areas of fat under the chin, but some practitioners are using it off-label to treat the upper breasts, abdomen, and thighs for example. 

How does it work?

Your practitioner will determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure based on your anatomy. The medication is often injected superficially over the surface of the treatment area. Kybella may require a few treatment sessions for full effect.

What are the recovery and downtime?

You may experience some redness, swelling, and bruising around the injection sites, but these side effects are typically mild and improve quickly.

Most patients can resume their activities the day after the treatment. 

Results are best seen about 12 weeks after treatment. 

Additionally, there are radiofrequency and ultrasound energy technologies in the noninvasive fat reduction space. 

There are obvious benefits to all of these options, but the only way to truly know which will be best for you is to meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has the knowledge and surgical experience to guide you on the best result.