Also Serving Implant Patients in Beachwood
Would bigger, fuller breasts make you feel more self-confident and beautiful? If so, breast augmentation with a board-certified and experienced plastic surgeon may be the solution. Having breast implants placed not only enhances the size and volume of your breasts, but also improves the balance and proportions of your overall body.
Drs. Mark A. Foglietti and Alanna Foglietti Fostyk have performed hundreds of breast augmentation procedures and seen the positive effects breast augmentation can have on their patients’ lives and self-confidence. Drs. Foglietti and Foglietti Fostyk are leaders in breast augmentation and pride themselves on staying on top of the latest advances and techniques in the industry. Committed to providing excellent surgical results and patient care, Dr. Mark Foglietti holds three U.S. patents on modern, state-of-the-art breast implants. By combining their technical skill and sense of artistry with advanced technologies, our Cleveland plastic surgeons are able to consistently deliver beautiful yet natural-looking results with breast augmentation.
Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
You may be a suitable candidate for breast augmentation if you:
- Have naturally small breasts
- Have breasts that have lost volume due to pregnancy, breast-feeding, weight fluctuations and/or aging
- Have asymmetrical breasts
- Are in good physical and psychological health
- Have realistic expectations of breast augmentation
Benefits of Breast Augmentation
All women who seek breast augmentation do so to increase the size of their breasts, but their reasons for having the surgery vary. Some of the reasons our patients have expressed so much satisfaction with their breast augmentation include:
- Attaining curvy and feminine proportions
- Achieving symmetry
- Boosting self-confidence
- Choosing new types of clothing that did not complement their previous bust size
- Expanding social and professional opportunities
Consultation
Prior to breast augmentation, you will meet with one of our plastic surgeons to discuss your candidacy, details of the procedure and what you hope to achieve. Your surgeon will perform a physical examination and evaluation of your medical history. He or she will also ask you to describe your cosmetic concerns and goals. All of your treatment options will be discussed during your consultation, including whether you could benefit from a breast lift with implants combination procedure. Your surgeon will work with you to develop your personalized treatment plan.
Breast Implant Choices
At Foglietti Fostyk Plastic Surgery, we offer silicone gel implants because they look and feel more natural than the alternatives. They are good at holding their form and less likely to “ripple.”
Silicone implants now come in two main shapes: round and gummy bear (form-stable). While the round variety remains the most popular choice overall, gummy bear implants are gaining in popularity due to their teardrop shape, which best resembles a natural, youthful breast. Compared to round implants, gummy bear implants are somewhat firmer and usually pricier. Though gummy bear implants have a reputation for being the safest, they also require a slightly larger incision to insert in the breast.
How to Choose Your Breast Implants
Breast implants can be placed in front of or behind the pectoral muscle. To help you select the size of your implants, our surgeons will review your size and cup preferences in detail. Our team will help you decide on the type, size, placement and other details of your breast implants based on your anatomy, lifestyle, personal preferences and other factors. You will have the opportunity to look at and touch several options to confidently make an informed decision.
Breast Augmentation Surgery Details
Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure and is generally performed under anesthesia. During the procedure, your surgeon will create an incision on the breast to place the implant. Drs. Foglietti and Fostyk utilize the inframammary incision technique, which places the incision along the natural fold where the bottom of the breast meets the chest. This placement allows the scarring to hide easily along the natural crease.
Once the implants are properly positioned and all of the surgical modifications have been made, the surgeon will close the incisions using sutures, dress the breasts with soft bandages and place a surgical bra on top. Our staff will provide you with a detailed list of instructions to follow during your recovery. We will also schedule several follow-up appointments to monitor your healing progress.
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Pain, soreness and swelling are the natural result when an implant is inserted into a sensitive area of your body, especially if it has been placed beneath chest muscles. Swelling subsides usually within 48 hours, but won’t completely subside for months.
During the first week’s critical healing period, you will be wearing a surgical bra that may be holding in place tubes to drain any accumulation of fluid. The bra provides support that your breasts need to heal and settle. Because of swelling, your breasts will appear elevated on your chest; it will take time for them to drop into their final position.
You should be able to cautiously return to your normal routine, including work or school, in about a week. Continue to sleep on your back with pillows to elevate your head and upper body. During the day, avoid strenuous physical activities, but do make time for short walks, which will improve your circulation, speed healing and help prevent the formation of blood clots.
Breast Augmentation Results
You can expect to notice that the size of your breasts has increased immediately following surgery. However, you will need to wait a few months to see the final results, as the swelling and bruising will detract from the attractiveness until they have healed.
Due to the high standard of surgery at Foglietti Fostyk Plastic Surgery, most patients can expect to see their breast augmentation last for more than a decade. Over time, however, your aging breasts are likely to change position and shape. At a certain point, you may choose to undergo breast revision surgery to restore the results of the initial procedure.
There are ways to help extend how long your surgical results will show. First, do not smoke cigarettes. Smoking is bad for the health of your skin, and your breasts’ sensitive skin is especially vulnerable. Second, maintain a healthy weight. Weight fluctuation — up or down — can change the shape or your breasts and alter the results. Third, always wear sunscreen on breast skin that is not covered up by clothing when you are outside. UV ray exposure causes the collagen in the skin to stretch out, leading to breast sagging. What is worse is that the sun can also cause your surgical scars to darken and become more noticeable.
Breast Augmentation Costs
The price of breast augmentation depends on multiple factors, including the size and style of the implants and whether the surgery is combined with a complementary procedure. During your consultation, your surgeon will provide a complete cost breakdown that includes facility and anesthesia costs so that you can make an informed decision. Drs. Foglietti and Fostyk offer breast augmentation at a rate that is fair and competitive for the high-quality care they provide and results they achieve.
Breast augmentation is an elective procedure and is therefore not covered by most insurance plans. However, our office does accept financing options through CareCredit, a top healthcare financing lender, for patients who would benefit from making payments toward the total cost of breast enhancement.
Complementary Procedures for Breast Augmentation
The primary objective of breast augmentation surgery is to increase the size of the breasts. Women who experience breast ptosis will not have their breast sagging corrected with breast augmentation alone. In fact, adding breast implants to already sagging breasts may exaggerate the droopiness. Our surgeons frequently combine breast lift with breast augmentation to ensure that your breasts are both larger and elevated to a youthful, appealing position. This option can be discussed in more detail during a consultation.
Because Drs. Foglietti and Fostyk are experts at a variety of cosmetic procedures, many patients who wish to undergo multiple surgeries at once choose them as their plastic surgeon. Having two or more surgeries on the same day can help to save on certain costs (like anesthesia) and allow you to overlap the recovery periods. Patients often choose to combine breast augmentation with abdominoplasty or a facial surgery.
Breast Augmentation FAQs
Breast augmentation is a significant decision that many women consider to enhance their appearance, boost their confidence, or achieve their desired body proportions. At Foglietti Fostyk Plastic Surgery, we understand that you may have many questions about the procedure. Below, we have compiled answers to common concerns to help you feel informed and empowered as you explore your options.
I’m interested in state-of-the-art breast augmentation performed by a master surgeon — what are my choices?
Hundreds of thousands of women in America choose breast augmentation surgery each year, and its popularity continues to steadily increase. Plastic surgeons have responded to the demand with a variety of new options and innovations. At the vanguard of such advances are experienced surgeons such as Dr. Mark Foglietti, who holds three U.S. patents on modern, state-of-the-art breast implants.
In general, the two types of implants used for breast augmentation are saline and silicone gel. The skilled Cleveland-area plastic surgeons of Foglietti Fostyk Plastic Surgery prefer silicone for its strength, versatility and natural feel. With both types of implants, the liquid or gel is contained within a flexible silicone shell. Silicone fillers themselves come in two varieties: a cohesive gel and a form-stable gel that is used in “gummy bear” implants, so-called because their feel and consistency are redolent of the popular candy.
How do I decide which implant is right for me?
Implants are not one-size-fits-all. There’s an array of sizes and shapes to match your individual body type and your own expectations. The key to choosing the right material, shape and size for your procedure is to share your goals with your surgeon, ask plenty of questions, review your surgeon’s before-and-after photos, and visualize in your mind (or with implant sizers) how you will look after breast augmentation.
Will I need to stay in a hospital?
The experienced Cleveland-area plastic surgeons of Foglietti Fostyk Plastic Surgery have performed hundreds of breast augmentation surgeries as outpatient procedures, using general anesthesia. The entire process will normally take one to two hours.
Will there be scarring?
Some scarring is inevitable, but new techniques have made it possible to position implants in ways that ensure that scars are less noticeable. In an inframammary procedure, the incision is made under the breasts, so the breast itself hides the incision.
How will the feel and firmness of my breasts change?
The new high-tech silicone implants are soft and lightweight. After a breast augmentation, the breasts feel natural and smooth.
What is the difference between breast augmentation and breast lift?
Breast lift focuses on restoring a youthful profile to the upper body by raising the breasts and reversing sagging. By elevating the position of the breasts and nipple on the chest, the procedure can create the appearance of larger volume, even though a small amount of skin and tissue is normally removed during the surgery. In addition, by improving symmetry and restoring a “perky” look by returning low or downward-pointing nipples to a natural appearance, breast lift creates a profile that is more dramatic in its projection, shape and proportion.
Can breast augmentation be performed in conjunction with other procedures?
Yes, this is commonly done, especially as an element of a suite of surgical procedures known as mommy makeover. These procedures target the changes the body often undergoes as a result of pregnancy. Mommy makeover may also include liposuction, to shrink specific areas of stubborn fat; tummy tuck, to repair the abdominal wall and remove excess folds of skin; and breast lift, as described above.
What are some of the risks of breast augmentation?
In the hands of an experienced surgeon, the likelihood of complications is minimal. In general, possible adverse outcomes include:
- Capsular contracture, which develops when scar tissue forms around an implant. With this condition, patients feel pain and notice a hardening of breast tissue. This type of scarring can also cause an implant to rupture.
- Symmastia, in which migration of the implants or improper positioning makes it look like the breasts are joined in the middle of the chest.
- Breasts that look asymmetrical. This can be caused by implant malposition, or may be the result of implants that were properly placed but have moved from their original location. However, all breasts have slight asymmetry and it is important for patients to acknowledge that. Breast augmentation can also help create more symmetrical breasts if different-sized implants are placed.
- Implants that rupture, or whose outlines are clearly visible or have developed a “rippling” appearance.
Can I Expect My Breast Implants to Look and Feel Real?
While some women seek breast augmentation to attain very large breasts, most women we treat want natural-looking breasts. Unless otherwise requested, we prioritize creating a breast profile that is proportional to the body with realistic-looking results. Gummy bear implants help to imitate the natural slope of youthful breasts if that is your desired shape. The texture of these implants is also the closest to real breast tissue.
How do I know if it is time for breast revision surgery?
Most patients who have had breast augmentation surgery need breast revision surgery 10 to 20 years after their first procedure to maintain the results. If it feels like your implant has shifted out of place or lost its desired shape, you may want to consult with a plastic surgeon to see if revision surgery is appropriate. By this time, the aging process may have caused significant breast sagging, which could also warrant having breast lift. You may choose to remove and replace your implants or remove them altogether.
How do I choose the right breast implant size that will fit my body proportions and look natural?
Choosing the right implant size is a personal decision that should be made in consultation with your surgeon. We will evaluate your body proportions, including your chest width, breast tissue, and overall body frame, to recommend a size that complements your natural shape. During your consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to try on different sizers or view 3D simulations to get a better idea of how various implant sizes may look on your body. Our goal is to help you achieve a balanced, natural appearance that meets your aesthetic desires.
Will breastfeeding be affected by breast implants, and are there specific implant placements that are better for future breastfeeding?
Breast implants typically do not affect your ability to breastfeed. However, the placement of the implants can make a difference. Implants placed beneath the chest muscle (submuscular placement) are less likely to interfere with breastfeeding than implants placed over the muscle (subglandular placement). Discussing your plans for future breastfeeding during your consultation allows us to recommend the best surgical approach for your needs.
What are the key differences between saline and silicone implants, and how do I know which one is best for me?
Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater and tend to feel firmer, whereas silicone implants are filled with a gel that closely mimics the feel of natural breast tissue. Silicone implants generally provide a more natural look and feel, especially for women with less natural breast tissue. Both types are safe, but personal preference and your specific body type will determine the best option for you. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each during your consultation to ensure you’re comfortable with your choice.
Can I still undergo a mammogram or other breast screenings with breast implants, and will the implants affect the accuracy of the results?
Yes, you can still undergo routine breast screenings, including mammograms, with implants. However, it’s important to inform your radiologist about your implants before the screening. Special imaging techniques, such as displacement views, may be used to ensure accurate results. Breast implants may slightly obscure some mammogram images, but experienced technicians can adjust the procedure to minimize interference.
How do breast implants affect athletic activities or exercise, particularly for high-impact sports?
Breast implants typically do not prevent you from participating in sports or high-impact activities. That said, larger implants or those placed over the muscle may cause discomfort during certain activities. If you’re an athlete or regularly engage in high-impact exercise, we recommend submuscular placement for better support and less interference with your muscle function. You may need to adjust your sports bras or athletic wear to ensure adequate support during exercise.
To explore your breast augmentation options with our board-certified plastic surgeons, please contact Foglietti Fostyk Plastic Surgery at our Cleveland office today.
