Breast Augmentation or enlargement is a way of achieving a more proportional figure. Many of my patients say that before breast augmentation their clothes did not fit and hang well on them. They could not fill out their tops. Either their tops fit too loose on them, or their bottoms were too tight. Others lose breast volume after pregnancy. Their breast may have also sagged. They look at breast augmentation as a way of regaining their youthful figure.

Breast Augmentation has evolved throughout the years. Breast implants have changed and now there is a variety available. The following will give you some insight into breast augmentation, your choices, and what to expect. You should know that this article is only an introduction and you should discuss this procedure with your surgeon in detail before embarking on breast augmentation.

Los Angeles breast enhancement is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that not only helps enhance the shape and size of a woman's breasts; it can also help a woman achieve a more proportionate and flattering figure!

Women undergo Breast Augmentation for a number of reasons including Small Breasts measuring an "A" cup or less; shrinking, loss of volume and sagging from Pregnancy and Breast Feeding; Asymmetrical or "uneven" breasts; Tubular or "Snoopy" breasts; loss of breast volume due to Weight Loss; loss of breast tissue due to Aging; Ptosis or sagging of the breasts (which is often treated with a combination of Breast Lift and augmentation with an implant to compensate for loss in volume caused by the lift); and Empty Sac Syndrome where there is a loss of breast volume while the breast "envelope" remains intact.

Decision to Have Silicone Breast Implants

As a Los Angeles breast augmentation expert who practices in the greater Los Angeles area and near Beverly Hills, I often get asked if I would recommend silicone breast implants to my wife. Frankly, many national studies have established the safety of silicone breast implants and have found no link to the development of autoimmune disease, cancer, etc. Nevertheless, there are still unanswered questions about the long-term results (per FDA). Those who choose to have silicone implants enroll in the 10-year, post-approval study so that more light can be shed on the long-term effects of these medical devices

"While reviewing our Web site, you can also read about the cost of breast augmentation as well as view many before and after pictures of women who have had saline or silicone breast implants."

Differences in the Use of Saline & Silicone Breast Implants

Unlike saline breast implants, which are filled with saline after insertion in the body, the silicone breast implants are pre-filled with silicone. Therefore, silicone breast implants, especially the cohesive gel, memory gel, "Gummy Bear," and the contour profile gel implants, require a larger incision for the insertion of the implant. In fact, the FDA does not allow the use of the periumbilical approach (TUBA) for the insertion of silicone implants, because excessive squeezing or manipulation during insertion can damage the silicone gel-filled breast implants.

What are some of the important factors you should consider when deciding whether or not to get silicone gel-filled breast implants?

Breast implants do not last forever. If you decide to get breast implants, you will likely need additional surgeries on your breasts over your lifetime due to complications or unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes.

Many of the changes to your breasts following implantation cannot be undone. If you later choose to have your implants removed and not replaced; your breasts will not change back to the way they looked before your implant surgery. You may have permanent dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes.

Textured vs. Smooth implants Textured implant have a rough surface and smooth implants have smooth surfaces. According to most medical studies textured implants tend to stay softer and have less chance of having capsular contracture which meaning forming a hard capsule around them. This also depends on the location of the implant, meaning behind the muscle or over the muscle. Some surgeons also believe that textured implants do not sag as much with time.

You should also discuss the method of implant placement — Subpectoral or Subglandular — with your plastic surgeon. During Subpectoral placement, the implant is positioned under the Pectoralis Major muscle and directly over the rib cage, so that the lower part of the implant is not covered by any muscle, creating a more tear drop breast shape.

During Subglandular placement, the implant is placed above the chest muscle, but below the mammary gland, which gives the implant less protection and a higher risk of Capsular Contracture.

In the following sections Dr. Younai reviews your treatment options for breast augmentation or enlargement, including pros and cons of each procedure, potential risks and complications, recovery course, pre and post operative instructions, and esthetic outcomes. There are also many before-and-after pictures and high resolution images of breast augmentation available in our photo gallery.