Breast Augmentation NYC

When making the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery, it is important to choose a plastic surgeon who is highly experienced and well-trained. Alesia P. Saboeiro, M.D., F.A.C.S. brings a feminine touch & is also board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Breast Augmentation using Fat Grafting

Women have always wanted to move fat from their waist or thighs to their breasts. Now it is possible! In 2007, Dr. Saboeiro and Dr. Coleman published a paper in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery discussing breast enlargement using a woman's own fat. Using the technique of LipoStructure, fat can be used for breast augmentation and reshaping of the breast to create a long-lasting and natural result. Fat can be used as an alternative to breast implants for augmentation, to "fine tune" breast reconstruction, and to disguise the edges or rippling of existing silicone gel and saline implants.

Fat grafting involves suctioning a significant amount of fat from the body, refining the fat, and placing the refined fat into the breasts. The suctioning is done gently by hand, removing fat from areas such as the abdomen, thighs, love handles, back, etc. This is done through small incisions that are generally hidden in natural skin creases. The fat is then refined and separated using a centrifuge. The refined fat is then carefully and meticulously placed into the breasts using tiny incisions that are again hidden in a natural skin crease.

Fat Grafting Advantages

• Fat is a completely natural substance
• Harvesting, or suctioning of the fat, can enhance your body shape
• The breast can be sculpted and shaped, as well as enlarged
• Only tiny incisions are necessary, reducing the possibility of scarring

Who makes the best candidates?

• Healthy women with sufficient excess body fat
• Women considering breast implants
• Women with visible saline or silicone breast implants
• Women who have had or require breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery

Prior to the procedure, a mammogram to exclude breast disease must be performed. There is no evidence that fat grafting to the breast is less safe than any other cosmetic or reconstructive breast procedure. Since it is a somewhat new procedure, we caution that fat grafting to the breast should only be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in fat grafting.

 

Breast Augmentation using Silicone or Saline Implants

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure performed to enlarge a woman’s breasts for a number of reasons:

• To enhance the body contour of a woman who feels that her breast size is too small.
• To correct a loss of breast volume after pregnancy.
• To balance breast size, when there is a significant difference between one breast and the other.
• As a reconstructive technique for various conditions, including breast cancer.

There are several things to consider when considering a breast augmentation with implants: the size of the implant, the location of the incision, the position of the implant, and the implant type.

Dr. Saboeiro will examine you and take some measurements during the consultation. She will then work with you using these measurements, and by having you try on different sized implants to determine the best size for you. It is also helpful if you bring photos of what you consider the ideal breast size and shape, so that she has an idea of your preference. If your natural breast size is very asymmetric (different from one side to the other), she may recommend using two different sized implants to help correct the asymmetry.

The incision placement will then be discussed. Incisions are made to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible. They are usually placed under the breast in the natural crease or around the lower part of the areola (pigmented portion of the nipple). Dr. Saboeiro’s preference is to place the incision in the crease, but she will work with you if you feel strongly about the placement.

Once we decide on the surgical approach, we need to determine if we are going to place the implants above the chest muscle or beneath the chest muscle. Dr. Saboeiro’s preference it to place the implant beneath the chest muscle whenever possible, as this provides more tissue to cover the implant, making it look more natural. It is slightly more uncomfortable immediately following the surgery, but well worth it in the long run. If you have significant asymmetry of the position of the nipples or significantly sagging breasts, you may also need a breast lift, at the same time that the implants are placed. If you are only slightly droopy and do not want additional scars, the implant can be placed above the muscle. This helps to fill out the extra breast skin, but does not really provide a true lift.

Lastly, we need to determine what type of implant to use. The new, FDA-approved silicone gel-filled implants that are now on the market underwent extensive testing prior to their release and are considered completely safe. They offer a more natural feeling breast augmentation when compared to the feel of saline, which is like water. The new silicone gel-filled implants do not leak like the older versions, as the gel inside is much thicker. With saline implants, if there is a hole in the shell of the implant, the saline will leak out and the implant will deflate. It will be obvious that something has happened. With silicone gel-filled implants, however, the only way to tell if there is a hole is to perform an MRI. Because of this “silent rupture”, it is recommended to have an MRI every few years if you have silicone implants in place. Dr. Saboeiro likes the new silicone gel-filled implants very much, but if you still have concerns about silicone, she will be happy to place saline implants instead. With either type of implant, you can expect a beautiful result