Breast Augmentation

Breast size and shape can significantly impact your confidence and self-image. Whether you have always had smaller breasts or have lost volume due to weight loss or childbirth, you may be considering breast augmentation. Women from San Jose, Los Gatos, and Palo Alto choose breast augmentation at Reveal Plastic Surgery to enlarge and reshape their breasts. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Benjamin Maser and Dr. Steven J. Bates, will assist you in understanding the breast augmentation procedure through an honest discussion of your aesthetic goals and concerns.

Request a free consultation with Dr. Bates or Dr. Maser at Reveal Plastic Surgery or call (408) 356-4241 to schedule your appointment today.

Breast Augmentation
 Before & After Photos

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What Is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery procedure that adds volume to the breasts with silicone or saline implants.

Breast Enhancement With Fat Transfer

Instead of breast implants, some patients may opt for fat transfer to provide a subtle increase in breast size. Fat transfer can also enhance breast augmentation results by concealing the edge of the implants and adding fullness to the upper breast and cleavage area. When used on its own, fat transfer can increase the breasts by about one cup size. The patient will need enough excess fat to be harvested for this procedure.

How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in San Jose, CA?

Breast augmentation is a highly customized surgery, so it’s not possible to provide an exact quote over the internet. The prices at Reveal Plastic Surgery are competitive with other highly qualified plastic surgeons in the area. Cost is determined by the implants used, the surgical approach, and the patient’s anatomy. During your consultation with Dr. Maser or Dr. Bates, you will receive a written quote that’s customized to reflect your surgical preferences.

Breast Augmentation Candidates

Good candidates for breast augmentation are at least 18 years old (22 for silicone implants), in good health, and have realistic expectations about their results. Women choose breast augmentation for a variety of personal reasons, which commonly include:

  • Enlarging naturally small breasts
  • Restoring breast volume that decreased with weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding
  • Improving symmetry between breasts of different sizes
  • Enhancing a sense of femininity

Breast augmentation is not a good choice for women who want the surgery to please someone else. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should delay breast augmentation until their breasts and body have had time to readjust as much as possible.

Understanding Breast Augmentation

There are many options to consider before your breast enlargement surgery. Our skilled and experienced plastic surgeons make recommendations and guide patients through the decision-making process. This process is about YOU, so your surgeon thoroughly explains his recommendations to keep you informed and comfortable. Together, you will review your breast implant options and choices for placement and incisions.

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Breast Augmentation Incision Options

Dr. Bates and Dr. Maser offer several incision options to accommodate breast augmentation patients with different needs and goals. The 3 most common incisions are:

  • Periareolar: This incision traces the border of the areola, which is the darker skin surrounding the nipple. Once healed, the resulting scar blends with the natural border of the areola.
  • Inframammary: This incision is made along the crease beneath the breast. With proper postoperative care, these scars fade significantly and are well-hidden in clothing and most swimwear.
  • Transaxillary: This incision is made in a natural crease in the armpit. Although this incision is appealing because it doesn’t leave a scar on the breast, it’s usually more appropriate for women who have chosen saline implants

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Locations of transaxillary, periareolar, and inframammary incisions Locations of transaxillary, periareolar, and inframammary incisions

Breast Implant Placement Options

Our surgeons typically use one of the following placement options for breast implants, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:

  • Subglandular placement is over the chest muscle and beneath the breast gland.
  • Submuscular placement is beneath the chest muscle.

In general, submuscular placement is ideal for women who have very little natural breast tissue because the additional mass of muscle provides more coverage of the implant. However, the best option for you depends on several factors, and your surgeon will help you decide during your consultation.

Combining Treatments With Breast Augmentation

Many women choose to complement their breast augmentation with other procedures for the full-body renewal of a mommy makeover. Popular options include:

Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates can discuss the specifics of any of these procedures with you during your consultation.

Your Breast Augmentation Surgery

Depending on the scope of your breast augmentation, your surgeon may perform your surgery while you are under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation. Either way, Dr. Bates and Dr. Maser will discuss their plans with you well before your surgery date.

Through the incision, your surgeon creates a pocket within the breast and inserts the implant. After creating the pocket, he inserts the implant. Silicone implants are inserted full; saline implants are inserted empty and filled once they are in place. Once implants have been placed in both breasts, your surgeon evaluates the breasts for symmetry and closes the incisions before you’re moved to a separate recovery area.

Financing Made Easy

You have options when it comes to paying for your procedure. Patient financing makes it affordable and stress free.

See Financing Options

Breast Augmentation Recovery

After surgery, you will need to rest for the first 24 to 48 hours. Your breasts will be swollen and may feel tender or sore. Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates will provide you with detailed guidelines to help you recover properly after surgery.

Recovery Timeline

Here is a general timeline of what to expect during recovery:

  • Discomfort begins to subside: 3 to 5 days
  • Return to school or work: 5 to 7 days
  • Sleep with the chest elevated: 1+ weeks
  • Resume low-impact exercise: 2 weeks
  • Bruising and swelling fade: 3 to 4 weeks
  • Resume strenuous exercise: 6 to 8 weeks
  • Implants settle (drop & fluff): 6 to 12 weeks

Dr. Maser, Dr. Bates, and all of the staff at Reveal Plastic Surgery are available every step of the way and will ensure that your recovery is as smooth and worry-free as possible.

Your Breast Augmentation Results

You will see the results of your breast enlargement immediately, and over time, swelling will diminish, and incision lines will fade. The size and shape of your breasts will be significantly improved, and, like many of our surgeons’ breast enlargement patients, you will likely feel a new sense of self-confidence.

Our Plastic Surgeons

Our board-certified plastic surgeons have decades of combined experience performing cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. Their expertise, superior care, and impressive outcomes draw patients from across the San Francisco Bay Area. Their caring, down-to-earth personalities cultivate lasting doctor-patient relationships.

Credentials you can trust

ASPS, ABMS, ASF, and Aesthetic Society logos ASPS, ABMS, ASF, and Aesthetic Society logos

Breast Augmentation FAQ

How do I choose the right implants for my body?

With so many options available to today’s breast augmentation patients, choosing the right ones for yourself can feel like a daunting task. Many choices, such as the decision to have silicone or saline implants, are merely a matter of personal preference. Some surgical options are better suited to some patients more than others, such as placement under or over the muscle. When you visit us to discuss your options for breast implants, your surgeon will use his expertise to guide you through each factor of the selection process, including placement, size, material, shape, incision location, and more.

Will I need surgical drains after my breast augmentation?

No. Although surgical drains are often a part of other cosmetic surgery procedures, such as tummy tuck, they are not necessary after breast augmentation.

How do I know whether I need a breast lift or augmentation?

This is a common question for women who know they are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts but are unsure how to change them. Breast augmentation makes the breasts larger, but it does not help with sagging tissue. If a patient’s breasts are sagging so that the nipples point downward, she may want to consider a breast lift or a combination lift-augmentation. Dr. Bates and Dr. Maser commonly perform these options as part of a complete mommy makeover, which also includes body contouring components.

Will I be able to breastfeed with implants?

Many patients are pleased to learn that breastfeeding is still possible with breast implants. If you’d like to have children in the future, talk to your surgeon about your options during your consultation. There are techniques he can use during surgery to increase your chances of successful breastfeeding in the future.

What are the potential risks of breast augmentation?

Breast augmentation is a common procedure with high levels of patient satisfaction. However, like any surgery, it does carry the potential for complications. These include infection, excessive bleeding, and complications related to anesthesia. Other complications specific to breast augmentation include implant leakage or displacement and the development of excessive scar tissue, called capsular contracture. Implant complications are uncommon and generally not physically harmful. They may be corrected with revisionary surgery.

How long will my implants last?

Although breast implants can last for many years, they may weaken over time and can become more prone to complications. Their longevity may depend on many factors, but most implants last about 10 to 20 years before they should be replaced or removed. Your surgeon can help you determine when it might be time to undergo revisionary surgery.

Your Next Step

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular procedures performed at Reveal Plastic Surgery. To meet with Dr. Maser or Dr. Bates, our board-certified plastic surgeons in San Jose, and find out how breast augmentation can enhance your look, request a free cosmetic consultation using our online form or call our office at (408) 356-4241 for an appointment.

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