Breast Enhancement
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Houston and Katy, TX
Breast enhancement is a procedure to improve the shape and contour of the breasts. Various procedures can help patients attain the vision of their ideal breasts, helping them find more confidence in their feminine appearance and the fashion they enjoy wearing.
For many women, breasts are not just one aspect of their look- they can serve to create a proportionate, harmonious body shape overall. Breast augmentation with implants, breast lifts, and revisions needed to upkeep their appearance can all allow a woman to feel more assured in herself and her sense of feeling beautiful.
If the idea of breast enhancement intrigues you, consider booking an appointment with Dr. Bonnor M.D., F.A.C.S, a skilled surgeon with various specialties in personalized, aesthetic transformations that aim to meet or exceed your expectations with the care you deserve. No matter your desires, Dr. Bonnor will listen intently and evaluate you from both a surgical and artistic point of view.
To see if one of these procedures may be right for you, call Texas Surgical Arts located in Houston, TX at (281) 579-5638 or ask about scheduling your consultation appointment online.
Contents
Your Options for Breast Augmentation
Any surgical change in breast size is referred to as a mammoplasty- a highly customizable solution to increasing volume or improving the shape of the breasts. Dr. Bonnor’s breast augmentations fall into one of three categories with the use of:
Silicone Implants
Silicone implants are designed with realism, firmness, and durability in mind. Many women prefer these innovative implants over saline options due to their all-natural feel. Some of the latest silicone implants, the “gummy bear” implants, are made from highly cohesive materials that may even prevent sagging and other breast deformities, allowing breasts to maintain their shape throughout the years. (1)
Saline Implants
Saline implants are not filled with silicone gel, but they contain a saltwater solution encapsulated in a silicone gel shell. With this liquid interior, Dr. Bonnor will be able to insert the implants into the breast pockets using a smaller incision, allowing him to fill them up slowly. Oftentimes, these implants are smaller in size when compared to silicone implants. When it comes time to remove these types of implants, surgeons can strategically use needle aspiration to take out the saline before using a minimally invasive method to extract the silicone shell. In the extremely rare case that a saline implant ruptures, the body can easily absorb the saline without posing any health risk.
Fat Transfer
Though fat transfer does not always involve the use of saline or silicone implants, a fat transfer can provide similar volumizing results. However, unlike implants, this procedure can only accentuate the breasts by about one cup size. One major advantage to this method of augmentation is that it will not leave your breasts with any long scars, and you will not have to wait weeks for the minimal scars to fade significantly. In this procedure, Dr. Bonnor will perform liposuction on an area of the body that has an adequate supply of fat, such as the flanks, abdomen, or thighs.
To extract it, he will have to make a relatively superficial, small incision (less than one centimeter) in the chosen area and dispense tumescent fluid to loosen the fat, prevent bleeding, and numb the tissues. He will then skillfully extract the needed amount using suction pressure. After purifying the collected fat, he will prepare it for re-administration to the breasts with syringes and a small needle and carefully distribute it along the breasts to volumize them. Alternatively, he can perform a fat transfer as a complementary procedure to soften the look and feel of breast implants.
Breast Lift
A breast lift is a procedure that involves elevating the breast mounds with tissue repositioning techniques, and the elimination of redundant skin. During this process, Dr. Bonnor can also improve the look and positioning of the nipple-areola complex. This procedure addresses all kinds of breast descent commonly caused by aging, loosened skin.
You may also exhibit breast descent due to the stretching of the breast ducts and/or supporting ligaments as a result of hormonal changes, weight fluctuations, and age. (2) If you do not have implants or do not plan on undergoing a procedure for implants, a breast lift can still resolve laxity and give you the perky appearance that many implants can create. For this procedure, Dr. Bonnor must determine if you have true breast descent (ptosis) or simply have low breasts. If you have low breasts, Dr. Bonnor can still improve upper pole fullness with fat transfer. (3)
Breast Augmentation with Lift
You may benefit most from a breast lift with augmentation, helping you achieve more youthful, flattering cleavage with upper pole fullness. For one, this surgical technique can facilitate more tissue support for the implants. Secondly, Dr. Bonnor utilizes a “lollipop”/short scar incision technique, a method proven to provide more stability for the implants. It also has the advantage of producing shorter scars. (4)
For a breast lift, each incision will follow the outer outline of each nipple-areola complex and continue vertically from the areola to the crease of the breast, forming a lollipop-shaped scar. With this pattern, Dr. Bonnor can raise the areola while also preserving vital nerve endings. He can also insert the implants and excise extra skin using the same incision with this technique, allowing him to revise the contours of your breasts in a single-stage procedure.
Breast Implant Exchange
A breast implant exchange is a necessary procedure if you have breast implants. Depending on a few factors, including an individual’s biology, an implant removal procedure is required after roughly 10 to 20 years. In a research study of 522 women, 43.5% required implant removal after about 10 years due to objective reasons unrelated to aesthetics. (5) During a consultation, Dr. Bonnor can let you know if he thinks that you would benefit from an implant removal procedure based on the appearance of the breast tissue and any complaints of discomfort you may have.
After this necessary removal procedure, also called explant surgery, your breast enhancement goals are ultimately up to you. If you would like to undergo an implant exchange, Dr. Bonnor will go over what you need to know to promote the safest results that align with your goals for implant exchange. He will likely remove your implant via an inframammary incision, so your breasts will hide any visible scarring. If not, he may follow the scars of your previous augmentation to prevent creating new scars.
He will custom-tailor his techniques according to your specific problems; for example, he may need to remove the entirety of the implant and its scar tissue capsule as one unit if there is an extremely rare case of implant rupture. For most cases, however, he will make more minor adjustments to the implant capsule by removing only some scar tissue.
While Dr. Bonnor can remove each silicone implant in one piece, he will be able to remove saline implants using a less invasive method that minimizes damage to the breast pocket. For saline, he will extract the saline itself using a needle-based suction device, allowing the breast pocket to slowly accommodate the deflation. To remove the shell of the implant, Dr. Bonnor will need to utilize a much smaller incision.
Factors to Consider Before Breast Augmentation
Dr. Bonnor will ensure that you receive proper education on your choice of breast procedure and the results you can expect after you fully heal. If you choose breast augmentation with implants, he will be sure to review the various aspects of the implants themselves, including:
- Material. There are several unique advantages to both saline and silicone implants. Dr. Bonnor will help you choose which one is best for both your short and long-term desires.
- Texture. Implants’ outer shells can have either a smooth or textured surface.
- Placement. Dr. Bonnor will place the implant within a certain plane of tissue: above the pectoralis (chest) muscle, below it, or partially beneath it.
- Size. Implant sizes do not correlate with a bra cup size, but they are measured in terms of volume. The unit of measurement utilized by breast implant manufacturers is cubic centimeters (cc)
- Profile. This feature does not determine the volume of the implant, but it indicates how far the implant extends from the chest wall. Profiles range from low to extra high.
- Shape. Implants come in round or teardrop shapes, helping create distinct enhancements. Round-shaped implants tend to promote more upper pole cleavage, while teardrop-shaped implants can mimic more natural-looking fullness at the lower pole.
Cost of Breast Enhancement in Houston
The cost of your breast enhancement at Texas Surgical Arts will depend on your chosen procedure/s, method of anesthesia, appointments before and after your procedure, and various other surgical fees to create the best possible, safest outcome. As a surgeon who values transparency, Dr. Bonnor will review all of these factors and give you a detailed quote during your consultation. If you have any concerns over the total cost, Dr. Bonnor’s practice offers financing options with CareCredit, giving you the option to make affordable payments over time.
If breast enhancement sounds like an intriguing and exciting way to reinvigorate your sense of body confidence, get in touch with Texas Surgical Arts at (281) 579-5638 or submit your request to meet with Dr. Bonnor online. If you feel the need to explore other options that we offer at our surgical practice, you can learn more through our blog.
Commonly Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is a good candidate for breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a great procedure for healthy women to feel better about the size and shape of their breasts. Candidates should not have any serious underlying conditions and should have other conditions well-treated with lifestyle changes and/or medications. Non-smokers and those willing to quit temporarily are ideal patients since they are less likely to experience healing complications. Silicone implants are indicated for women 22 years or older, whereas saline implants are safe for any woman over 18 years of age. Those with loose skin may benefit from a combination of augmentation and a breast lift.
How much downtime will I need after breast augmentation?
After an implant breast augmentation, you will need a few days of downtime and some help with daily activities. You will experience some bruising and swelling in the first week after your procedure, but you should be well enough to go back to non-strenuous work. You should wait at least a month before returning to the gym and other vigorous exercises.
Will I have scars after breast augmentation or a breast lift procedure?
You will have some scarring, depending on the incision technique applied. For a breast augmentation procedure, you will have some scarring underneath the breast, within the inframammary crease or around each areola. With an implant augmentation and lift procedure, you will have a scar around each areola and another vertical scar pointed toward the inframammary crease. While scars around the areolas will blend in well with the darker skin, other scars will fade more slowly. Within a year, all breast enhancement scars should be extremely faint.
How do I know when to replace my breast implants?
Breast implants last anywhere from 10 to 20 years before needing removal. You may need a breast implant removal/replacement procedure if you have any distortion in the breast, pain, excessive descent, or discomfort with movement.
References
- Shridharani SM, Bellamy JL, Mofid MM, Singh NK. Breast Augmentation. Eplasty. 2013;13:ic46. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3685325/
- Ramanadham SR, Rose Johnson A. Breast Lift with and without Implant: A Synopsis and Primer for the Plastic Surgeon. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2020;8(10):e3057. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003057
- Martinez AA, Chung S. Breast Ptosis. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567792/
- Hubaide M, Ono MT, Karner BM, Martins LV, Pires JA. Safe Augmentation Mastopexy: Review of 500 Consecutive Cases Using a Vertical Approach and Muscular Sling. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2024;12(1):e5504-e5504. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000005504
- Zhang, Z., Qi, J., Zhang, X. et al. What Can We Learn from Breast Implant Explantation: a 28-Year, Multicenter Retrospective Study of 1004 Explantation Cases. Aesth Plast Surg (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03365-4