What to Know When Considering Breast Augmentation in Lubbock

For women in Lubbock, plastic surgery can help solve a wide variety of cosmetic issues. Whether you have unwanted fat or early signs of aging, your plastic surgery options range from a tummy tuck to a facelift and beyond. But year after year, the top requested cosmetic surgery across the nation is breast enhancement. As women age, and after having children, breasts can lose volume and their youthful shape. Perhaps you were born with smaller breasts that feel out of proportion with your body. Maybe you just haven’t felt like yourself since having children. Whatever your reasons are for wanting breast augmentation in Lubbock, it can help replace feelings of insecurity with renewed confidence. 

Learning About Your Options

Choosing to enhance your breasts is a big decision. Before making up your mind about getting breast enlargement, you will need to make several important choices. With all of the options available to personalize your procedure, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first. But, with a little research and some guidance from your plastic surgeon, you can formulate a plan that will give you the results you want. 

Breast Augmentation in Lubbock: Silicone Gel or Saline?

One of the important choices you will make will be to decide which type of breast implant material you prefer. First, it’s important to note that all breast implants approved by the FDA for use are constructed of a silicone shell. The difference, then, between silicone gel or saline implants is what the silicone shell is filled with, either silicone gel or saline (sterilized water and salt). We’ll discuss the basic pros and cons of each below.

The Pros and Cons of Silicone Gel Implants

With 85 percent of breast augmentation patients choosing silicone gel in 2019, it is the most common type of implant material used in today’s breast enhancements. So, what is it that makes silicone gel implants so popular? 

For one thing, many women prefer silicone gel because it is more similar to breast tissue than traditional saline implants in terms of its feel and viscosity. This means a silicone gel implant will sit, feel, and move more like a natural breast than the typical saline implants. Because of this, these implants have a lower risk of showing rippling in the tissue around the implant. If a natural look and feel tops the list of your goals for breast augmentation in Lubbock, you may want to consider opting for silicone gel implants.

Silicone gel breast implants, however, come pre-filled, meaning they require a larger incision than saline implants. Also, they have a risk of “silent rupture.” This happens when the implant fails and silicone gel leaks into the surrounding tissue. Most of the time, the leakage is undetectable because it does not impact the way your implant looks or feels. These ruptures can only be detected by a costly MRI (typically not covered by insurance) and the FDA recommends a woman with silicone gel implants have an MRI every few years. If a rupture occurs, the implant and silicone gel must be surgically removed. This greatly increases the long-term cost of your breast augmentation in Lubbock.

Why Women Choose Saline

Where silicone gel implants come pre-filled, saline breast implants are filled and adjusted during surgery. Since the implant is inserted empty, it requires a smaller incision. Then, your plastic surgeon can adjust the amount of saline inside your implant to achieve the right look for you. Another advantage to saline implants is that they are not susceptible to silent rupture. If there is a rupture with a saline implant, you can tell just by looking in the mirror and seeing the decrease in breast size. The saline, however, is harmless and will be absorbed by your body, posing no risk to your health. 

Typical saline implants have a tendency to ripple, which can be visible after breast augmentation in Lubbock. Also, as said above, they do not generally feel as natural as silicone gel implants. Patients often compare saline breast implants to water balloons, because of their similar lack of structure. This can cause problems for women who do not have enough breast tissue of their own to surround the saline implant. However, women with sufficient existing breast tissue may find that saline implants work well for their desired increase in volume. 

Choosing a Size

While the type of implant you choose can greatly affect your breast augmentation outcome, the implant size you select will also directly impact your results. According to a 2019 study, 41 percent of breast augmentation revision procedures were done because the patient wanted a change in size. But, before you tell your plastic surgeon what cup size you would like to be, spend some time thinking about how you want to look after your procedure. Do you want a subtle enhancement that looks very natural? Or would you prefer a drastic change in size that gives you the bust you’ve always dreamed of? 

Once you have done some thinking about your goals, it’s time to do some research. Look at some breast enlargement before and after photos of patients with breasts similar to yours. These visuals will give you a better idea about the look your plastic surgeon can achieve with your body type. It is also important to think about how your new breasts will feel. Before your breast augmentation in Lubbock, try placing rice bag sizers in your bra for a few hours to see what it would feel like to have breast implants. Grab a pair of old pantyhose and cut the feet out of the bottom. Pour uncooked rice (1 cup = 236 cc) into the pantyhose and tie off the ends. Wear them around, try on some of your favorite tops, and adjust the size to see what feels right. It’s not an exact science, but it can be a helpful way to “try on” a bigger breast size.  

What About a Breast Lift?

As noted, breast procedures are among the most requested plastic surgery options. Women want to feel good about how they look. And, when you feel confident in your appearance, you can’t help but feel confident in yourself. Breast augmentation in Lubbock helps many patients feel better about their appearance, but getting a bigger bust size is not the only way to boost self-esteem. Many women are happy with the size of their breasts, but dislike the effects of pregnancy, nursing, or aging. If you can relate, you may want to consider a procedure that will simply give your bust a more shapely appearance.

Mastopexy, or a breast lift, is a plastic surgery option for women whose breasts have significant sagging or drooping. A breast lift will take a sagging breast and raise it to a more youthful position, giving new life to a tired-looking bust. Your breast lift will not change your size, but will firm up the breast tissue, reposition the nipple, and give your breast a symmetrical shape. In effect, it can reverse some of the toll taken on your body by time, gravity, and possibly motherhood. If you can answer yes to some or all of the questions below, you may be a good candidate for a breast lift.

• Do your breasts sag or droop?
• Do your nipples point downward?
• Are your breasts tubular or pendulous?
• Are your breasts flat or elongated?
• Do you have stretched or enlarged areolas?
• Do your nipples sit below the crease of your breast?

Your plastic surgeon can correct all of these issues without breast augmentation in Lubbock. Even if a woman only suffers from one of these cosmetic problems, it is likely to affect the way she feels about her appearance. But you don’t have to accept feeling unhappy with your breasts. A breast lift removes excess breast tissue and skin, and moves the nipple to enhance the shape of the breasts. With more forward projection and a firmer, more youthful shape, your bust will allow you to wear flattering clothing and gain confidence in your appearance. 

Can I Do Both?

If you want to add volume to your breasts in addition to getting a lift, talk to your doctor about combining breast augmentation in Lubbock with mastopexy. A breast augmentation and a breast lift can work very well in tandem with each other in a single surgery. Excess skin is removed in the lift, your breast tissue and nipple are repositioned for a more youthful shape, while an implant then adds volume and size. The results of the two procedures can be dramatic on the right patient. 

One thing to keep in mind about combining a breast enlargement with a lift is that you need to be careful about the implant size you choose. The larger the implant you select, the heavier it will be. If the weight of the implant is too much for the lifted breast to support, the results of your mastopexy might not be what you hoped for. Consider your goals for your breast size, shape, and overall appearance so you can clearly communicate them to your plastic surgeon. They will then guide you through making the best decisions to help you reach your desired outcome. 

Reach Your Aesthetic Goals with Dr. Rowley

Whether you want larger breasts, lifted breasts, or both, plastic surgery provides the way for you to enhance your appearance in a customized way. All breast enlargements and lifts look different, because women have so many options to create their personal look. Breast augmentation science, technology, and technique has come a long way over the years, and when you pair those advancements with a well-qualified plastic surgeon, you can get exceptional results.

For breast lifts and breast augmentation in Lubbock, the leading plastic surgeon with extensive breast plastic surgery experience is Dr. Jane Rowley. She carefully and thoroughly talks with her patients to know their expectations and cosmetic goals as she makes an individual surgical plan for each person. She also believes in patient education and will take the time necessary to be sure you fully understand your procedure and what to expect. If you feel unhappy with the way your breasts look, consider plastic surgery as a way to boost self-esteem and regain satisfaction with your appearance. Dr. Rowley is board-certified, experienced, and ready to help you achieve your cosmetic goals. Schedule your no-obligation consultation today.