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Center for Plastic Surgery
3299 Woodburn Road, Suite 490
Annandale, VA 22003
Phone: (703) 560-2850
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Center for Plastic Surgery
5550 Friendship Blvd, Suite 130
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Phone: (301) 652-7700
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation, also called breast enlargement, is a plastic surgery procedure that increases breast size using silicone gel or saline implants. This procedure has been performed safely with very high patient satisfaction for more than 50 years. The board-certified plastic surgeons at Center for Plastic Surgery perform breast augmentation to help women from Washington, DC; Chevy Chase and Bethesda, MD; Arlington and Fairfax, VA; and beyond enhance small breasts, uneven breasts, or breasts that have become smaller after pregnancy or weight loss.
Breast Augmentation
Before & After Photos
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What Can I Expect at a Breast Augmentation Consultation?
Once you’ve decided to have breast augmentation, there are still a number of decisions to be made. A variety of factors will impact how your final results will look, and what works for one person may not work for your body type and desired outcome. During your personalized breast augmentation consultation at our office in Chevy Chase, Maryland, or Annandale, Northern Virginia, one of our top breast surgeons will help you understand your options and recommend what choices may be best for you. If you are over the age of 40, we require you to have a mammogram before your surgery.
The pre-surgical meetings at CPS focus on preparing you for breast augmentation surgery. This is an important time when our physicians, nurses, and support staff advocate for our patients and assist them through the process. Our team strives to ensure the highest level of service and medical guidance in order to provide a safe surgical journey and deliver exceptional aesthetic results.
“Everything went smoothly, I had virtually NO pain after surgery, which was amazing, and I have had no complications whatsoever! Couldn’t be more pleased!”
Breast augmentation patient on RealPatientRatings.com
What’s the Best Type of Breast Implant?
Because there is no “perfect” implant for everyone, our surgeons work very carefully and thoughtfully to help each patient choose the breast implant options best suited to her. We use the safest, most advanced breast implants to help our patients achieve their cosmetic goals and attain beautiful, natural-looking surgical outcomes.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in the Washington, DC, Metro Area?
The cost for breast augmentation generally ranges from $5,925 to $8,000, depending on an individual patient’s goals and needs with surgery. At Center for Plastic Surgery in Chevy Chase and Annandale, silicone gel implants cost a little more than saline, and some patients may have requirements that change the cost slightly.
“Staff was very attentive and thorough with making sure my choices would result in the best outcome for me. I received amazing after-care following the procedure and made to feel extremely at ease. Very happy with the results.”
Breast augmentation patient on RealPatientRatings.com
Who Is a Breast Augmentation Candidate?
Candidates for breast augmentation are typically women who wish to change the shape or size of their natural breasts using breast implants. Some women require a breast augmentation with lift to address sagging while adding volume. Candidates should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations of the outcome. The best way to determine whether breast augmentation is right for you is to work closely with an experienced surgeon to discuss your options that will best suit your needs.
“Everyone was so attentive and answered all my questions. I am so happy with my breast augmentation and have suggested Center for Plastic Surgery to others.”
Breast Augmentation Options
Our doctors will work with you to find a treatment plan that is best for you. Some surgical options include:
Breast Implant Placement
There are two placement options for breast implants: behind the breast gland or, more commonly, behind the pectoralis muscle under the breast. Your desired result, the amount of natural breast tissue you have, and your body type will all play a role in which placement option will work best for you. Our breast surgeons and their staff can discuss placement recommendations during your consultation.
- Over the Muscle Placement (Subglandular): If your implants are placed over the pectoralis muscle, you will likely experience a quicker recovery and less implant movement during chest exercise. This placement is a good option for women who have a decent amount of natural breast tissue, as subglandular placement may result in implant visibility in very thin patients.
- Under the Muscle Placement (Submuscular): When implants are placed under the muscle, they are typically covered better, reducing the risk of implant rippling or palpability (seeing or feeling implant through the skin). This option also helps keep your glandular tissue fully visible during a mammogram. Also, the capsular contracture rate is lower when implants are placed under the muscle. This option does require a slightly longer recovery, wherein your implants will settle (“dropping & fluffing”) over the course of up to six weeks.
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Choose the experts that locals know and trust. Our multigenerational practice includes 4 board-certified plastic surgeons who provide the best possible care with state-of-the-art technology.
Meet Our Surgeons
Breast Augmentation Incision Options
Your breast augmentation incision placement is a decision that will be based on your natural anatomy, where you would like your scars, the implant options you have selected, and recommendations from your surgeon. Options include:
- Inframammary: This incision is placed along the natural fold beneath your breast, where it is barely visible and is by far the most commonly used incision today.
- Periareolar: This incision is made around the lower edge of the areola, where it is concealed by the darker pigmentation of the areola.
Our surgeons do not offer transumbilical breast augmentation (incision in the bellybutton) as they believe the complication rate is too high to perform this technique safely.
What Is a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
Using a patient’s own fat for breast enhancement is a technique that is sometimes called fat transfer breast augmentation or non-surgical breast augmentation at our Washington, DC-area practice. While this technique greatly reduces the surgical scar over breast augmentation with implants, it does involve extracting excess fat from another area of the body using liposuction, which is a surgical procedure.
The concept of using a patient’s own fat for cosmetic purposes (called autologous fat transfer) isn’t new. Fat has been used for years as an alternative to synthetic facial fillers and is part of the Brazilian butt lift procedure. The fat transfer breast augmentation technique can be performed with or without implants, depending on the patient’s goals.
Candidates for Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Good candidates for this procedure meet the following criteria:
- Want only a modest increase in the size of their breasts (slightly more than 1 cup size)
- Have enough fat in another area of the body
- Have breast skin that retains its elasticity
How It Works
The fat transfer technique involves 3 separate steps:
- Liposuction: The abdomen, thighs, or buttocks are the most common areas for harvesting fat.
- Purification: The fatty tissue is spun in a centrifuge to separate the fat cells from impurities.
- Re-injection: Surgeons use special syringes called cannulas to carefully place the fat in the breasts.
Combination Breast Enlargement
Patients who want a larger breast size increase may still benefit from the fat transfer technique if they have thin breast skin or decide to have their implants placed above the muscle. The fat creates more natural-looking results by camouflaging the breast implants’ edges.
A Reputation Built on Results
Martha is great with permanent make up . She is so friendly and full of great beauty advice !
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I get my Botox and filler’s from Cheryl! I feel she does a very youthful and natural look that addresses...
Phenomenal and empathetic staff. Very accessible and easy to understand. Also very non judgmental
What Happens During Breast Augmentation Recovery?
Immediately after your procedure, a soft compression dressing will be placed on your chest before you wake from the anesthesia. You will return home on the day of surgery in the care of an adult family member or friend. To minimize swelling, you will need to sleep with your upper body elevated for about a month. Patients typically sleep in a recliner or propped up with pillows. We will give you post-op instructions that you will need to follow closely. These instructions will include details about incision care, implant massage, and walking to avoid blood clots.
Breast Augmentation Recovery Timeline
The process of recovering after breast augmentation varies with the specifics of the surgery and individual patient factors. In general, you can expect it to progress as follows:
- Discomfort and bruising peak: 3 to 5 days
- Suture & dressing removal: 5 to 7 days
- Take a shower: 3 to 7 days
- Return to work, school, and nonstrenuous activities: 10 to 14 days
- Resume low-impact exercise: 2 weeks
- Bruising and swelling fade: 3 to 4 weeks
- Resume strenuous exercise: 6 weeks
- Ready to sleep on your side: 6 to 8 weeks
- Implants settle (drop and fluff): 3 to 6 weeks (as swelling fades and tissues relax)
- Final results: 6 to 12 weeks
- Scars fade: 6 to 12 months (or longer)
Post Op Surgical Bra
Your surgical bra will help minimize discomfort, swelling, and tension on the incisions as you heal. Important considerations include:
- The best post-op surgical bra is soft, supportive, easy to put on and remove, and does not have underwires.
- You will need to wear the surgical bra at all times, except while showering, for 3 weeks. You will then transition to a sports bra and eventually to the bra of your choice.
- Most patients can sleep without a bra beginning about 3 weeks after breast augmentation.
Resuming Normal Activities
Many patients want to know how soon they can get back to their everyday activities after breast augmentation. Here are some general time frames:
- Showering: 3 to 7 days (when cleared by your surgeon)
- Driving: 1 to 2 weeks (when no longer taking prescription pain medication)
- Having sex: 2 to 3 weeks (avoiding pressure on the breasts)
- Swimming: 3 to 4 weeks (once the incisions have healed)
- Drinking alcohol: 1 to 2 weeks (when no longer taking prescription pain medication)
- Flying: 1 to 2 weeks (when cleared by your surgeon)
Breast Incision Healing Stages
You can help minimize scarring by wearing a post-op surgical bra and caring for and cleaning your incisions according to your surgeon’s instructions. Scars typically heal as follows:
- Healed enough to swim and bathe: 3 to 4 weeks
- Healed completely, but raised and pink: 2 to 3 months
- Thinned, lightened, and flattened: 6 months to a year or more
Potential Complications
In rare instances, patients may develop a breast “capsular contracture,” which can cause unnatural firmness or alter the shape or position of the breast implant. We are very proactive in the prevention of capsular contracture and quick to remedy it when it occurs. They offer breast augmentation revision surgery to correct complications if necessary.
Breast cancer rates are no higher for people who have had breast augmentation surgery than for the general population.
Breast Augmentation FAQ
Is the procedure safe?
When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon on a carefully screened patient, breast augmentation is considered safe.
Is it normal to have nipple pain after breast augmentation?
In addition to breast soreness, many patients experience unusual sensations in one or both nipples after breast augmentation, such as tenderness, shooting pain, and increased or decreased sensitivity. These side effects are normal and typically temporary, caused by impact to nerves during the surgery. Contact our office if you have concerns about nipple sensations.
Do breast implants leave scars?
All surgical procedures leave scars. Our surgeons place breast augmentation incisions where the resulting scars are not noticeable, such as in the crease under the breast or along the edge of the areola.
What’s the best scar treatment for breast augmentation incisions?
The best way to treat scars is to minimize pressure on the incisions while they heal. Wear your surgical bra, sleep with your upper body elevated, and leave the surgical tape alone as directed. Once you reach the next phase of healing, applying silicone sheeting such as embrace®, as directed by your surgeon, can help your body create the least noticeable scars.
What if I want to exchange my implants later on?
Elective implant exchange is a type of revision breast augmentation that our surgeons perform to change the size and or type of implants. They also perform revision surgery to correct complications and unsatisfactory results from other surgeons.
How long do breast implants last?
At some point in your lifetime, you may need to have your implants replaced; however, there is no set expiration date for breast implants. In the years following your initial breast augmentation surgery, you should continue to have routine breast exams and mammograms.
Can I remove my breast implants without replacing them?
Yes. Breast augmentation patients who no longer want to have implants due to complications, medical concerns, or changes in preferences can have explant surgery to remove them altogether.
Can I breastfeed with implants?
It is perfectly safe to breastfeed with implants. If you hope to breastfeed in the future, let your surgeon know so they can avoid impacting the milk ducts when performing your surgery.
Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation
To discover the difference breast implants can make, request a complimentary consultation using our online form. CPS has been helping breast augmentation patients feel more confident since 1986. We pride ourselves on providing a comfortable, caring environment for our patients.
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