Breast Augmentation
North Raleigh Plastic Surgery
Welcome to North Raleigh Plastic Surgery. Our team of highly trained and compassionate healthcare professionals delivers excellent surgical results in a state-of-the-art medical facility.
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North Raleigh Plastic Surgery
9104 Falls of Neuse Road #200
Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 919.532.2270
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
North Raleigh Plastic Surgery
3319 Heritage Trade Dr. Suite 201
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Phone: 919.532.2270
Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Whether you’ve dreamed of increasing the size of naturally small breasts, want to restore volume after having children, or wish to make your breasts appear more symmetrical, breast augmentation at our Raleigh, North Carolina, practice creates beautiful, natural-looking results. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Juan A. Ortiz sees breast augmentation patients from Durham, Greensboro, Cary, and throughout the Triangle region.
Breast Augmentation
Before & After Photos
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Breast Augmentation Benefits
Nearly 300,000 breast augmentation procedures are performed in the U.S. annually, and that popularity can be traced to its many benefits. Increasing breast size is the most obvious benefit of breast implants, but women consider breast augmentation for several other reasons, too. These reasons include:
Enhanced Body Proportions
Breast augmentation creates a more balanced and harmonious overall body shape. It can help women achieve an hourglass figure and improve their upper and lower body proportions.
Improved Symmetry
Few women have perfectly symmetrical breasts. In some cases, though, the difference in size may be noticeable and make someone self-conscious. Breast implants can correct differences in size and shape, resulting in a more balanced appearance.
Restoring Volume After Pregnancy or Weight Loss
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight loss often lead to changes in breast size and shape. Breast augmentation surgery can help women regain their desired breast appearance.
Clothing Choices
Having smaller breasts may limit your clothing and swimwear options. Breast augmentation expands your wardrobe styles and improves the fit of your clothes.
Boosted Self-Confidence
If you’re self-conscious about the appearance of your body, breast augmentation often results in increased self-esteem and feeling more comfortable in clothing.
Ideal Breast Augmentation Candidates
When consulting with you about breast augmentation, Dr. Ortiz assesses your overall health and asks about your motivation for getting implants. You may be an ideal candidate if you want to improve how you feel about your body and you don’t feel pressured by someone else. You should also have realistic expectations about the results.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in the Raleigh, NC, Area?
The cost of breast augmentation depends on the type of implant you choose, whether the areola is manipulated, and whether you combine other procedures with it. Our practice offers competitive pricing for breast augmentation. After your consultation, we’ll provide you with a detailed price quote. We also partner with healthcare financing companies that offer attractive payment plans. The cost of your breast augmentation includes all pre-op and post-op appointments, the surgery and surgical materials, and a surgical bra.
Choosing Breast Implants
Your choice of implants is a personal decision that Dr. Ortiz helps you make by explaining the benefits and limitations of your options, including the type, size, and shape of your implants.
Types of Breast Implants
You can choose implants filled with either cohesive silicone gel or saline.
Silicone Gel Implants
You have several options within the silicone gel category based on the cohesiveness of the gel. Highly cohesive silicone gel implants are sometimes called “gummy bear” implants because they have the consistency of gummy bear candies. You may prefer less cohesive silicone gel implants, but all silicone implants typically look and feel more like natural breast tissue than saline implants. The FDA approves silicone gel implants for patients who are 22 or older.
Silicone implants hold their shape even if they rupture, so you may need to schedule regular ultrasounds or MRIs to monitor their functionality and integrity.
Saline Breast Implants
Saline implants are silicone shells filled with bio-compatible, sterile saltwater, and they are an option if you’re hesitant about choosing silicone gel implants. They tend to feel firmer than gel implants but are known for creating a uniform shape that appeals to some patients. Unlike silicone gel implants, which are pre-filled, saline implants can be filled after the surgeon inserts them. Another difference is that you’ll notice immediately if an implant leaks or ruptures.
Implant Size and Shape
Patients think about the size of their potential breast implants the most. Implant size is a significant choice because it directly affects your satisfaction with the outcome. It’s important to remember, however, that the same implant size on one patient may look quite different on another patient.
The shape—round or teardrop—is another choice when choosing implants. Dr. Ortiz will help you choose the implant size that will meet your aesthetic goals. Factors that can influence your choice include:
Body Proportions
Most patients want results that look natural, which means their breasts are in harmony with their body’s proportions. Dr. Ortiz assesses your height, weight, chest width, and overall physique to recommend an implant size and shape that complements your body’s natural contours.
Personal Goals
Clearly communicate your aesthetic goals and expectations with your surgeon. Whether you desire a subtle enhancement or a more dramatic change, your surgeon can help you select implants that align with your vision.
Implant Profile
In addition to size, breast implants come in various profiles, including low, moderate, high, and extra-high. The profile determines how far the implant extends from the chest wall, and the choice of profile can influence the final shape and fullness of your breasts.
Cleavage
Another factor to consider is the distance between your breasts, known as cleavage. Dr. Ortiz will help determine the optimal implant size and shape to achieve an appealing cleavage while avoiding an excessive gap.
Shape Options
Round implants provide fullness in both the upper and lower parts of the breast, while teardrop (anatomically shaped) implants mimic the natural slope of the breast for a subtle, tapered look.
Breast Implants vs Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
If you’re interested in breast augmentation without implants and want only a modest size increase, a good option may be fat transfer breast augmentation using your own fat to enhance your breasts.
The technique uses liposuction to harvest fat where it’s unwanted, such as the abdomen or buttocks. The fatty tissue is spun in a centrifuge to isolate and purify the fat, which is then strategically injected into the breasts.
The increase in size is typically no more than 1 bra cup. The results of fat transfer breast augmentation are less predictable than those of breast implants, which enable precise size control. You can get more details about fat transfer breast augmentation during your consultation.
Breast Augmentation Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Ortiz will ask about your goals and why you’re considering breast augmentation. He will also explain the nature of the procedure, the cost, and what you can expect regarding recovery, complications, and scars. He’ll spend as much time as needed answering your questions.
What Happens During Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll return home on the day of your surgery. The steps involved in the procedure include:
Step 1: Incision Placement
Dr. Ortiz makes incisions in a location determined during the consultation. The 3 options include:
- Inframammary fold (where the breast connects to the chest)
- Periareolar (along the lower edge of the areola)
- Transaxillary (in the armpit)
The inframammary fold is the most common location, with the choice depending on your anatomy and the type of implant.
Step 2: Implant Placement
After making the incision, Dr. Ortiz creates a pocket for the implant. The pocket may be under the muscle (submuscular) or in front of the muscle and behind the existing breast tissue (subglandular).
Placing the implant behind the muscle offers additional coverage and a more natural appearance. It is an optimal approach for thinner patients with less breast tissue. A subglandular implant position is suitable for patients with adequate natural breast tissue.
Step 3: Closure and Dressing
After placing the implants, Dr. Ortiz meticulously closes the incisions with sutures and may apply surgical tape or adhesive to support the healing process. Dressings are applied, and in some cases, the surgeon may insert temporary surgical drains.
How Long Is Recovery From Breast Implant Surgery?
You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after your breast augmentation surgery. You will be on narcotic pain medication for around 2 days following the surgery and over-the-counter medications for any pain after 2 days.
You will be able to drive once you have stopped taking narcotics. Most patients can return to work in 2 to 3 days. Dr. Ortiz recommends you wear a surgical bra for 6 weeks, and you should avoid strenuous activity and exercise for the same length of time. During recovery, it is important to sleep on your back or side.
Breast Augmentation Results
You should expect your breasts to be elevated for approximately 3 months after the surgery; you may hear it described as breasts that are “riding high.” After about 3 months, your implants will begin settling into their final position, a process often called “drop and fluff.”
Breast augmentation results are typically long-lasting, and you can enjoy the benefits of the surgery for many years. However, it’s essential to follow postoperative care instructions and attend regular checkups to ensure the longevity of your implants.
Combined Procedures With Breast Augmentation
If you’re getting breast implants to restore volume after having children or weight loss, you may want to combine the procedure with a breast lift or body contouring surgery as part of a mommy makeover.
Some of the common procedures you can combine with breast augmentation include:
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
Breast augmentation is often combined with a breast lift to address sagging or drooping breasts. This combination provides a fuller and lifted breast appearance.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Patients seeking both breast enhancement and abdominal contouring may opt for a breast augmentation and tummy tuck combination.
Liposuction
Liposuction can be performed in conjunction with breast augmentation to contour other areas of the body, such as the hips, thighs, or abdomen.
Buttock Augmentation
Patients looking for overall body enhancement may opt for a combination of breast augmentation and a buttock lift, butt lift with auto augmentation, or Brazilian butt lift to achieve balanced proportions.
Questions to Ask Your Breast Augmentation Surgeon
When considering breast augmentation surgery, it’s crucial to ask Dr. Ortiz a series of important questions to ensure you make an informed decision and feel confident about the procedure. Here are some key questions to ask:
- How many breast augmentation procedures have you performed?
- Can you show me before and after photos of your previous patients?
- What is your policy on revision surgery, if necessary?
- Are there alternatives to breast augmentation?
Breast Augmentation FAQ
How long does breast augmentation surgery take?
You should plan to be at the surgery center for around 3 hours. The procedure takes approximately 1.5 hours, and the remaining time will be spent administering anesthesia and preparing you to go home.
What kind of anesthesia is used for breast augmentation?
Our licensed anesthetist administers IV sedation for breast augmentation.
What kind of scars will I have following breast augmentation surgery?
Dr. Ortiz carefully makes incisions as short and concealed as possible. Most patients have a 1- to 2-inch scar on the breast crease, which gradually fades. If you choose a periareolar incision, the darker skin of the areola conceals the scar.
Are there complications or risks associated with breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a very safe procedure. Only about 5% of patients nationally experience complications. The most common complications are infection at the incision site, hematoma, and unsightly scars. Dr. Ortiz discusses all risks of complications and addresses any concerns at your consultation.
How many post-op appointments will I have following breast augmentation?
You will have a minimum of 3 post-op appointments with your surgeon: at 1 week, 2 months, and 6 months. If you need to see Dr. Ortiz at any time between these appointments, please call us at 919.532.2270.
What are your payment terms for breast augmentation at North Raleigh Plastic Surgery?
To secure your surgery date, we require an upfront payment of 25% of the total cost. The remaining balance must be paid in full no later than 2 weeks before the surgery. We offer a cash discount and accept financing through CareCredit® and all major credit cards.
Get Started
Dr. Ortiz takes pride in his personalized consultations with patients. He takes the time to answer all questions and ensure patients make informed choices about their procedures. You can request a consultation using the online form or call us at 919.532.2270 to schedule an appointment.