Breast Augmentation in Houston, TX

Dr. Bachilo will ask you about your cosmetic goals, review your medical history, and examine your breasts.  It is helpful if you bring a picture of breasts you find attractive to your consultation. This will allow Dr. Bachilo to understand better what you are looking for. However, every patient is unique, and Dr. Bachilo cannot guarantee that your results will look like the ones in the picture after your surgery (and surgeons who are saying they can, are better be avoided). Every woman has unique anatomy that will dictate final results. Dr. Bachilo will discuss in detail options that will produce your desired look and, together with you, decide on the best breast augmentation operative plan.

IMPLANT CHOICES

Breast augmentation is performed in an outpatient surgery center or a hospital under general anesthesia and takes about 1 to 2 hours. The patient is discharged home the same day.

Skin incision – breast augmentation skin incision may be placed in the fold under each breast, around the areola, or through the armpit. Dr. Bachilo will counsel you on the incision type best suited for you as not every patient or every implant type used is a candidate for every one of these incisions.

Implant pocket – implants may be placed under the chest muscle or above the muscle. Dr. Bachilo utilizes a touch-free technique to insert your implant to minimize infection and capsular contracture risk. She follows a thorough sterile technique and uses a medical device called Keller Funnel designed specifically for silicone implant placement. Incisions are closed using all absorbable sutures. You will not need any suture removal after your procedure.

After a short post-op breast augmentation recovery at the surgery center, you are sent home. Dr. Bachilo will see you for your first post-operative visit the next day after surgery. You will be asked to bring a comfortable post-operative bra or sports bra with no underwire to your follow-up visit. You will be changed into the bra, which will help with implant positioning and post-operative comfort.

You will be sore for about two weeks after your Houston breast augmentation surgery. Dr. Bachilo will prescribe pain medications and muscle relaxants to help with discomfort. Please do not drive while taking these medications. Most of our patients can return to work within a week, but you will need to refrain from doing any heavy lifting or any bouncing activities for 6 weeks. You will receive instructions on breast implant massage and exercises, which need to be initiated a few weeks after surgery.  You should not wear bras with an underwire for several months after your breast surgery. Most patients can return to all normal activity and exercise after 6 weeks of recovery.

You can expect the final breast implant position and final breast shape about 3 months after your surgery. Our patients report being pleased with their new breast appearance and report feeling more confident with their new shape.

For patients seeking Houston breast augmentation procedures with implants, Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa is a premier cosmetic facility that provides these procedures, performed by the skillful hand of Dr. Olga Bachilo, a plastic surgeon with years of clinical experience and a portfolio of satisfied patients spanning Katy, Sugar Land, and the greater Houston area.

Many of Dr. Bachilo’s patients want to know what type of breast implants are used at Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa. The three top brands of breast implants that Dr. Bachilo uses are:

• Allergan Natrelle Implants
• Mentor Implants
• Sientra Implants

Additionally, breast implants may vary as far as material, style, and shape, meaning that patients have a wide variety of options to choose from depending on personal aesthetic goals. Each Houston breast augmentation patient can choose between saline breast implants, silicone breast implants, or silicone gel breast implants. The most popular breast implants in Houston at Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa are the following:

Saline Breast Implants

Saline breast implants are made of a soft, clear plastic shell filled with a sterile saltwater solution. Saline breast implants are popular because they provide a uniform shape, firmness, and a natural look and feel.  Saline implants are FDA-approved for breast augmentation procedures in women age 18 or older. They have the lowest risk factor because if the implant shell should rupture or leak, the implant will collapse or deflate. The harmless saltwater solution will be absorbed by the body and eliminated through the body’s natural mechanism.  If this should happen, you will need to return to your plastic surgeon to have the saline implants replaced through breast revision surgery. Often the surgeon will recommend replacing both implants for a more uniform look.

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone breast implants differ from saline implants because they are filled with silicone gel, which moves and feels more like natural breast tissue. If a silicone implant should rupture or leak, the silicone gel may remain encased within the implant shell or gradually leak into the breast implant pocket or capsule. Still, typically a silicone implant will not collapse and deflate fully.  The FDA has approved silicone breast implants for augmentation procedures in women at least 22 years of age.  Patients who choose silicone implants will typically require regular visits to their plastic surgeon to ensure that the implants are properly positioned and not leaking.  While silicone gel is not associated with any risk of breast cancer or other dangerous illness, your surgeon may recommend a periodic ultrasound or MRI screening to evaluate breast implants’ condition and make sure they are not leaking.

Gummy Bear Breast Implants

Recently developed form-stable gel implants are sometimes referred to as gummy bear implants because they retain their shape even when the implant shell ruptures.  A type of silicone gel breast implant, gummy bear implants, has a thicker consistency than traditional silicone gel implants, giving these implants a firmer feel than traditional silicone gel implants. Gummy bear implants also require the use of a slightly longer surgical incision than other implants.

Form-stable gummy bear breast implants are shaped rather than round, with more projection and volume at the bottom and tapering to a smaller size at the top. In the rare instance that a gummy bear implant shifts from its position or rotates, it may produce an irregular appearance that will require a breast revision procedure to correct.

Round Implants vs. Shaped Implants

Round breast implants typically provide a fuller look than shaped gummy bear implants and may achieve more projection with higher profile options.  The advantage of round implants is that they are of a uniform shape and fullness so that if they shift or rotate out of place, it will not create an irregular or lumpy appearance, as may be the case with shaped implants.

Smooth Breast Implants

Smooth breast implants feel softer than textured or shaped implants and move more naturally within the breast implant pocket or capsule, providing a more natural look, feel, and movement.  The downside to smooth implants is that in some cases, they may develop visible rippling or wrinkling under the skin that may be visible on the skin’s surface.

Textured Breast Implants

Textured breast implants are designed to form scar tissue that will stick to the implant, making these implants less likely to shift or move out of position within the breast implant capsule, reducing the risk of capsular contracture by reducing the risk of a tight scar capsule that may constrict around the implant and cause it to lose its shape.

Implant manufacturers occasionally launch new styles or types of breast implants, providing an increase in breast augmentation patients’ options.  Whether you select saline or silicone implants for your procedure, regular visits to your plastic surgeon will be required to monitor your implants’ condition and position.

At Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa, many women considering breast augmentation in Houston often ask how their new breast implants may affect their regular mammograms. Although some studies have concluded that breast implants may potentially interfere with the results of routine mammograms, you can still get accurate screening results with breast implants.

Inform Your Radiologist that You Have Breast Implants

To ensure the best results from your routine mammograms, the radiologist, technician, and/or mammography facility performing the checkup should be informed when patients have breast implants. With the rising popularity of breast augmentation procedures, most technicians and radiologists know how to perform mammograms on women with breast implants and still get the results they seek. The radiologist may choose to use a special process known as “implant displacement views” or other specialized techniques that help him or her visualize all the breast tissue areas, ensuring accuracy in mammogram results in patients who have undergone breast augmentation surgery.

When Is it Time for a Mammogram?

Routine mammograms are a woman’s best defense against breast cancer by helping to identify and locate potential tumors to encourage early detection, the single most important factor in ensuring a healthy recovery from this deadly disease. The American Cancer Society recommends that women over age 40 should get routine mammograms every one to two years. Dr. Bachilo encourages her patients to follow this general guideline and baseline mammogram before breast augmentation surgery for women in this age group.  She may also recommend an additional mammogram one year following surgery to have a mammographic image of your breasts with properly positioned breast implants. Some women may have a higher than average risk of developing breast cancer due to a pronounced presence of this disease in their family history or heavy smoking history.  These patients may be advised to begin routine mammograms before they reach 40 may need to have them more often. Dr. Bachilo also recommends routine self-breast exams to feel for lumps and teach her patients how to carry out this self-exam with breast implants.

Will a Mammogram Damage My Breast Implants?

While some women express concern that their breast implants may rupture during a mammogram screening, it is doubtful that this will occur. Breast implants are made of durable plastic and designed to withstand normal forces and impact, such as those associated with mammograms. Your health and safety should be your highest priority, so you must continue to undergo routine mammograms even after getting breast implants.

Additional Breast Cancer Screening Procedures

Other forms of breast imaging may be used to search for solid masses and cysts in addition to a mammogram.  Ultrasound is another advanced imaging technique often used to diagnose problems or growths in the breast tissue. Ultrasound procedures are gentle and totally safe for women with breast implants, and the implants do not interfere with the effectiveness of an ultrasound imaging procedure.  Women who are not at an increased risk of breast cancer and below the age of 40 may choose to undergo routine ultrasound treatments to screen for possible breast health problems.

If you’re at an age where you should be getting regular mammograms, please don’t hesitate to do so. If you have any additional questions about mammograms and breast implants, feel free to contact our knowledgeable office staff at Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Houston.

Women who have undergone breast augmentation surgery, particularly those who select silicone gel implants, will occasionally need to undergo an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to evaluate their breast implants’ condition and position. This diagnostic technique provides excellent views of the breast tissue, helping your doctor assess whether a breast implant is intact or shifted from its original position.  Because silicone implants don’t deflate like saline implants, it is harder to confirm a silicone gel implant rupture since the thick silicone gel typically holds its shape, making leaks difficult to detect and feel without medical imaging such as an MRI.  For this reason, the FDA recommends that women with silicone gel breast implants undergo a baseline MRI 3 years after surgery and a follow-up MRI every 2 years after that.

If you have any additional questions regarding breast implants, mammograms, MRIs, or other radiographic studies, feel free to contact our knowledgeable and friendly staff at Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa, serving residents of Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, and nearby communities in Texas.

Among the many questions patients ask when seeking breast augmentation with implants is whether a warranty covers the implants.  At Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa in Houston, noted plastic surgeon Dr. Olga Bachilo will explain the various types of breast implants that may be used in your breast augmentation surgery and recommend the most appropriate implants to meet your aesthetic goals, as well as the warranty plans for each type and brand of breast implants.

Fortunately, most of the leading breast implant manufacturers, including Allergan, Mentor, and Sientra, provided at Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa, provide warranties that cover failure or manufacturer defects in their products. Patients are automatically enrolled in the warranty programs, and basic warranty coverage is free for all patients who undergo breast augmentation procedures.

What Kind of Coverage Do Breast Implant Warranties Provide?

Typically, manufacturers’ warranties cover problems that may occur due to implant failure, such as rupture or deflation of breast implants, but do not typically cover problems such as the implant shifting from its proper position. Most manufacturers offer a variety of warranty plans that may cover the cost of the implant itself, and in some cases, including doctors’ fees, anesthesia, and other expenses, for a limited time period.

Each implant manufacturer is different, and warranties vary between companies.  Be sure to read your warranty thoroughly and ask Dr. Bachilo any questions you may have about warranty coverage, so you can be prepared in advance and know exactly what may be covered and what is not covered.

Many common complications that may arise with breast augmentation surgery but are not related to a failure in the implant itself may not be covered by these warranties, including such problems as capsular contracture, infection, and rippling or wrinkling that may become visible through the skin are generally not covered, as well as problems where the implant shifts out of its proper position. Some implant manufacturers offer an extended warranty option that may be a good investment for some patients who want more coverage. Dr. Bachilo can advise you as to the best option for you.

How Do Breast Implant Warranties Work?

All breast implants are distributed as part of a production lot and are individually numbered with a serial number used for identification. Your post-operative instruction package should provide the serial numbers of any implant or implants used in your breast augmentation surgery.  Be sure to keep this information close at hand and store it with your other important documents.

These serial numbers are typically sent to the implant manufacturer, along with each patient’s social security number and any pertinent information regarding their surgery. In the rare instance that a problem should arise with an entire lot of breast implants, the implant manufacturer can easily identify those patients that might be affected.

Allergan Breast Implant Warranty Plans

Allergan provides a standard implant warranty through its warranty plan, ConfidencePlus. This program covers lifetime product replacement for both saline and silicone implants and 10 years of additional costs up to $1,200 for other expenses associated with any necessary breast revision surgery caused by implant failure.  As of April 1, 2002, all patients receiving Allergan implants are enrolled automatically in this program at no cost. Allergan also offers an extended ConfidencePlus Platinum Program for $100, which covers as much as $2,400 in additional surgery expenses, in addition to the replacement of the other implant if necessary.

Mentor Breast Implant Warranty Plans

The Mentor Advantage Limited Warranty covers saline implants manufactured by Mentor for all patients receiving Mentor implants beginning on May 1, 2005, and thereafter. All Mentor implant patients are automatically enrolled at no cost upon completion of their breast augmentation procedure. This warranty plan covers the cost of the implant in case of implant failure and replacement of the other implant if the surgeon recommends it.  Additionally, this plan provides 10 years of coverage for $1,200 for other expenses incurred as part of the required breast revision procedure.  The Mentor Enhanced Advantage Limited Warranty costs $100 and may only be purchased within the first 45 days following your breast augmentation procedure and applies exclusively to Mentor saline implants. This extended warranty provides up to $2,400 financial assistance for additional surgical costs when one or both saline implants need to be replaced.

For patients who select Mentor’s MemoryGel implants, the Mentor Lifetime Product Replacement Policy covers expenses related to one or both implants should one of your implants rupture.  If a confirmed and properly diagnosed implant rupture or other implant failures, the patient may choose replacement gel implants of a different size than the originals, as long as they are of a similar style. If you need breast revision surgery, under this plan, you may take the opportunity to try a different size implant. There is also a warranty plan that specifically covers MemoryGel round breast implants in patients who received these implants beginning on May 1, 2009, or thereafter. The Mentor Premier Advantage Limited Warranty provides coverage for up to $3,500 in financial assistance for a period of up to 10 years from the date of surgery, in cases of a confirmed rupture, and covers replacement of the other implant if recommended by your surgeon.

An additional extended warranty plan is available for patients who want additional protection, for a one-time fee of $100. The Mentor Enhanced Advantage Limited Warranty extends for a period of up to 10 years. It provides a one-time payment of $2,400 to cover surgical expenses, including the cost of the operating room, anesthesia, and other services associated with the revision surgery that are not typically covered by insurance.

Sientra Breast Implant Warranty Plans

For patients who choose Sientra implants, Sientra’s Limited Warranty Program covers up to $3,600 in costs directly related to required implant revision surgery is performed within a period of 10 years after the date of the original implant procedure. This coverage includes free lifetime replacement of the implant in case of implant rupture and opposite side implant replacement at no cost, if required and confirmed by a licensed plastic surgeon. Patients are automatically enrolled in the warranty plan at no cost upon receiving Sientra implants.