Revised March 6, 2019.
One of the principles guiding my medical career is a belief in the importance of education. That’s true whether I’m teaching future plastic surgeons in my job as a professor at Northwestern University or providing information to my patients during consultations. It’s also a reason I devote a significant amount of time to answering questions posted on RealSelf.com about a range of procedures, including breast augmentation.
I can reach patients beyond my Chicago practice by using RealSelf to provide advice to people from all over the world. Many of the questions I’ve answered are from women who need revision surgery after undergoing breast augmentation surgery with another surgeon. Some are patients who want advice about the best type of breast implants (discussed more in this blog post). Here are a couple of examples of questions about breast augmentation that I’ve answered:
Q: “Silicone breast implants vs. saline — How to choose?”
A: Choosing between silicone and saline breast implants is one of the major decisions in breast augmentation. Both types of implants have their own advantages.
- Silicone implants feel more natural, especially in thin patients with small breasts, when the implant makes up most of the breast volume.
- Saline implants are less expensive and can be placed through a smaller incision because they are filled after they are inserted into the body. If a saline implant leaks, it quickly deflates and the patient knows right away.
From an aesthetic perspective, most patients do well with either type of implant, so the decision becomes highly individual.
Q: “Have I got capsular contracture again?”
A: Mild capsular contracture can cause the implant to appear slightly higher, even though the breast does not feel firm. Your observation that the right implant does not move quite as freely as the left raises that possibility. However, a definite diagnosis of capsular contracture could not be made without an examination.
Q: “What is recovery like after breast augmentation?”
While each patient differs, recovery for my breast augmentation patients often involves less discomfort and is quicker than the same surgery performed by many other surgeons in the area. Using my in-depth knowledge of wound healing and scarring, I incorporate meticulous surgical techniques that minimize swelling and bruising, accelerate recovery, and minimize scarring. I do not require breast augmentation patients to wear special garments or bandages after surgery.
One of the key points I make in most of my answers is that patients should be examined by a board-certified plastic surgeon before making any decisions about a procedure. RealSelf is an excellent starting place for women who are either beginning their journeys of physical transformation or have questions about their results.
For more information, I encourage you to visit my Breast Augmentation FAQ. To see some of my actual patient results, look through my breast augmentation photo gallery of before & after photos. If you have other questions or would simply like to talk with me about breast augmentation, use our online contact form or call (312) 788-2560 for an appointment.
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