Virginia Breast Augmentation Blog

Breast augmentation is a good procedure for women of all ages. The FDA recommends that saline breast implants be used in women age 18 and older, and silicone breast implants be used in women age 22 and older, but otherwise the main question you have to answer is: what is the best age for my breast augmentation?

Many women think that their 20s are the best years for their breast augmentation. These are some of the years when women feel the most pressure to look their best, and breast augmentation can help them achieve a figure impossible without surgery.

Other women think that their 30s are the best years for their breast augmentation. After pregnancy, many women's breasts shrink, become not only smaller, but softer and droopier.

But breast augmentation is also a good procedure for women in their 40s and older. It is a good alternative to a breast lift for restoring a more youthful breast shape while maintaining or increasing your breast size.

For a more detailed discussion of age and breast augmentation, see our page What Is the Best Age for Breast Augmentation?, or you can schedule a personal consultation with the knowledgeable plastic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery, where we can talk about issues to consider with respect to your age. Please call or email us today.

You may have read that breast implants last X years or that after Y years you should have revision surgery, but you should take these numbers with a grain of salt. Asking how long breast implants last is like asking "How long will my car keep running?" Breast implants are designed to last for a lifetime, but it is impossible to know how long, exactly, they will last. Barring accidents and complications, breast implants can last indefinitely, although there is some evidence that the rate of ruptures can increase with time.

Like a car, you can keep your breast implants until there's a problem, or you can trade them in for newer implants if the old ones no longer fit your style. If one of your breast implants ruptures, it can lead to deflation (for saline breast implants) or an increased risk of infection (for silicone breast implants) so at that point replacement is necessary.

Many women, though, decide to replace breast implants before rupture occurs because their results are no longer as good as they were before. Even after surgery, your breasts are subject to gravity, and your skin can become stretched just as it can with natural breasts. Where women without implants may seek a breast lift, you may be able to restore your results with breast implant revision surgery. You may decide that your style is changed and you want to change your breast implants for larger or smaller ones, saline for silicone, or vice versa.

At The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we do not recommend surgery to remove or replace your implants unless there is a problem. If you want to learn more about getting breast implants, or whether we would recommend revision surgery for your previous breast augmentation, please contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Once you have recovered from your breast augmentation surgery, you may be delighted with how well your new breasts support themselves. You might be tempted to think that now you don't need a bra. Although breast implants do support themselves better than natural breast tissue, it is important that you continue wearing a well-fitting bra. Giving your breasts extra support will help keep them looking their best for years to come. See our page for detailed advice on Selecting a Bra after Your Breast Augmentation Surgery.

To make sure your breasts look their best in every situation, build up your essential bra wardrobe, including:

• Everyday bra--fit for comfort, function and full support. Get three or more so you can rotate them. Be aware of their stretching elastic and replace regularly
• Push up bra--less necessary now than before your surgery, but still called-for on days when you want a little extra extra.
• Minimizer bra--most days you will be delighted with your new breasts, but some days and some outfits (especially button-up shirts that can pull and gap at the bustline) call for a little less, and that's when you will go to your minimizer.
• Sports bra--exercise is hard on your breasts, and a well-fitting and supportive exercise bra is crucial to maintaining your results. Replace regularly as the elastic wears out and the bra provides less support.
• Convertible bra--most of us don't need a full-time strapless bra, but a convertible bra can be your go-to bra on days when your outfit calls for a different strap configuration.

Once you've got the essentials down, consider adding some of these special-occasion bras that can complement any outfit or mood:

• Demi cup bra--exposes more of the top of the breast, making it ideal for low-cut square or scoop neck outfits
• Lacy--wearing a lacy bra under your outfit can help you feel more feminine and can be a great pick-me-up for days when you feel just a little "blah." Not to mention men love them.
• Shelf bra--speaking of men, if you are looking for the ideal bra to "debut" the results of your breast augmentation to your husband or boyfriend, consider a shelf bra.
• Backless bra--some formalwear calls for this style of low-backed bra

The delightful alternatives for bras after your breast augmentation are endlessly exciting. To learn more about how breast augmentation can change your look and your wardrobe options, please call or email the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery today.

If you want to have the best-looking breasts possible, take care of your breasts' health. Healthy breasts are good-looking breasts. Here are some basic tips for maintaining your breasts' health:

• Maintain a constant, healthy weight--yo-yo dieting is the worst thing you can do to your breasts. As you gain or lose weight, your breasts will grow and shrink, leading to breast sagging
• Quit smoking--smoking is the number-one factor in breast sagging
• Take care of your skin--your skin supports your breasts and is also of key importance in the attractiveness of your breasts
• Wear an appropriate bra--don't leave your breasts hanging: give them some support to keep them looking youthful longer
• Follow guidelines for breast cancer screening--whether you have breast implants or not, early screening for breast cancer is crucial to early detection and treatment

These recommendations apply both before and after breast surgery, including breast augmentation. Maintaining good breast health is one of the best ways to ensure the longevity of your great results. For more detailed information, see our page on breast health before and after breast surgery.

To learn more about how good health practices can increase the life of your breast surgery results, please call or email the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery today to schedule a consultation.