Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery

1825 Samuel Morse Drive
Reston, VA 20190

866-407-0365

Virginia Breast Augmentation Blog

Monday, June 27, 2011

Can Breast Implants Interfere with a Mammogram?

Many women worry that having breast implants will interfere with detecting and treating cancer. The placement of your breast implant can have some effect on the type of screening required to detect cancer. Recent study results presented at the American Society of Breast Surgeons' 2011 meeting showed that women with breast implants experienced delays in the detection of breast anomalies. However, breast cancer survival rates were not affected.

It is also believed that because the study has a long time frame it does not reflect the impact of modern imaging technology, such as digital x-rays, on the ability of screeners to detect cancers.

Placement and Detection

When you go for your recommended mammograms, it's important to mention that you have breast implants so you can work with an experienced screener who knows how to look around the implant to better visualize cancers and pre-cancers.

Implants placed above the muscle in your chest can make cancer screening more difficult. Implants placed below your chest muscle are less likely to interfere with manual mammograms.

Breast augmentation is a proven safe way to restore symmetry and beauty to your body. We will be happy to address any safety concerns you have during your initial consultation.

If you live in or around Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland, or Washington DC and are interested in learning more about mammograms and breast augmentation, please contact the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation today.

posted by Katie at 12:20 PM location.href=http://virginiabreast.blogspot.com/2011/06/can-breast-implants-interfere-with.html#comment-form; > 1 comments

Friday, June 24, 2011

What Is Capsular Contracture?

Capsular contracture is a potential risk of breast augmentation. An abnormal response of the immune system to foreign materials in the body, capsular contracture occurs when the collagen-fiber capsule tightens and squeezes the breast implant. This can cause both pain and implant disfigurement and may result in having to have your implant removed and replaced.

How Common is Capsular Contracture?

Capsular contracture is one of the more common risks associated with breast implants, but its incidence has been decreasing as surgical techniques improve. Some studies indicate that the risk of capsular contracture is lowered with the use of saline breast implants instead of the old silicone gel breast implants, but it is not known how the capsular contracture rates of the new cohesive gel breast implants compare to the older style.

Treating Capsular Contracture

Some instances of capsular contracture are minor and do not require any treatment. Others may be treated with the use of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medications. If nonsurgical options do not work, your collagen-fiber capsule may need to be removed to allow new tissue to form around your implant. When this is the case, often times the implant is replaced and repositioned to reduce repeat contracture.

While uncommon, capsular contracture is still a potential complication and should be a consideration prior to undergoing breast augmentation.

If you live in or around Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland, or Washington DC and are interested in learning more about breast augmentation, please contact the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation today.

posted by Katie at 12:17 PM location.href=http://virginiabreast.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-is-capsular-contracture.html#comment-form; > 0 comments

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

What to Expect after Breast Augmentation Surgery

Immediately following your breast augmentation surgery you can expect to feel dizzy or nauseous. As the anesthesia wears off, you may continue to feel tired for the next 24 hours, but this is common with any surgical procedure.

Pain and discomfort may be present anywhere from one week to one month. Most women report feeling "back to normal" in about four weeks. Our doctors can help you manage discomfort with prescription analgesics. During this time, swelling and bruising are also common. This can be kept under control by wearing compression garments supplied by our office.

Scarring is inevitable with breast augmentation surgery. The incision option you choose will determine where the scar is located, and in most cases scars fade naturally over time. It may take up to four months for the results of your augmentation to be fully realized, but many women notice results in as little as one month.

Your recovery from breast augmentation will rely on your carefully following all of our advice after your surgery. We will continue to work with you even after your implants are placed to ensure your healing and recovery is going as smoothly as possible.

If you live in or around Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland, or Washington DC and are interested in learning more about recovering from breast augmentation, please contact the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation today.

posted by Katie at 12:16 PM location.href=http://virginiabreast.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-to-expect-after-breast.html#comment-form; > 2 comments

Monday, June 20, 2011

Planning for Your Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast augmentation surgery will require some preparation on your part. During your initial consultation, one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will discuss with you exactly what you can expect on the day of your surgery, but making sure everything you need is in place is important to ensure an easy procedure.

What to Plan

Prior to breast augmentation surgery, you will want to arrange for a ride to and from our surgical facility. You will be on medications that can interfere with driving, and will need a ride home. It is also important to have a place where you can rest and recover from your surgery. For the first few days you will need to limit physical activity, and having a friend or family member to help with basic household necessities is important during this time.

You should plan on taking up to one week off from work. Make sure you have planned accordingly with your employer and clients to allow yourself this important time to heal. If your job requires strenuous physical exertion, you may need to take up to four weeks off.

You will need to abstain from smoking, taking certain medications, and potentially modify your diet prior to your surgery. All of this will be discussed with you during your initial consultation.

If you live in or around Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland, or Washington DC, please contact the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery for more information about preparing for breast augmentation today.

posted by Katie at 12:12 PM location.href=http://virginiabreast.blogspot.com/2011/06/planning-for-your-breast-augmentation.html#comment-form; > 0 comments

Friday, June 17, 2011

Does Breast Implant Surgery Require Hospitalization?

At the Austin-Weston Center Cosmetic Surgery Center, breast augmentation procedures are performed at our 11,000 square foot AAAHC accredited plastic surgery facility located just outside of Washington DC. Here, our board-certified plastic surgeons are attended by highly trained personnel including a certified nurse anesthetis to ensure your maximum comfort and safety.

While there are some potential risks and complications with breast augmentation, very few breast augmentation procedures require an overnight hospital stay. You will require some rest after your surgery, but most patients are able to go home within an hour of their surgery.

It is important to have your surgery performed in a state-of-the-art, accredited surgical facility to help guarantee against complications like infection and excessive bleeding. However, every body is different, and your body’s response to breast augmentation may require additional care after surgery. If this is the case, we will do everything possible to minimize further complications, and have you on your way as soon as possible.

If you live in or around Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland, or Washington DC and are interested in learning more about our breast augmentation facility, please contact the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation today.

posted by Katie at 12:11 PM location.href=http://virginiabreast.blogspot.com/2011/06/does-breast-implant-surgery-require.html#comment-form; > 0 comments

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Estimating Your Breast Implant Size at Home

When you come to the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we will help you determine what size breast implant will work best for you. However, this basic visualization technique performed at home can help give us a starting place for discussion during your initial consultation.

Choose a filling of rice, couscous, oatmeal, lentils, or quinoa, depending on what you have on hand and what feels most comfortable. Water can also be used, but it can be messier. Based on the filling you choose, select a thin stocking or zip lock bag that the filling can be placed into. Breast implants are measured by volume, so you’ll be determining cc’s as opposed to bra size.

Starting smaller is usually more beneficial with this experiment. Start by placing 250cc, about a cup, in the baggie or stocking. Place it over your breast, underneath an unpadded bra. Looking in the mirror, determine if you would like to go bigger. Adding 125cc, or ½ cup at a time, gradually increase the size until you find something you like. Make a note of that. Remember, breast implant placement under the muscle can reduce the apparent size of your implant up to 15 percent. We'll take this into account when talking about the size of breast implant that is right for you.

We will take the size you found at home and carefully assess your entire frame to help you find an implant size that looks and feels natural on your body.

If you live in or around Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland, or Washington DC and are interested in learning more about breast augmentation, please contact the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation today.

posted by Katie at 12:08 PM location.href=http://virginiabreast.blogspot.com/2011/06/estimating-your-breast-implant-size-at.html#comment-form; > 1 comments

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

The Perfect Combination: A Breast Augmentation and Tummy Tuck Makeover

The combination of breast augmentation and tummy tuck (also known as a Mommy Makeover) has become increasingly popular, and with good reason. The two procedures complement each other, especially in women coping with the bodily changes that occur after having children.

Pregnancy alters your body shape, most notably your breasts and abdomen, and even women who follow a healthy diet and fitness regimen following childbirth find regaining their youthful forms an exercise in futility. Many women are left with fat deposits and stretch marks around the stomach, waist and thighs, as well as a loss of breast volume.

A Mommy Makeover rejuvenates your appearance with a breast augmentation, tummy tuck and, in some cases, liposuction in a single outpatient procedure.

A breast augmentation will help restore the volume, shape and curvature of your breasts, while a tummy tuck will remove excess skin and fat to flatten and firm your abdomen. For women wishing to remove additional unwanted body fat around the waist and thighs, liposuction can be added to the procedure.

Choosing a Mommy Makeover over separate breast augmentation and tummy tuck procedures offers several advantages including saving costs, limiting the impact of multiple surgeries on the body, and lessening the overall recovery time of successive procedures.

If you’re a mother who’s interested in revitalizing your appearance, please contact the experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons at the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Reston, Virginia, for a Mommy Makeover consultation.

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Monday, June 13, 2011

Implant Size and Cup Size

Breast implants are measured by their volume in cubic centimeters (cc), and there's no really reliable way to translate this into how much your breast cup size will change after breast augmentation. When you come to the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we will talk to you more about creating an appealing, natural look that matches your frame, using cup size only as a short cut for communication.

Determining Implant Size

We’ve found that the best way to determine implant size is to have you try on different sized implants under a bra and see what you think looks best. We have over 100 different implants here at The Austin-Weston Center to help you do this. After you find the size you like, the surgeons will examine you and see if your choice makes “sense” for your body. This exam will pay particular attention to:

• Your existing cup size
• The proportions your hips, waist, and chest
• The size of your ribcage
• The size of your chest

Using these measurements, we can best choose an implant size that will give you the look you have been dreaming of.

The cup size you think you want may not be ideal to your frame. It is important to take your entire body into account when considering breast augmentation surgery. Our experienced surgeons have helped thousands of women achieve their desired look, and can help you find an implant size that produces proportional, stunningly beautiful results.

If you live in or around Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland, or Washington DC and are interested in learning more about breast augmentation, please contact the experienced cosmetic surgeons at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation today.

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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Can the Cup When Choosing Breast Implant Size

When it comes to choosing your breast implant size of your breast implants, dump the alphabet soup—the As, Bs, Cs (and ccs)—and focus instead on the components of breast implants that will add up to the look you desire.

As you already know, bra cup sizes are frustratingly imperfect measurements that vary by bra type and manufacturer. And while cubic centimeters—the volume amount used in breast implant sizing—are precise, they can also be misleading; 400 cc breast implants on a woman with a compact stature and thin breast tissue will not look the same as 400 cc breast implants on a full-figured woman with substantial breast tissue.

When using breast implant visualization options such as photos, case studies and breast implant samples, consider what you like and don’t like.

Do you want a visible outline? Do you prefer a natural contour or a rounded shape? Do you want a subtle increase in size or an obvious augmentation? Will your desired new size fit your lifestyle?

The experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons at the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery can answer your breast surgery questions and present you with a wide range of breast implant options so you can find the type, size, shape and profile that will leave you happy with your new appearance and limit your frustration to bra shopping.

To learn more about your breast augmentation options or to schedule a consultation, please contact the Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Reston, Virginia.

posted by Katie at 5:21 PM location.href=http://virginiabreast.blogspot.com/2011/06/can-cup-when-choosing-breast-implant.html#comment-form; > 0 comments

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Virginia Breast Augmentation Disclaimer: The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery specializes in breast implant procedures including: breast enhancement surgery, breast lift surgery, breast reduction surgery and Mommy Makeovers in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Reston, and Richmond, Virginia, Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Columbia, Maryland and Washington DC We also offer breast implant exchange. If you live in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC, contact us today to schedule a breast implant consultation.

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