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What Is Breast Augmentation?

Many women may feel that their breasts are too small, lack enough volume or youthful contour, lack upper pole fullness, or are too droopy. Breast augmentation enhances your breasts by adding volume and fullness, giving them a more youthful and sensual shape and appearance that improves your breasts’ proportion to your body frame. Considered one of the best plastic surgeons in Saratoga Springs and in the Albany/Capital District region by locals and a “Top Doctor” by Castle Connolly, Dr. Steven Yarinsky offers breast implants in a variety of sizes, shapes, and types that can help you attain fuller, more shapely breasts with results that look natural and beautiful. He has been helping women enhance their figures with breast augmentation since 1989!

In addition to offering implants from both Allergan® and Mentor® brands, Dr. Yarinsky has the most experience of any plastic surgeon in the Albany and Upstate New York area since 2012 doing breast augmentations with the Sientra® “Gummy Bear” gel implants. He has used Sientra® implants for over eight years—more than any other plastic surgeon in our geographic region. Sientra® implants have been shown in clinical studies to have the lowest rates of breakage and of capsular contracture (hard breast formation) of all available gel-filled “gummy bear” implant brands. Dr. Yarinsky offers the latest OPUS™ breast implants by Sientra®, which are designed to look and feel extremely natural without sacrificing shape retention. These implants are also protected under Sientra®’s Platinum20™ Product Replacement and Limited Warranty Program. This extensive coverage offers benefits such as free lifetime replacement if an implant ruptures and 20-year replacement for capsular contracture complications, late forming seroma, and double capsule. This is the best warranty in the business compared with only 10 years for the other implant companies.

This wide range of implant options, along with his advanced expertise in performing breast augmentation, allows his patients to achieve beautiful results that align with their aesthetic goals.

“I can’t stress enough that the treatment I received before, during and after my procedure was far beyond my expectations. I have never meet nursing and office staff that were as wonderful as yours. Thank you so much for making me feel comfortable, confident and happy throughout my entire process. You are all awesome!!”

N.M., Breast Augmentation Patient

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Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

  • You desire larger breasts to create a more balanced figure or to fill out your clothing and bathing suits.
  • You have one breast that is noticeably smaller than the other.
  • You have mild breast drooping and desire an uplift and enlargement.
  • You would like to have more upper pole breast fullness and increased cleavage.

What Are the Benefits of Breast Augmentation?

  • Get larger and more shapely breasts.
  • Achieve a more balanced figure.
  • Boost your self-esteem and develop a more positive self-image.

I love my breasts! I have never in all my 42 years of living have ever been able to say that, let alone even claim to have breasts at all. You see, I was a 36A, wore a stuffed 36B (remember the Wonder Bra?) but now, thanks to Dr. Y, I am an absolutely beautiful saline 36C. They feel and look natural and I am enjoying them more than I ever imagined! Dr. Yarinsky is a master artist and his staff are an amazing group of truly caring people. Let’s face it, surgery is serious business and can feel scary at times. Dr. Yarinsky and his staff, namely Holly and Susan, were incredibly patient with me and so supportive that they managed to make me feel at ease throughout the entire process, and that is not easy, I am a worrier. From my pre-surgery appointment to surgery day and the recovery weeks at home and follow up visits they were there for me any time I needed them. I could not have been in better hands. 

Meg M

August 25, 2015

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How Is the Breast Augmentation Procedure Performed?

  • For your safety, convenience, and comfort, the procedure is done in Dr. Yarinsky’s Joint Commission Accredited office facility as an outpatient procedure usually using general anesthesia or IV sedation. You sleep, feel nothing and are amnesic for the surgery.
  • A small incision is made around the areola (the pigmented part of the breast) or in the fold beneath the breast. Dr. Yarinsky will review the best way to place the implant you choose at your initial consultation.
  • Dr. Yarinsky uses your choice of saline (salt water) filled implants, silicone gel filled, or “Gummy Bear” type silicone gel filled implants.
  • The implant is inserted under the breast tissue and usually is placed partially beneath the chest wall (pectoralis) muscle to camouflage the surface and provide a more naturally appearing upper breast contour with the best possible result to suit your particular desires and individual needs.

View Your Results in 3D

Learn more about crisalix imaging

Breast Implant Shapes

Round Breast Implants

  • A round implant can provide you with more upper breast fullness or “cleavage” when compared to teardrop-shaped gummy bear implants.
  • If you desire more fullness and projection, Dr. Yarinsky can set the implant in a higher placement on the chest.
  • There is minimal concern for rotation with round breast implants, as they are the same shape all the way around and any rotation after placement would not change their appearance.

Teardrop-Shaped Breast Implants

  • A teardrop-shaped implant mimics the appearance of a natural breast and has less fullness in the cleavage area than other implant choices.
  • All shaped implants have a textured surface to help prevent movement within the pocket where they are placed. Textured implants are currently available only from Sientra and Mentor.
  • There is more projection towards the bottom and more tapering for flattening at the top of a teardrop-shaped gummy bear implant.
  • Teardrop implants are a more common choice for women who have undergone a mastectomy and are receiving a breast reconstruction.
  • If a shaped implant rotates it can create an unusual appearance. So they need to be carefully positioned in the pocket. This is why having your procedure done by a board-certified plastic surgeon and Aesthetic Society member like Dr. Yarinsky is so important.
  • Due to the lack of upper implant fullness, when compared to round shape, a teardrop implant will not provide an abundance of cleavage.

Breast Implant Surfaces

Smooth Breast Implant

  • Smooth breast implants are considered the softest out of the choices we offer at Saratoga Springs Plastic Surgery.
  • This implant can create a more mobile breast appearance as it is able to move within the breast implant pocket.
  • In an effort to prevent hard breast or thick capsular formation, the pocket for placement of smooth implants typically has to be made much larger than the implant.
  • Complications such as rippling and scar tissue formation around the implant (capsular contracture) can occur.
  • Surgeons at many of the major breast augmentation centers in the world and around the United States feel that using smooth implants increases the risk and rate of hard breast or capsular contracture formation.

Textured Breast Implant

  • Textured breast implants are less likely to move or become repositioned. The formation of scar tissue around these implants helps them adhere to the surrounding breast tissue like “VELCRO®”.
  • This “texturing” can reduce the risk of thick capsule formation and tight capsular contracture, which can cause hard breasts (more commonly seen when using smooth implants).
  • Outside of the United States and in the most highly recognized American breast augmentation centers, textured breast implants are the most common selection amongst board certified plastic surgeons.
  • Your breasts may feel more natural to touch with use of textured implants when compared to the feel of smooth implants due to a thinner capsule forming around a textured implant.
  • Textured implants from Allergan named Biocell® (formerly sold under the brand news McGhan and Inamed) have been recalled per FDA recommendation on 7/24/2019 due to an association between this brand of textured implants and the rare condition called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). Textured implants from Sientra® and Mentor® are still available and have an exceedingly rare association with BIA-ALCL, if any.

What Breast Implant Types Are Available?

Each breast implant type can provide beautiful results for the right candidates. Implants are available from four companies: Allergan (Natrelle® brand smooth-walled saline, soft and firmer silicone gel), Mentor® (saline, more fluid and thicker/firmer varieties of silicone gel), and Sientra® (OPUS™ form-stable “gummy bear” round and shaped silicone gel implants).

Saline Implants

  • Saline implants have silicone shells filled with a salt water (saline) solution directly from a sterile I.V. bag. They are filled after they are inserted into the breast pocket, which allows Dr. Yarinsky to use a smaller incision, resulting in less visible scarring.
  • Dr. Yarinsky usually places this implant through an incision at the edge of the areola or may place it through an incision located in the fold beneath the breast per patient preference.
  • Should a rupture occur to the implant, the salt water can be safely and easily absorbed by the body until it is removed and replaced.
  • This implant type is FDA-approved for patients 18 years and older, but may be used in younger women as well to balance asymmetry or to correct congenital breast shape or size problems.

Silicone Gel Implants

  • Silicone gel filled implants have cohesive silicone shells and are filled with a softer silicone gel material that has the consistency of honey.
  • This type of implant tends to provide a very natural-looking appearance and have a more natural breast feel when compared to salt water filled implants.
  • There is a lower risk of rippling compared with those filled with salt water since the silicone fill material is a thicker consistency. As a result, silicone gel implants are often preferred for those women who are thinner, since they have less of their own natural breast tissue available to camouflage or hide the implant.
  • Silicone implants are FDA-approved for women over age 21 and may also be used for younger women in certain circumstances. Speak with Dr. Yarinsky to determine whether silicone gel filled implants are the best choice for you.

Cohesive Gel or “Gummy Bear” Implants

  • “Gummy Bear” implants are also known as “form stable” implants since they are firmer and maintain their shape better. The silicone within these implants is a thicker consistency, not as flowing or liquid as in the original silicone gel filled implants.
  • Should the shell of the implant break or be compromised, the “Gummy Bear” implant maintains its shape and does not leak gel into the body. The broken implant has the consistency of “JELL-O®.”
  • Dr. Yarinsky has had more years of experience using Sientra® implants than any other plastic surgeon located in the Albany/Capital District region. More experience with a procedure typically leads to more consistent and better breast augmentation results. Dr. Yarinsky is proud to offer Sientra® implants and has found them to provide his patients with exceptional results since he started using them in 2012.
  • Dr. Yarinsky offers the Sientra® OPUS™ breast implants, which are composed of High-Strength Cohesive Silicone Gel. The OPUS™ line of implants are available in textured and smooth surface options, round or shaped, and multiple projection levels (including high, moderate plus, moderate, and low). These state-of-the-art gummy bear implants are exclusively available to board-certified plastic surgeons, ensuring only the most skilled surgeons can utilize them. The textured types have only a rare association with BIA-ALCL compared with Allergan Biocell® textured implants which are no longer available.
  • Sientra® implants are FDA-approved for women over age 21 and may also be used for younger women in certain circumstances. The OPUS™ shaped breast implants are the first shaped implants to receive FDA approval. Speak with Dr. Yarinsky to determine whether Sientra® implants are the best choice for you.
  • Sientra® OPUS™ implants are covered by the Platinum20™ warranty program. This comprehensive protection offers coverage benefits including free lifetime implant replacement if they ever rupture and 20-year replacement if complications of capsular contracture occur.
  • To learn more about Sientra® American-made implants please view Dr. Yarinsky’s YouTube video below.

Patient Experiences

“You were all truly amazing! Thinking about how kind, patient and available you all were to me and my mom was outstanding! I could not have imagined a better place experience then your office. I am thankful for you all every day, and I’m so glad I chose you for such a life changing experience!”

Read Dr. Yarinsky’s responses to 5 common myths about Breast Augmentation.

How Do I Choose The Right Breast Implants?

Dr. Yarinsky will help you determine whether saline, silicone gel, “structured” saline, or Sientra® OPUS™ “Gummy Bear” implants are best for your needs and desired appearance and outcome. Since there are many options to choose from, it is best to outline your cosmetic goals and expectations during your consultation with Dr. Yarinsky. He will also take into consideration the amount and firmness of your natural breast tissue, your chest measurements, skin quality, and pre-operative cup size to help make an informed implant suggestion suited to meet your unique needs and desires. When it comes to selecting the ideal breast implant there is no “one size fits all”. Therefore, scheduling a consultation with an expert breast surgeon like Dr. Yarinsky is incredibly important. New state-of-the-art Crisalix® 3-D and 4-D computer imaging may be used so that you can preview how great you might look with the implant type and size you choose.

What Is Breast Augmentation Recovery Like?

  • We provide you with a support bra to wear, gauze dressing and a VELCRO® strap positioned on your upper chest which helps hold your breast implants in the correct position. You will wear the bra and strap continuously except when showering for several weeks until swelling and bruising have disappeared.
  • You should avoid tub bathing, swimming, and hot tub use—submerging your breasts in water—for six to eight weeks.
  • Any discomfort is well-controlled with oral medication.
  • Sutures are usually removed within two weeks (up to three weeks if you have a breast lift done on the same day).
  • Light activities can be resumed as tolerated. Aerobic activities can be started in about three to four weeks.

What Risks Are Associated with Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation is considered a generally safe procedure when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon; however, any surgery has some degree of risk. Dr. Yarinsky will go over the various pros and cons of breast augmentation during your consultation, including the potential complications that can occur during surgery and outline the nature of your recovery. While typically rare, the risks of breast augmentation include among others, infection, loss of nipple sensation, capsular contracture (forming firmer breasts), fluid accumulation around the implant and implant rupture or leakage. Dr. Yarinsky will review these risks with you in detail in the process of answering all of your questions to ensure you understand what to expect and what to do if you suspect you are experiencing any problems after surgery. He encourages patients to express any concerns they may have before and after their breast augmentation and considers all questions you may have about your recovery important. Dr. Yarinsky has found that an educated and informed patient is empowered to experience a more comfortable recovery and be more satisfied with their result.

What Will My Breast Augmentation Scars Look Like?

Although scarring cannot be avoided after breast implant surgery, Dr. Yarinsky uses meticulous surgical technique to minimize the appearance of these lines. He will place your incisions in inconspicuous locations to help you conceal the scars. If saline implants are selected, they will be filled after insertion to allow for a reduced incision size and, therefore, less scarring overall. Silicone implants are pre-filled which require longer incisions which result in slightly longer scars. In general, the amount and location of your breast augmentation scarring will ultimately depend on the incision technique used during your surgery. Commonly used incisions include around the areola and in the fold underneath the breast. Over the course of the first year, your scars will become less noticeable, gradually fading from pink to white, lightening and becoming flatter. Dr. Yarinsky will advise you on proper wound care after surgery and provide you with special topical treatment to help minimize the appearance of your final scars.

How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?

The average cost of breast augmentation can range from $7,900 to $11,900, which includes the surgeon’s fee, the price of anesthesia, operating room facilities, breast implants, and other related fees. The range in cost is related to implant types and brand, type of anesthesia used, the type of procedure done, and how long that procedure may take. Due to the added time and technical experience involved, there are additional expenses if a breast lift is performed with your augmentation. The cost of anesthesia, which is a “pass-through fee,” has recently increased due to a national shortage of anesthesia providers secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since each patient has unique needs and aesthetic goals, Dr. Yarinsky customizes every breast enhancement to provide you with the best possible result. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Yarinsky is well-known and respected as an expert in breast enhancement by doctors and patients alike.

Dr. Yarinsky needs to examine you and evaluate your needs at your consultation to provide an accurate quote for your breast augmentation. Dr. Yarinsky performs your breast augmentation at his own Joint Commission-accredited surgery center for your convenience, comfort, privacy and cost savings over a hospital setting. Your quote includes all fees associated with the procedure, including the anesthesia, our surgical facility and nursing staff, implants, post-operative garments, and the surgeon’s fee.

While health insurance does not cover cosmetic breast augmentation, your insurance may cover pre-operative lab work and tests that may be needed, such as mammograms, prescriptions, and medical clearance from your primary care physician. Dr. Yarinsky’s staff will be happy to assist you with cosmetic and plastic surgery financing options, should you be interested.

Do I Need a Breast Augmentation and Lift?

Many breast augmentation patients can achieve enhanced results by including a breast lift as part of their procedure. This is most appropriate for women with breasts that are droopy or saggy in addition to being smaller than desired. Combining a breast augmentation with lift surgery is especially beneficial for those who have lost breast volume after pregnancy or after weight loss. By adding implants to restore this volume while lifting and tightening the skin of the breasts, patients can achieve a more youthful and shapely breast appearance.

Complementary Procedures

In addition to combining breast augmentation with lift surgery, many women choose to add procedures like liposuction of other areas or a tummy tuck as part of a Mommy Makeover to enhance their overall figure. These procedures can sometimes be done on the same day as your breast enlargement for a single recovery, allowing you to regain your enhanced and more youthful pre-pregnancy figure.

Additional Breast Augmentation FAQs

What Is the Best Age for Breast Augmentation? 

Breast augmentation may be performed for women from their mid-teens and older when natural breast growth has peaked — which is generally considered to be at age 18. Whether a younger teen qualifies for a breast augmentation is usually made on a case-by-case basis, which includes evaluation of factors such as her level of physical and psychological maturity, if she has realistic expectations, and whether she has good parental and family support. The FDA has recommended breast augmentation using saline implants for women who are at least 18 years old and silicone gel or “gummy bear” implants for women who are 22 and older. If you are in your twenties or older, it is more important to ask yourself the following questions when considering having a breast augmentation rather than focus on the best age to undergo the procedure:

  • How is my overall health? Good candidates for breast augmentation are in good health with no significantly untreated medical conditions, as any unmanaged medical issues may have an impact on the healing process after surgery.
  • What are my goals for breast augmentation? Understanding what breast augmentation can (or cannot) accomplish for different desires and goals is a vital first step. For example, if you want to increase your breast size as well as lift sagging breast tissue, you may be advised to combine a breast augmentation with mastopexy (breast lift surgery) to achieve the best result.
  • Am I in an appropriate stage of physical and emotional maturity? Although most young women have fully developed breasts by the age of 18, others may continue to physically develop into their twenties, and it may be advisable to hold off on augmentation until your breast growth has stabilized. You should also clearly understand that the procedure should be guided by your own desires and needs — rather than the influence of others — and have realistic expectations for your goals.  
  • Do I plan to become pregnant? Since any change in weight due to diet, exercise, or pregnancy can change the shape and size of your breasts, if you are planning to become pregnant within a few years, you may wish to postpone your breast augmentation. The physical changes to the body that occur during pregnancy will likely alter the aesthetic results. If you are interested in having a breast enhancement after your family is complete, you can choose to have a Mommy Makeover, which may combine breast augmentation with a tummy tuck to fully rejuvenate your figure.

Regardless of your age, if you are interested in breast augmentation, you should always seek professional advice — ideally from a board-certified plastic surgeon who has many years of experience and a particular interest in breast enhancement like Dr. Yarinsky — prior to any treatment. Contact Saratoga Springs Plastic Surgery, PC and consult with Dr. Yarinsky to learn more about the best treatment options based on your particular desires and goals. 

Which Breast Implants Look the Most Natural? 

There are several factors that can determine how natural your breasts will look with breast implants:

  • The choice of appropriate implant size and shape for your body frame and proportions
  • Whether your implants are positioned and spaced evenly on the chest
  • Whether a low, moderate, or high profile/projection implant is used
  • Placement of the implant either under the muscle, which usually provides a more natural look, or over the muscle. The best positioning varies with each individual.
  • Type of implant material, as silicone tends to look and feel the most natural due to its softer gel composition versus saline implants, which are filled with sterile salt water

Dr. Yarinsky has been named a “Regional Top Doctor” for the past nine consecutive years, in part, due to his dedication to helping patients achieve beautiful, natural results. 

Do I Need to Wear a Bra After Breast Augmentation?

Yes. We will supply you with surgical bras to hold wound dressings in place. These must be worn day and night for several weeks, taking them off only to shower. This protective layer will cover your incisions, support your new implants to maintain their shape and positioning, and continue to minimize swelling. At four to six weeks after surgery, when Dr. Yarinsky recommends it, you may go bra shopping and begin wearing non-underwire bras — preferably with a front-facing clasp to ease stretching and movement. 

When Can I Sleep on My Side After Breast Augmentation?

The timeline for sleeping on your side (or stomach) after surgery will depend on the extent of your procedure and how quickly your body heals afterward. This is important to protect your incisions and alleviate pressure on your chest until your breasts have adequately healed. In general, you may need to sleep on your back for at least two to three weeks and avoid sleeping on your stomach for at least a month. Placing pillows on your sides and under your upper body can be a helpful way to stay in the appropriate position while asleep. 

Does Tightness Go Away After Breast Augmentation?

Yes. As your body adjusts to your new breast implants, any tightness and/or muscle spasms in your chest should subside naturally over the course of two to four weeks. You might be more prone to tightness if your implants are placed behind the muscle or if you have very small, tight breasts and have chosen to have larger implants. We provide you with muscle relaxants. While there are at-home remedies available, such as muscle relaxers and back massage techniques, that may help to lessen discomfort, it is always best to consult with Dr. Yarinsky if you have questions or concerns. 

Note

The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for you can be determined only at the time of your consultation with Dr. Yarinsky. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual. Most people are very happy with the results but no specific result can be guaranteed.

This procedure is most often done at our Joint Commission accredited office facility for your safety, convenience, comfort, and privacy, as well as to enhance your experience with continuity of care.

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