Andre Panossian MD, a top board-certified plastic surgeon in Southern California, offers breast augmentation in Pasadena, CA, to women looking for the most modern, customizable breast enhancement options. Women who wish to improve the shape and size of their breasts can expect tailored enhancement that best suits their body frame and lifestyle while simultaneously boosting their confidence.
Key Advantages of Undergoing Breast Augmentation with Dr. Panossian
Breast augmentation offers numerous advantages, enhancing both appearance and self-confidence. It can significantly improve body image, leading to greater personal satisfaction. Here are more benefits:
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Exploring Breast Augmentation: Procedure Insights and Options
Breast augmentation is the more formal name for what is often known as a “boob job”. The augmentation definition is simply to make something larger. Therefore, breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that is performed to increase the size of a woman’s breasts.
The breast augmentation procedure allows women to achieve their ideal breast shape and size and can be performed with biocompatible synthetic implants filled with silicone gel or saline or by repurposing the patient’s natural breast tissue.
Breast augmentation surgery is performed for cosmetic purposes and is not intended to change the function of the breasts. In some cases, the procedure is performed alongside other cosmetic surgeries, like a tummy tuck and breast lift, for a full mommy makeover. LA plastic surgeon Dr. Panossian offers several different breast augmentation options in Pasadena, CA, to patients with a range of goals.
Breast Augmentation Before and After Photos
Explicit content – Discretion advised.
Why do Women Choose Breast Implants in Los Angeles?
Women with small breasts often feel self-conscious about their appearance, whether their breast size is due to genetics, weight loss, or changes caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding. Breast surgery can boost confidence and self-esteem for women with naturally small, asymmetrical, or aging breasts.
Breast implants are popular throughout the country, but the procedure is particularly common in the Pasadena area because of the entertainment industry and the miles of beach that line the coast. Many women in Pasadena choose breast augmentation to be more competitive in Hollywood or to feel more confident in a swimsuit.
Other women who choose to get breast implants may have been impacted by trauma or disease, most notably breast cancer. Implants can help restore a woman’s body after mastectomy and can have emotional benefits after a traumatic treatment process.
The doctor also performs breast augmentation through fat grafting at Andre Panossian MD Plastic Surgery in Pasadena, CA, though the results are less dramatic than those provided by implants.
Ideal Candidates for A Breast Augmentation in Pasadena
A good candidate for a breast augmentation may be any woman who wishes to have fuller breasts; however, patients must meet certain requirements for their safety and to ensure the best surgical outcome.
First and foremost, patients must be in good health and should have no known reactions to anesthesia or previous surgical complications. Some active diseases, including breast cancer, can delay or prevent a woman from undergoing breast enlargement.
Pregnant women must wait until they have given birth to safely undergo the surgery, and those who plan on future pregnancies should consider waiting until they are done having children. Many women ask, “Can you breastfeed with implants?” and while the answer is usually “Yes,” it is still better to postpone the procedure for the best results, as both pregnancy and breastfeeding can dramatically change the look of the breasts.
Ideally, prospective patients should also be at a stable weight before the surgery to avoid breast changes from substantial weight gain and loss.
The Breast Implant Consultation in Pasadena, CA
Women who are interested in breast implants or a fat transfer to the breasts must schedule an appointment to meet with Dr. Panossian for a breast augmentation consultation in Pasadena.
During this first visit, the doctor will go over the patient’s full medical history, perform a physical examination of the breasts, and ask questions to determine the type of implants that will best suit their needs. No two breast augmentation surgeries are performed in the same way, so the procedure is considered to be highly customizable.
Once the doctor has determined the patient’s candidacy, he will go over different surgical options, including silicone breast implants, gummy bear implants, saline implants, and fat transfer breast augmentation.
Patients can view the types of implants and use office models to help the doctor visualize which size they want. Patients will be able to pick their favorite options from the different types of breast implants, shapes, and various sizes to create their ideal look.
Dr. Panossian can also discuss breast implant illness and the scientific evidence that highlights the safety of the materials and methods he uses. He may also show prospective patients breast augmentation before and after pictures of former patients at his Pasadena, CA practice or use office implant models for a size try-on.
At the consultation, patients will be able to choose their implant placement site and may discuss additional procedures they are interested in, such as a breast lift.
Many of our Pasadena breast implant patients are local to the Los Angeles area, but those traveling can work with the front office staff to secure accommodations and care after the surgery.
Preparing for Your Breast Augmentation: Essential Pre-Procedure Checklist
Patients in Pasadena, CA, need to prepare for breast augmentation before the procedure. Dr. Panossian may request medical records, a CT scan, or lab work to ensure that the patient is healthy.
He will also prescribe medications ahead of the plastic surgery to be filled and available during the patient’s recovery. In some cases, certain medications may need to be taken before the procedure to reduce complications like swelling or infection. With their physician’s approval, patients may also need to discontinue or adjust the doses of certain medications that could interfere with the surgery.
Patients can further prepare for their procedure by arranging transportation to and from appointments and post-surgery care from a loved one or an approved agency.
A recovery area should also be set up in advance with recommended pillows or padding for proper elevation, hygiene items, and medication organization to reduce discomfort. Premade meals and beverages are also convenient for the week after surgery when cooking may be difficult.
How a Breast Implant Surgery is Performed
Most breast augmentation procedures in Pasadena are performed with general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. There are two main techniques for the procedure: breast augmentation with implants and enhancement with fat transfer.
A breast augmentation surgery typically takes 1 to 2 hours, but it may be longer for complicated cases or when other procedures are combined, like liposuction during a fat transfer breast augmentation.
Breast Augmentation with Implants
Pasadena plastic surgeon Dr. Panossian can insert saline or silicone breast implants through different incision sites, which include through the underarm (transaxillary), areola (periareolar), breast crease (inframammary incision), or the belly button (transumbilical).
When saline implants are used, the silicone shell that contains the saltwater fluid is empty until placed. These implants require smaller incisions that are more discreet, like the armpit or around the nipple. Silicone gel implants and gummy bear implants are pre-filled in similar shells and are inserted at their full size. Larger breast implant sizes may be best introduced to the chest through a surgical cut in the lower fold underneath the breast.
In many patients, the ideal implant placement is under the pectoral muscle. This allows the fat and natural breast tissue to be positioned in front of the breast implant, making fake breasts look more natural. In more athletic body types, however, placement above the muscle is necessary so that the implant will not appear distorted with muscle activity.
Once the pocket has been created and the implant is in place, Dr. Panossian will suture the incisions closed. Some women may have surgical drains installed to help them drain fluids from the site once discharged home.
The patient’s incisions will be bandaged, and they will be fitted with a special bra for support after breast augmentation, meaning that they should refrain from wearing standard bras until they have recovered. The undergarment will be a non-compression bra without an underwire and should be worn as directed by Dr. Panossian after the breast augmentation procedure in Pasadena.
Breast Augmentation with Autologous Fat Transfer
Pasadena breast implants are a great way to add volume to the chest, but a second breast enhancement option is available that is more appropriate for some patients: fat transfer to the breasts. During this procedure, a patient’s fat can be removed with liposuction (a body contouring technique) and redistributed to the chest, creating a natural, beautiful breast volume.
Women tend to accumulate extra fat in their abdomens, love handles, and buttocks, which can serve as ideal donor sites for fat. Once suctioned from the body, the fat is purified and treated to extract the healthiest cells.
The fat is then transferred to the breasts through a reverse liposuction action or a series of injections. Fat transfers are best suited for patients seeking more subtle breast enlargement and who are willing to undergo a second treatment if the body reabsorbs some of the fat placed in the breasts.
Breast Augmentation Combined with Breast Lift
When breast augmentation and a breast lift (mastopexy) are performed together, Dr. Panossian will typically perform the breast lift first, which may require a different incision pattern. The doctor will always minimize breast lift scars as much as possible.
Depending on how much breast sagging is present, he will create an incision around the areola (circumareolar), add a vertical incision down the middle of the lower breast (vertical or lollipop), or expand on these two incision types by also creating a third cut along the lower crease of the breast (anchor-type).
A breast lift may take from 2 to 4 hours to complete while the doctor removes extra skin, elevates the breasts, and repositions the nipples. After this process, the breast augmentation is completed.
Post-Surgery Recovery: Smooth Healing Process after Breast Augmentation
Patients may heal differently during breast augmentation recovery depending on several variables, but most people will require aftercare for the first 24 hours. For the first week, patients should not perform any strenuous activities around the home.
Most women can control any discomfort using medications and a cold compress, and those with drains will find that they help ease the discomfort as well.
Two weeks postoperatively, most patients can perform low-impact lower-body exercises like walking. Upper body workouts must be avoided until at least four weeks after a breast augmentation. A special bra should be worn during the recovery period.
Complications
Navigating Potential Risks: Understanding Complications of Breast Augmentation
There are risks associated with all surgeries. Dr. Panossian takes care to prevent issues, so Pasadena breast augmentation patients rarely experience major problems. Below are some of the complications associated with breast augmentation.
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Nipple sensitivity issues
- Capsular contracture
- Patient dissatisfaction
- Fat reabsorption following fat transfer
- Visible scars
Why Choose Dr. Panossian for Breast Augmentation in Los Angeles?
Board-certified plastic surgeon Andre Panossian, MD is an expert in performing breast augmentation surgery in Pasadena, CA. After graduating from UCLA, he completed medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine. The doctor went on to complete his residency in general surgery and plastic surgery at the USC Keck School of Medicine.
Dr. Panossian then completed additional training in craniofacial surgery at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children and Harvard Medical School, working on some of the most intricate surgeries possible.
The doctor is an active member of 10 prestigious medical associations and has given dozens of presentations to his peers on medicine over the years. He also has 20 publications to his name on a wide range of topics in the field. He is proud to offer cutting-edge techniques for breast augmentation in the Los Angeles area.
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Breast Augmentation FAQs
In the Los Angeles area, breast implants cost depends on several factors. Dr. Panossian’s rates are dictated by each patient’s case, some of which are more complex and require a longer, more involved breast surgery.
The cost for a breast implant surgery or augmentation through fat grafting can be discussed during the consultation. Additionally, breast augmentation prices will vary depending on other surgeries that are performed simultaneously, like a breast lift or body contouring.
Dr. Panossian’s Pasadena, CA, practice offers a full variety of implant options for breast augmentation. Saline, silicone gel, and form-stable gummy bear implants are available in round and teardrop shapes.
Saline implants are filled with saltwater, which is not harmful to the patient if the implant ruptures. Silicone gel is a realistic-feeling material that will not be absorbed by the body if the implant is compromised. Gummy bear implants hold their shape and are composed of cohesive silicone.
The volume of saline implants is measured in ccs (cubic centimeters). In weight, 100 cc of saline in an implant equates to 0.21 pounds, whereas 100 cc of silicone weighs about 0.23 lbs. In most women, breast implants will weigh between 1 and 2 lbs. The material is about the same weight as normal breast tissue.
Pasadena breast surgeon Dr. Panossian offers virtually every option available to perform a customized breast augmentation on each patient. He discusses with patients the different sizes and types of implants, incision sites, placement behind or in front of the muscle, and other details of the enhancement. Other Los Angeles surgeons may only perform the surgery with breast implants and fewer modifications to the procedure.
If you live near Pasadena, CA, Dr. Panossian offers breast augmentation among its services, and is conveniently located at 39 Congress St., Suite 402 Pasadena, CA 91105
Last modified by Dr. Andre Panossian
