The reason for considering breast augmentation may be straightforward or difficult to put into words. You might want to restore fullness after pregnancy, bring more balance to your proportions, or reduce a visible difference between the breasts. Some women have always wanted a fuller shape; others are comfortable with their size but miss the volume that once filled the upper breast.
Breast augmentation uses implants to increase breast volume and adjust selected aspects of shape. The most useful plan is based on the dimensions of your chest, the tissue available to cover the implant, and the amount of change you want to see. A volume number alone cannot describe how the result will look or feel on your body.
At Women’s LifeCenter Aesthetic Surgery and Medispa, Chicago patients can discuss augmentation with Elysa Fisher, MD, FACS, at our Wilmette practice. The conversation includes both the initial result and the ongoing responsibilities that come with having breast implants.
Your preferences matter throughout the process. Whether you envision a subtle restoration or a more noticeable increase, the recommendation should connect that goal with realistic anatomical limits, an appropriate recovery plan, and a clear understanding of potential complications.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
Starting With Proportion Instead of a Cup Size
Bra cup labels vary between brands and depend on band size, making them an imprecise guide to surgical planning. A request to move from one letter to another does not tell a surgeon how much upper fullness, projection, or width you want. Describing the appearance you prefer in clothing and without a bra can be more informative than selecting a target cup size.
Your chest width, breast base, skin stretch, and existing tissue all influence which implants can fit appropriately. A device that looks modest on one frame may appear prominent on another. The consultation translates your preferences into dimensions that your tissues can support, rather than assuming a particular implant volume produces the same effect in every patient.
What Breast Augmentation Can Improve
Augmentation can add fullness to naturally smaller breasts, restore selected volume loss, and improve some differences between the two sides. It may also change the way clothing lies across the chest or how the breasts balance with the hips and shoulders. These are individual goals, so the amount of enlargement should be chosen for your comfort rather than a trend or someone else’s preference.
Implants cannot correct every difference in breast shape. The chest wall, position of the breast fold, nipple location, and skin envelope contribute to the final appearance. Some preexisting asymmetry will usually remain. Pointing out these features during the examination helps establish which differences an implant can improve and which should not be expected to disappear.
Implant Choices and Tissue Coverage
Saline and silicone gel implants have different characteristics, but both involve an outer silicone shell and both require a discussion of potential complications. Available shapes, dimensions, profiles, and surfaces also affect selection. Dr. Fisher can explain the options relevant to your anatomy and goals, including how they may influence feel, visible edges, and the amount of projection.
The thickness of your natural tissue matters. A person with very little coverage may be more likely to notice rippling or implant edges than someone with a thicker tissue layer. Skin quality also influences how the breast supports the added weight over time. A larger device is not automatically a better solution to volume loss and may increase tissue stretching or other long-term concerns.
Understanding Implant Position
Implants can be placed in different tissue planes, including positions above or partly beneath the chest muscle. The recommendation depends on coverage, breast shape, activity, and other anatomical factors. A position with additional muscle coverage has different benefits and tradeoffs from one that relies primarily on the breast tissue for coverage.
For example, muscle involvement can affect early tightness and may create visible movement of the implant when the muscle contracts. A position above the muscle may have different visibility or rippling considerations in thinner tissues. There is no universal pocket choice that is best for every patient. Ask how the proposed placement relates to the exercises you do and the appearance you want at rest and in motion.
When a Breast Lift Is a Separate Consideration
Loss of volume and descent of the breast are related but different concerns. An implant adds fullness; a lift removes excess skin and repositions breast tissue and the nipple when appropriate. If the nipple has descended significantly or the skin is substantially stretched, simply choosing a larger implant may not create the shape you want.
Some patients benefit from augmentation alone, while others may need a lift with or without an implant. Combining the procedures introduces additional incision and healing considerations. The key question is which element of the breast has changed: volume, position, or both. A recommendation should answer that question before discussing the size of a device.
Choosing Surgery for Your Own Reasons
It is normal to have mixed feelings about a procedure that changes a personal part of your appearance. You can want more fullness and still worry about looking too different. Explain both reactions at the consultation. An informed plan allows room for those preferences rather than treating hesitation as something to overcome with a larger or more dramatic result.
Outside pressure is not a useful reason to proceed. Your partner’s opinion, an online image, or a changing fashion may influence the conversation, but the decision and long-term care will be yours. Consider how you would feel about the size in ordinary clothes, exercise wear, and daily life, not only in the setting that first prompted your interest.
The Consultation With Dr. Fisher
The appointment includes breast measurements, assessment of skin and tissue coverage, and discussion of nipple position and natural asymmetry. Bring information about previous breast surgery, biopsies, family history, current symptoms, and any prior implants. Screening or additional evaluation may be needed before surgery, depending on your age, history, and examination findings.
You will discuss incision options, implant characteristics, pocket placement, recovery, and the possibility of future surgery. Ask how the proposed dimensions relate to your chest rather than comparing only the volume number with someone else’s. The goal is to leave knowing why a particular range is being considered and what tradeoffs apply within that range.
Preparing for the First Recovery Period
Organize help with lifting and repetitive upper-body tasks before surgery. Caring for a young child, carrying a work bag, opening heavy doors, and moving laundry may be restricted even when you can walk comfortably. Arrange transportation and the early support recommended by the team. Plan follow-up travel to Wilmette if you are coming from Chicago.
Your preoperative instructions will cover medicines, supplements, nicotine, fasting, and any necessary testing. Be specific about your exercise routine, especially strength training or work that heavily uses the chest muscles. The timeline for returning to those activities may differ from the timeline for light desk work. Prepare your schedule around the actual demands on your body rather than the general label of your occupation.
How the Breasts Change During Healing
Early swelling and tissue tightness can make the breasts look higher, firmer, or less natural than the final result. The degree depends on the pocket, implant, and individual tissues. One side may settle differently from the other during the early stages. These changes require follow-up assessment rather than frequent comparison with someone else’s postoperative photographs.
Wear the support recommended for your procedure and follow the instructions about sleeping, showering, incision care, and activity. Do not begin implant massage, straps, or other positioning techniques unless specifically directed. Their usefulness depends on the operation and device. As swelling decreases and tissues adapt, the shape becomes easier to judge, although recovery and scar maturation continue beyond the first return to work.
Understanding Implant Risks and Future Care
General surgical risks include bleeding, infection, scarring, altered nipple sensation, asymmetry, and anesthesia complications. Implant-related concerns include capsular contracture, rupture, visible rippling, displacement, and persistent pain. These problems may require another operation. Implants are not lifetime devices, and future removal or replacement may become necessary even after a satisfactory initial result.
Rare cancers have been associated with breast implants or the surrounding capsule. These include BIA-ALCL, seen more often with textured implants, and reported cases of squamous cell carcinoma and other malignancies. Some patients report systemic symptoms described as breast implant illness, whose causes remain under study. Review the current device labeling and patient decision checklist with your surgeon before making a choice.
Silicone implant rupture can be silent, so recommended imaging surveillance is part of long-term care. Ask about the current schedule appropriate to the device and your symptoms. Routine breast cancer screening also continues; tell the imaging facility that you have implants. Persistent new swelling, a lump, a change in shape, or unexplained pain should be evaluated rather than deferred to a distant routine visit.
