During your consultation with Doctor Cenedese, options of size, shape and implant type will be reviewed. Our goal is to choose the best approach and implant for your breasts and body. Implants may be inserted around the areola (nipple), underneath the breast, through the axilla (armpit) or umbilicus. Implant placement behind the muscle is preferred by most patients. A more natural, sloping upper and outer breast shape is achieved.

Obtaining maximum cleavage is an important goal. The amount of cleavage that we can obtain is determined by the original distance between the breasts and pectoral muscle insertions.  The larger the implants and the closer together they are placed increase the resulting amount of cleavage.

The procedure lasts under two hours. You can recover and go home within two hours. Most patients experience some pain but can return to their new lifestyle in a few days.

The safety of breast augmentation has become posssible after 40 years of refining the technique and extensive product research.  

Saline filled implants are placed through smaller incisions surrounding the areola or through the armpit or umbilicus. They are then filled with a special fill tube through a self sealing valve built into the silastic shell of the implant.  I prefer smooth implants as apposed to textured implants as they feel softer.  There are fewer infectious complications as apposed to textured implants.  The saline implant results in a very soft breast.  They are ideally suited for the women who begins with adequeate breast tisssues and desires a one to two cup increase in size. Saline implants can be inserted through the umbilicus resulting in a scarless breast.  This procedure although somewhat more technically demanding results in a very natural appearance.  Modifications in implant position are the most frequent reason for revision surgery. The axillary incision and approach requires more cutting of the central pectoral muscles to prevent the implant from being pushed back and out towards the axilla. We have seen several patients with implants which have been placed or forced up or out resulting in too wide a space between or highlying breasts. Implants tend to settle from one half to an inch over the first two years.

Patients requesting a more natural appearance will realize this as time passes.  The umbilical or axillary approaches may necessitate an additional incision in another area if repositioning becomes necessary. High profile saline implants appear to ripple less.  Unless your breast and chest are broad these are my preferred implant style. If there is inadequate tissue to cover the implant or you desire to increase more than two cup sizes I suggest the use of gell filled implants.  When saline implants leak there is no pain but the breast will decrease in size over a few weeks.  Replacement of a leaking saline implant if addressed within a month is straightforward and nearly painless.  The rate of leaking is slightly higher than that of silicone gel filled implants.

Silicone gel implants on the other hand feel slightly firmer but more natural. The majority of my patients have been selecting silicone gel implants.  This follows the European and South American trends where saline implants are rarely used.

Since it is difficult to properly place a good sized gel implant from the axilla I have been using a new technique which makes the periareolar incision even less prominant than in the past.  The Leak rate statistics collected by the manufacturors indicate these to leak less often than saline filled implants.

Please refer to http://www.breastimplantsafety.org

Silicone gell implants have become accepted as patients are becomming more aware of their safety, natural feel and appearance. Gel implants have recently been approved by the FDA as safe for the average patient.  Silicone gel implants have been used for 30 years.  Advances in design and manufacturing have made the latest implants more resistant to leaking yet maintaining a natural feel.  A leaking gel implant can be replaced without complicated surgery if addressed within a few months of leakage. Failure of a silicone implant is usually detected by a change in shape or firmness of the affected breast.  Mammography, sonogram and MRI are helpful in confirming a suspected leak. Please refer to http://www.siliconegelimplant.com for more information.