Breast Augmentation Question From Jupiter, Florida

Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures around and has been for decades, usually hanging somewhere in the Top 5. At Atlantic Coast Aesthetics, you can imagine we get a lot of questions about breast augmentation procedures. This week’s ACA Question of the Week comes from a woman in Jupiter, FL. She asks, “I’m a 44-year-old mother of two. Are women in my age group getting breast augmentations done? What should I expect? I have a pre-op appointment in April.” Dr. Pane chose to address this question because there is a common misconception that women of a certain age do this, don’t do that or should do something else entirely, and he wants to correct this.

First, Dr. Pane said, yes, women of all ages are getting breast augmentation surgery done. The biggest question is whether or not the woman in question is done with having children, because pregnancy and nursing do cause certain changes in the breasts. If this is no longer a factor and the breasts aren’t changing much, there is no real reason not to have breast augmentation done, if the woman desires to do so.

Another concern many women express is how breast augmentation may affect mammograms, especially in women over 40. Generally, Dr. Pane observes, this is not a problem because mammogram technicians are skilled in dealing with breasts of all shapes and sizes, with and without augmentation. The biggest question here is at what age women should start having mammograms. Some people say it should be done starting at age 40, others assert it’s not necessary until age 50. Of course, having a mammogram as a preventative screening measure against breast cancer is never a bad idea, but as women age, having them done becomes increasingly more important.

Dr. Pane pointed out that the skin around the breasts may have become looser and more slack if the breasts underwent drastic changes during pregnancy. This may mean that augmentation alone is not enough to achieve the desired contour and shape the woman desires, and that a breast lift may be indicated. The only way to know for sure is an in-person clinical consultation and evaluation, to examine the breasts and determine whether a breast augmentation, breast lift or both is the best option for obtaining the desired results.

Dr. Pane says that age by itself is no indicator of whether or not breast augmentation is viable. The far bigger considerations are the health and elasticity of the skin around the breasts and the mammary tissues themselves, the size and shape the woman wants to achieve and what kind of breast augmentation is necessary. In some cases, fat transfer may be used to harvest adipose tissue from the patient’s sides, buttocks or abdomen and place it in the breasts. In others, silicone or other prosthetic implants may be used instead. Which solution is better for a given patient depends on a lot of factors.

During a clinical examination, the patient’s overall health and medical history become more important metrics, because these help predict how the patient can expect to adjust to the augmentation procedure, healing time and what complications, if any, might occur. Every human body is slightly different, and some sizes and contours of breast may not be ideal for a given patient’s height, weight and overall build. Working with a skilled cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Pane can help ensure a more positive outcome, but any invasive medical procedure does carry an element of risk, both during the procedure itself and in the all-important aftercare phase. In this stage, following directions and making sure to avoid heavy lifting and intense physical activity except as instructed by the surgical staff is crucial to swift, safe healing. Also, it is imperative that any problems or things that don’t look or feel quite right be reported as soon as they’re noticed, to help head off bigger problems in the future.

If you have a question about any area of cosmetic surgery, no matter how large or small, Dr. Thomas Pane and Atlantic Coast Aesthetics are ready to answer it anytime! You can contact us by phone at (561) 422-4116, on our website at https://acplasticsurg.com or through our Facebook page. You might even find your question being answered by Dr. Pane himself as ACA’s next Question of the Week on an upcoming Google Hangout. At ACA, we firmly believe there is only one bad question, and that’s the one you don’t ask. It’s to your benefit to make sure you’re well informed about the potential risks and benefits of any procedure you’re considering, to make sure you get the great results you want!