Breast Augmentation In Montecito, CA

Breast implant surgery leads to short-term discomfort that is easy to manage with medication. Dr. Lowenstein also routinely administers long-term anesthetic medications inside the breast to further minimize postoperative discomfort.

Breast size stabilizes after puberty. However, changes in weight, hormones and aging can affect breast size throughout a woman’s life. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause and hormonal fluctuations are other causes of short-term and long-term changes in breast size. Surgical breast enhancement is possible for most stages of life, but it should be held off in young women at least until initial breast growth is stable following puberty.

Dr. Lowenstein recommends postponing strenuous exercise for at least a month following surgery. Postponing exercise helps minimize the appearance of scars and aids in proper wound healing. After that time, there’s no reason for any of our Santa Barbara breast implant patients to avoid workouts, and that includes professional athletes who have also been our patients.

Hardening of breast implants is often due to capsular contracture. While national rates of this problem can exceed 10%, Dr. Lowenstein’s techniques have resulted in rates below 3%. Dr. Lowenstein’s high success rate in preventing this complication is due to his careful technique, special incisions and a new technology called the Keller Funnel.

Like any medical device, breast implants can fail with time. Ruptures of the outer shell of the implant lead to leaking of the saline or silicone filling. In cases of a saline implant rupture, the saline is absorbed by the body, and the breast deflates relatively quickly. With silicone gel implants, the body does not absorb the leaking silicone, and there may not be any outward signs of rupture. This is why the FDA recommends MRI screening for silicone breast implants and not for saline implants. In either case, a replacement can be easily performed.

You can resume your normal day-to-day activities, like walking, showering and stretching, within days to two weeks following surgery. Hold off swimming, hot tubs and vigorous exercise for at least three weeks. Dr. Lowenstein will explain what you need to do for quick postoperative recovery.

The IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant is a novel device that provides the natural feel of silicone implants but without the use of silicone gel. It is a saline implant with an advanced internal support structure that controls the movement of the saline, providing you with a natural feel and look as well as peace of mind.

Following years of research, engineering, product development and one large US clinical trial, the IDEAL IMPLANT® was approved by FDA and Health Canada. It is now available through a limited network of board-certified or eligible plastic surgeons. The IDEAL IMPLANT® has been in clinical use since February 2009, and by February 2010, 502 women received the IDEAL IMPLANT from 45 board-certified plastic surgeon investigators nationwide.

Breast implants only need to be replaced when there is a problem with them. Routine MRI scans done every two years help rule out “silent ruptures” in silicone implant patients. Those with saline implants can easily tell a rapture has happened if one or both of their breasts have deflated. In both cases, implants need to be replaced. You may also require replacement if the look and feel of your breasts has changed and is not satisfactory.

The most popular breast implant is the smooth, round silicone gel implant. It is popular because it feels and moves like natural breast tissue. Its biggest disadvantage is that ruptures may be hard to detect with these implants, so routine MRI screening is recommended every other year. Although silent ruptures rarely cause systemic disease, they may increase the likelihood of excessive scarring, lumps and capsular contracture.

You will see us for a preoperative visit, in which we will review your surgical plan and see if any additional tests are required before surgery. The night before surgery, you should not eat or drink after midnight, and we may ask you to shower with special antibiotic soap right before your operation.

The choice of breast implant is a very personal one. Dr. Lowenstein will help you in deciding which option is best for meeting your specific goals. Dr. Lowenstein will carefully review the type and size of the implant as well as the technique that will provide you satisfaction with the end results. At Montecito Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara, we pay special attention to providing individualized treatments.

Change in nipple sensation is a rare complication of breast augmentation surgery. Dr. Lowenstein has developed unique techniques that reduce your risk of this complication, including not cutting around the areola, not using sharp instruments in the lateral part of the breast implant pocket and identifying the nerves connected to the nipple region during surgery.

Breast implants should not have any effect on your ability to breastfeed. If you were able to breastfeed before your surgery, you should have no problems breastfeeding after your breast augmentation.

Recovery time will depend on your lifestyle, work and pain tolerance. Breast augmentation involves some postoperative discomfort, which is why we recommend not lifting anything heavy (5-10 lbs) and avoiding strenuous exercise in the weeks following surgery. You will also need to avoid baths and swimming until your incisions are completely healed. The most uncomfortable part of breast augmentation recovery is usually the day after the surgery, and pain most often improves rapidly thereafter.

Yes! Dr. Lowenstein offers double or triple procedures to many of his patients. The mommy makeover — a tummy tuck plus breast augmentation — is one example of such a procedure performed at Montecito Plastic Surgery in Santa Barbara. We also offer breast lifting in conjunction with breast augmentation plus a mommy makeover. We also offer facial procedures with breast augmentation or liposuction with breast augmentation. You will learn whether you’re a good candidate for these procedures during your consultation.

The surgery should take 45 to 60 minutes. However, the entire procedure also involves preparation, anesthesia, waking up and recovery time, which adds an additional two to three hours.

Breast augmentation operations are performed on an outpatient basis in Dr. Lowenstein’s Montecito Plastic Surgery Center in Santa Barbara. If you live out of town, Dr. Lowenstein may ask you to stay overnight so any questions you have the following day can be answered.

Saline breast implants are medical devices composed of an outer silicone shell filled with a saline solution — the same type used during IV infusions. Women opt for saline implants when their main concern is detecting ruptures. When a saline implant ruptures, the saline solution is quickly absorbed by the body, and the breast visibly deflates within days. A disadvantage of these implants is that they look and feel less natural than other implants.

A novel type of silicone gel implant is the “shaped” or “form-stable” breast implant. It has a teardrop shape that creates more fullness toward the bottom of the breast for a natural look. Patients with mild drooping can sometimes benefit from this implant due to its slight lifting effect. Another advantage is its lower rupture and capsular contracture rates compared to other implants. They’re firmer than regular silicone implants and don’t have as much movement, which some patients prefer. Regular MRIs are recommended with these as well.