Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, or Both: Which Is Right for You?
Deciding on the perfect breast procedure is a deeply personal choice. Whether you want to enhance…Read On
TLKM Plastic Surgery
737 North Michigan Avenue #1500
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 788-2560
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Our experienced board-certified plastic surgeons offer personalized breast augmentation surgery in Chicago, Illinois, for women who wish to enhance their breast size and appearance and elevate their self-confidence.
Breast Augmentation by Dr. Mustoe
Before & After Photos
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What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation, commonly referred to as a “boob job,” involves using breast implants to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. Many women also find that breast augmentation increases their feelings of sensuality, femininity, and body confidence.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation Surgery?
Getting breast implants may be a good choice for you if:
- You’ve always been dissatisfied with the size of your breasts
- You feel that larger breasts will balance out your figure
- Your breasts have lost volume with age, weight loss, or pregnancy
The best candidates for breast augmentation surgery are healthy women of stable weight and adequate skin tone. Breast augmentation alone does not correct the sagging when the breast skin is lax.
Your Breast Augmentation Options
Many considerations are involved with breast augmentation, including incision pattern, implant placement, and other breast implant options, such as choosing silicone or saline implants. As experienced breast augmentation surgeons, Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno draw from their experience to guide you through these decisions, considering your personal preferences, goals, and anatomy.
Incision Pattern
Incisions are placed inconspicuously to minimize visible scarring. Types of incisions include:
- Inframammary incision – This is the most commonly used incision, made in or near your natural inframammary fold (the crease beneath the breast). This provides the most direct access to create a pocket for the placement of the breast implant.
- Periareolar incision – This incision is made along the lower border of the areola (the more darkly pigmented circle of skin around the nipple). It also offers good access to the interior breast anatomy for breast implant placement.
- Transaxillary incision – This incision is less commonly used and is not suitable for all breast implant candidates. Incisions are made in the crease of the armpit. The distance of the incision from critical areas of surgical dissection makes precision more challenging.
Breast Implant Placement
After your surgeon makes the incision, he creates a pocket for the breast implant using one of the following options:
- Submuscular placement – Beneath the pectoral muscle
- Subglandular placement – Behind the breast tissue and above the pectoral muscle
Submuscular placement is often preferred over subglandular because it typically creates a more natural-looking upper breast contour and may reduce the risk of complications such as capsular contracture. It can also offer better imaging during mammograms. However, the best approach varies by individual. Dr. Mustoe or Dr. Sinno will review your options and recommend the placement that best suits your anatomy, goals, and implant choice.
What Is Breast Augmentation With Lift?
Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno may recommend combining a breast lift (mastopexy) with breast augmentation to create fuller, more youthful-looking breasts. A breast lift enhances the outcome of breast augmentation for women with sagging skin and nipples that have descended below the breast crease or point downward.
It is quite common for Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno to perform a breast lift with breast augmentation, especially as part of a mommy makeover. This combined approach involves removing excess skin, elevating the entire breast and nipple, and reshaping the breast with the help of an implant.
What Is Breast Augmentation Revision?
Breast augmentation revision is a surgical procedure to correct or enhance the results of a previous breast augmentation. Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno perform breast augmentation revision surgery for a variety of reasons:
- Capsular contracture, a thickening of the normal scar tissue that forms around the breast implant, may cause discomfort and a distorted appearance
- Dissatisfaction with results from another practice for reasons such as breast shape, position, or asymmetry
- Implant leak or rupture
- Elective implant exchange to change implant material (for example, saline to silicone), size (larger or smaller), or implant shape
- A desire to remove implants without replacing them (explant)
Certain breast surgery complications, such as bottoming out and symmastia, may be corrected with an acellular dermal matrix (ADM). These innovative products can reinforce weakened breast skin and tissues and line or build out the implant pocket.
Revision procedures are typically more complex than primary breast augmentation and should be performed by a highly qualified plastic surgeon. Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno have extensive experience performing revision breast surgery procedures and are highly regarded for their beautiful, natural-looking results.
What Is Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
Fat transfer breast augmentation is a natural alternative to breast implants that uses your body’s own fat to enhance breast shape and volume. During the procedure, excess fat is removed from areas like the abdomen, thighs, or flanks using liposuction. The harvested fat is then purified and carefully injected into the breasts for a subtle, naturally fuller look.
Many patients choose to augment their breast implant results with fat transfer to enhance cleavage further and refine breast contours. Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno use breast fat transfer to enhance breast augmentation results in the following ways:
- Sculpting and defining cleavage
- Reducing imperfections in breast shape
- Smoothing the transition between the upper portion of the implants and the chest (especially in thin patients)
Our surgeons use this approach during breast augmentation surgery to help patients achieve the “finishing touches” on their ideal breast shape.
The Dr. Mustoe Difference
Dr. Thomas Mustoe is widely regarded as one of the country’s leading plastic surgeons, known for his ability to deliver beautiful, natural-looking breast augmentation results that are thoughtfully tailored to each patient’s goals and anatomy. His extensive surgical experience and refined techniques ensure the highest standards of safety, precision, and aesthetic excellence.
- Performed more than 3,000 breast augmentations, including breast reconstruction with implants, and breast revision cases
- 20+ years of experience using breast fat transfer techniques
- Use of local anesthesia with sedation
- Enhanced comfort and accelerated recovery
Dr. Mustoe has dedicated years to researching and developing breast augmentation techniques that improve patient comfort, healing, and results. As chief of plastic surgery at both Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Evanston Hospital (now part of the Endeavor Hospital group), Dr. Mustoe’s major focus for many years was on all aspects of breast surgery. He has lectured extensively about techniques in local anesthesia with sedation during cosmetic breast surgery and contributed extensively to peer-reviewed literature and plastic surgery textbooks.
The Dr. Sinno Difference
Dr. Sinno brings a comprehensive, patient-first approach to breast augmentation, shaped by his surgical precision, academic contributions, and commitment to exceptional outcomes.
- Published authority on superior breast augmentation techniques
- Five-point implant selection system tailored to the individual
- Intraoperative precision and a “minimal touch” technique for added sterility
Before surgery, Dr. Sinno guides patients through implant selection based on personal goals, body measurements, 3D imaging, inspirational photos, and in-office implant sizing. During the procedure, he uses precise preoperative markings, intraoperative sterile sizers to confirm implant fit, antibiotic irrigation, and other advanced protocols to enhance safety and minimize
Your Breast Augmentation Recovery
Our surgeons understand that recovery is an essential part of planning your breast augmentation journey. They use advanced surgical techniques that minimize downtime and help you resume your daily routine safely and comfortably.
Specifically, Dr. Mustoe’s use of IV sedation with local anesthesia improves patient comfort, healing, and results. As a pioneer in the use of local anesthesia with sedation rather than general anesthesia, Dr. Mustoe has written extensively on this topic and lectured nationally. Performing your aesthetic surgery under sedation (you are unconscious and have no awareness of the procedure) essentially eliminates the risk of blood clots, avoids post-procedure “brain fog,” and minimizes bruising.
While each patient’s experience varies, most breast augmentation patients can expect the following recovery milestones:
First few days
- Rest and avoid strenuous activities
- Expect mild swelling, tightness, and soreness in the chest area
- Take prescribed pain medications as directed to manage comfort
1 week post-op
- Most patients return to work and nonstrenuous activities
- Many patients can resume cardio and light weights
- Swelling begins to subside
2 weeks post-op
- Most patients resume social activities
- Bruising and swelling continue to resolve
3 to 6 months post-op
- Final results emerge as implants drop into a more natural position
- Residual swelling continues to resolve
- Scars soften and fade over time
Recovery may vary depending on the placement of implants and your unique anatomy. Dr. Mustoe and Dr. Sinno provide personalized postoperative instructions and support to ensure a smooth, successful recovery and optimal results.
Glimpse Your Potential With VECTRA® 3D
Preview the results of your breast augmentation with our leading-edge VECTRA 3D imaging system. VECTRA lets you virtually “try on” implants of different sizes and shapes during your consultation so that you can envision your potential with accuracy.
How Much Does a Breast Augmentation Cost in Chicago?
Breast augmentation costs typically vary depending on the type of implants you select and the surgical techniques used. When you visit us for a consultation, Dr. Mustoe or Dr. Sinno will discuss your options, and our staff will provide a detailed price quote that aligns with your personalized treatment plan. Visit this page to learn more about breast augmentation fees and financing.
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Breast Augmentation FAQ
Should you choose silicone or saline implants?
Your choice of implants will depend on your individual preferences and goals. Silicone and saline implants each have specific advantages and limitations. The major advantage of saline implants is that there is a much lower incidence of capsular contracture (approximately 1%). Silicone implants immediately feel more like natural breast tissue but may require a longer incision. In addition, any future replacement surgery may be more involved. Saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution, which the body can absorb harmlessly in case of a leak or rupture. While they feel slightly firmer initially, saline implants soften significantly over time.
Can you breastfeed after getting implants?
Breast augmentation typically doesn’t interfere with a patient’s ability to breastfeed. It’s essential to communicate your desire to breastfeed in the future during your consultation so Dr. Mustoe or Dr. Sinno can account for this goal when creating your personalized surgical plan.
Is breast enhancement surgery safe?
Breast enhancement surgery is considered extremely safe when performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Mustoe or Dr. Sinno. Our surgeons use advanced techniques and exceptional protocols to ensure your comfort and safety.
When do you need to replace your implants?
While breast implants are not made to last a lifetime, you don’t need to replace them if you are not having any concerns or complications. If you’re experiencing problems such as capsular contracture or rupture, our surgeons specialize in breast augmentation revision.
What if I want to upgrade my implants?
Our surgeons are experts at performing elective implant exchange for women who are not having any problems, but who wish to change the size or fill material of their breast implants.
Can you still have mammograms after getting breast implants?
Yes, you can and should continue to have regular mammograms after breast augmentation. It’s essential to inform the practitioner performing the mammogram that you have breast implants.
Schedule Your Breast Augmentation Consultation
If you’re ready to look enhance your curves and confidence, request a consultation in Chicago with one of our breast augmentation experts, or call our practice at (312) 788-2560 to schedule your appointment.
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