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Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation Houston , TX

Livingston Plastic Surgery is recognized as one of the top plastic surgery centers in Texas. It is widely known as a consistent source of innovation, development and refinement in breast augmentation and breast lift procedures in Houston and surrounding areas.

With expert breast augmentation in Houston, Dr. Chris Livingston can help patients achieve their body goals. If you’re looking to increase breast size and improve contours with breast implants, augmentation surgery can help you enjoy the appearance you’ve always wanted. Breast implant surgery, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, helps balance breast proportion with your body type, flatter and improve your figure, and increase self-esteem – so you look and feel your absolute best, no matter what you’re wearing.

To learn more about breast augmentation in Houston or to discuss your different options, request a consultation today.

Is Breast Augmentation Right for Me?

Deciding whether breast implants are appropriate for you requires careful consideration and conversation with an aesthetic specialist. Breast augmentation surgery is generally recommended for patients who want to achieve improved breast volume and shape – whether they’ve always wanted larger breasts or have experienced body changes due to aging and pregnancy have created deflated-looking tissue.
If you are considering breast augmentation surgery, note what determines a suitable candidate:

If you’re experiencing loose skin in addition to a loss of breast volume, Dr. Livingston will be able to utilize breast lift surgery (“mastopexy”) with breast implants to provide a rejuvenated appearance – a higher position on the chest wall and improved volume.

PLANNING YOUR HOUSTON BREAST IMPLANT SURGERY With Dr. Livingston

If you would like to achieve a proportionate figure, schedule a breast augmentation consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Christopher K. Livingston — our Houston breast implant specialist. Our team at Livingston Plastic Surgery helps you begin your transformation with an in-depth conversation about your goals and expectations. We are happy to address any and all patient questions including breast augmentation cost to better understand what’s motivated them to pursue breast implants and how we can ensure they love their new look.

If you are displeased with the size, shape, or position of your breasts, due to any number of factors such as underdevelopment, pregnancy, extreme weight loss, heredity, trauma, and breast cancer, breast augmentation may be an ideal procedure for you.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is routinely performed to meet the following goals:

  • Increase volume and fullness
  • Correct congenital deformities, trauma, or mastectomy results
  • Provide a more proportionate figure
  • Potentially improve confidence and self-image

Utilizing either saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants, Dr. Livingston can help patients achieve the shapelier breasts they desire.

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Choosing Your Perfect Breast Implant Type

There are multiple breast implant options available to cosmetic surgery patients, including silicone and saline implants – but even within these main types, there are options to choose from. Saline breast implants are FDA-approved for patients 18 or older, and silicone breast implants are FDA-approved for those over the age of 22. The difference between the two is the substance inside the prosthetic shell. We further customize your treatment plan by choosing a shape: round or tear-drop (anatomical) and projection. Shape and volume will impact the projection of your breast augmentation, and Dr. Livingston will discuss every consideration about implant types during your consultation.

Dr. Livingston will insert the silicone implant while they are empty and add the saline solution after they are in position. This process allows for a smaller incision, which many patients prefer. Saline tends to be firmer than silicone, but patients may choose this implant type for the inconspicuous incision size and the ability to easily detect any issues, should they occur; if the implant deflates, this will become apparent so patients can seek care as soon as possible. Rupture in silicone implants is harder to detect, as they will not deflate, like silicone.

Patients who have a moderate amount of existing breast tissue may also experience the most natural-looking results with saline, as the tissue disguises the edges of the implant shell.

These implants have a silicone shell with a silicone gel core. Dr. Livingston will insert this implant pre-filled using a slightly larger incision than with its saline counterpart. Patients report a highly natural feel with this implant type. Because rippling of the implant does not occur with silicone, patients who are thin and do not have as much tissue covering the implant can be sure their results will look as natural as possible. Ruptures are rare but difficult to detect, so the FDA recommends patients have an MRI every two years to check for ruptures.

Silicone implants have a round or teardrop shapes to create patients’ desired effect. Round implants come in a textured or smooth surface, while teardrop implants are textured surfaces only. Teardrop implants have less volume on the top and are considered closer to the natural breast shape.  If you’re unsure which is right for you, ask Dr. Livingston what results you can expect.

Anatomical, or “tear-drop” shaped implants, are slim at the top and widen out towards the bottom to mimic a natural breast shape. Anatomical implants are also referred to as“contour profile” breast implants or “shaped” breast implants. Anatomical breast implants can be fully customized in in terms of volume and shape, providing a proportionate enhancement of the female breast for suitable candidates.

Choosing the Best Breast Implant Size for Your Figure

Different factors go into calculating the best breast implant size for your body type. Chest wall, breast tissue, desired size, and breast measurements all are crucial in making the right choice.

One fact to remember is that breast implant sizes are measured in cubic centimeters (cc) for labeling purposes—for example, you would see 350cc on an implant label. Implants are available in a wide range of sizes, from 80cc to 800cc. The higher the number, the larger the implant size with widths varying from 7.4cc to 17.2cc.

When trying to determine what breast implant size would be best for you, there are two in-home measuring methods and those performed in your surgeon’s clinic. They include:

This method has been around since the beginning of breast augmentation surgery and is somewhat useful to determine proper implant size. The process is simple, and all you need is some uncooked rice and an old pair of pantyhose. Cut a length of the pantyhose into two 12″ strips (avoid using the foot) and tie a knot on one end. Then, using a measuring cup that lists cubic centimeters, measure out a specific amount of uncooked rice into each piece. For instance, 100 ccs is about .42 of a cup. Those with “double d” dreams should know that 800 cc converts to four cups, or eight cups total considering both breasts.  Imagine having that much more weight on your chest! 

For this experiment, you should buy or borrow bras sized bigger than your current bra size. Fit the rice prosthetic into the larger bra and then try on your favorite outfits. This should give you an idea of what you will look like after augmentation.

The same premise as the rice test, the water test implements the use of plastic baggies filled with water. For both methods, use clothing that you enjoy wearing to get a good idea of how these sizes will make you look when your dress as you like.

When you visit your Dr. Livingston for a sizing session, he will have a range of implant sizers, which are implants designed to put inside your bra. This method is more detailed and will give you a better idea of how your implants will look after surgery and recovery. Dr. Livingston encourages patients to bring a friend or partner to help them with the best choice. 

Advanced technology allows Dr. Livingston to use computer imaging to give the patient an idea of how their new implants will look on them. They use an image of the patient, and the computer simulates the results from breast augmentation, which employs that size.

Choosing Your Proportionate Breast Implant Size

During your breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Livingston will evaluate your body type in relation to the size of the breasts you wish to achieve. They will make recommendations about whether the size you prefer can cause complications or not, or if the size will also require a breast lift. Risks to breast augmentation include excess sagging, separation of incision lines, and back and neck pain due to excessive upper torso weight. 

Measurements, like ribcage width, shoulder width, and height, are used to determine an array of sizes to achieve proportionate improvement and reduce the risk of these complications.

Dr. Livingston is an amazing surgeon, with a phenomenal bedside manner, and office staff you’ll fall in love with.

– Meredith (Google Reviews)

Your Houston Breast Augmentation Procedure

Following your consultation, you and Dr. Livingston will make the final decisions regarding the breast implant type and size that are best suited to reach your aesthetic objectives. Before heading into surgery, you will have a clear and complete understanding of what to expect the day of surgery.

After administering general anesthesia, Dr. Livingston creates small incisions where the breast implants will be inserted. Depending on the breast augmentation patients’ goals and preferences, incisions can be placed under the arm (transaxillary), under the breast (inframammary), or around the areola (periareolar); scars typically reside in inconspicuous places, allowing for natural-looking results.

Dr. Livingston then creates a pocket either behind the breast tissue (subglandular) or behind the pectoral muscle (submuscular), so he can position and insert the breast implants for idea symmetry. Afterward, he closes the incisions with sutures and wraps the treatment area in a compression bandage.

HOUSTON BREAST AUGMENTATION RECOVERY

By increasing breast size by one or more cup sizes, results will be noticeable immediately following breast augmentation surgery. Discomfort may be experienced within the first 24 to 48 hours following surgery, and pain medication may be required.

Although patients can go back to work after a few days following the removal of the dressings, swelling from the procedure will usually subside within two to four weeks. Physical activity (exercise) may also be resumed three to four weeks after surgery.

CHOOSE DR. CHRIS LIVINGSTON AS YOUR HOUSTON BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGEON

Dr. Chris Livingston is a respected surgeon in the plastic and reconstructive surgery field; he is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). He is also the Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston – the Division of Plastic Surgery and Department of Otolaryngology and a plastic surgery consultant for cosmetic procedures at WebMD.com.

Our breast implant surgeon and his team welcome you into their office to experience the life-changing effects of expert breast augmentation treatment. Dr. Livingston and his team are committed to achieving superior results and creating an exceptional patient experience.

Feel free to browse our Houston breast augmentation before and after photos and watch Dr. Livingston’s plastic surgery video clips in the media gallery. For breast augmentation costs contact plastic surgeon, Dr. Livingston, at (281) 501-1812.

Dr. Livingston

Christopher Livingston, MD

“The most important part of plastic surgery is achieving a youthful, refreshed look, with minimal downtime.”

Board-Certified Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon

Chris Livingston, MD

I believe that every design is personal. The connection we have with clients determines how the projects will look at the end of the design process. We must understand the clients and bond with them, be a part of their dream. Their dream is our dream.

Houston Breast Augmentation FAQs

During the consultation process, the examination of the breast and soft tissue and discussion of goals is important in determining the size and style.

Cleavage is determined by your anatomy and sometimes implant placement in the subglandular plane.

The consultation is important to determine that amount of ptosis (sagging) which may require a breast augmentation with lift.

In my experience, silicone implants feel more natural than saline.

As with all surgery, scarring cannot be avoided. However, hiding the scars in areas that are less noticeable or completely hidden in the art of breast augmentation. Dr. Livingston will consult with you on the incision location and how that will affect the appearance of your chest area once the implants are placed.

Yes, usually a sports bra for 4 weeks without underwire.

It usually takes one week to recover, two weeks to return to work and four weeks to begin light exercise.

Swelling is normal after surgery and moving is encouraged.

If you have children after breast augmentation and want to breastfeed, it’s not a problem. The procedure will not affect the body’s ability to produce milk because the milk ducts and glands are left intact.

No, all sutures are beneath the skin and dissolvable.

A revision breast augmentation with implant malposition or capsular contracture sometimes requires ADM, or acellular dermal matrix.

While rare, scars, implant malposition, capsular contracture can occur.

Implants do not break. Over time, the shell become weak and silicone can weep causing failure.

If you have saline implants you will notice that breast will appear to deflate. For silicone implants we recommend you have an MRI every two years to ensure there are no breakages or ruptures.

In general, every 12 years is a good time to exchange implants and possibly improve shape.