Breast Augmentation & Breast Implants FAQ

Due to the volume of repeat questions through emails and our the Message Board, this section has be expanded. Find your question or topic of interest and then click the title to read that topic's questions and explanations. Each section will open in a new window for your convenience. You need only close the window when you are finished. If you can think of any other questions that should be added to this section, please email me.

Some of our sponsoring surgeons have volunteered to help you better understand the breast augmentation or breast reconstruction procedure. If you are unable to find the answer you are looking for in this section or throughout the site, or just need a surgeon's opinion, please feel free to contact one of our breast augmentation experts!

Breast Augmentation (General)
1. Can a woman breastfeed after breast augmentation?
2. Can implants achieve some lifting of sagging breasts?
3. Do breasts with implants experience sagging over time?
4. Will my implants feel like natural breasts?
5. Someone told me that if I should have dental work after I have had a breast augmentation, I should pre-medicate - even for a cleaning. Why is this?
6. Will I have stretch marks after my breast augmentation? How can I keep this from happening?
7. Is there much pain associated with breast augmentation? How bad will it hurt?
8. What about all those scary websites and articles! Is there anything to the implant scare?
9. Should I wait to get my implants until after the weight loss to get the BA?
10. Should I wait to get my implants until after having children?
11. How big should I go?
12. What age do I have to be to have breast augmentation? Am I too old/too young?
13. My spouse or boyfriend is acting like a jerk, he says he will leave me if I get breast implants! What can I do?
14. How can I tell my family?
15. Should I tell people at work? Will I get fired for taking this time off to recover?
16. What type of anesthesia should I choose? Which is safest?
17. Do birth control pills cause breast tissue growth?
18. Will my areolae stretch after augmentation?
19. I went on several consultations and every doctor had a different opinion of what would be best for me. Now I am confused! What should I do?
20. What about augmentation with my own fat? Isn't this a better idea?
21. I have fibromyalgia (or multiple sclerosis, etc.), is it safe for me to get implants?
22. I have Poland's Syndrome (pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, etc.) and have been told breast implants will help me look normal -- is this true?
23. Should I try BRAVA or Breast Enlargement Pills before choosing to undergo BA with breast implants?
24. How much is breast augmentation going to cost me? What about if I need a revision?
25. What are the risks of Breast Augmentation?

Breast Implants
1. Can saline (saltwater) filled implants harden?
2. What are the differences between smooth and textured mammary implants?
3. What are the differences between round and contoured (anatomical) mammary implants?
4. What is the expected product life of the implant? How long do breast implants last?
5. I have heard that mammary implant manufacturers have implant warranties, is this true?
6. Is it true the replacement of implants is fairly minor?
7. I have heard that the silicone shell of a saline implant can cause silicone toxicity or silicosis, is this true?
8. I have heard of fungus growing in the saline of a saline filled implant, is this true and can it cause an infection?
9. What are my implant choices? What about Soy? W hat about Hydrogel?
10. Well what about Silicone Gel-filled implants? Are they safe? Why aren't they legal* in the United States?
11. How many cc's make a cup size?
12. How much can implants be overfilled?
13. Which is better -- McGhan or Mentor?
14. What are Expandable Implants?
15. My surgeon has offered me silicone and I meet none of the criteria, is this illegal?
15. Can I get Cohesive Silicone implants if I meet the criteria?
16. Will the implant burst when I get my next mammogram?
17. What size should I choose? How do I know which is best for me?
18. What are the Mentor High Profiles/3000 Series?
19. Do breasts with implants experience sagging over time?

Breast Implant Placement
1. Should I go over or under the muscle?
2. What is the difference between implants placed in front of the muscle, implants placed behind the pectoralis muscle and implants with FULL sub-muscular coverage?
3. When is it important to place the implants behind the muscle?
4. What are the disadvantages to placing the implant behind the muscle?
5. Can I have implants placed behind the muscle with a TUBA?
6. Can I work out my chest muscles if I have "unders"?
7. Can I go without a bra now that I unders?
8. Do unders feel weird?
9. Do unders give support like an internal bra? What about FULL unders?
10. Is the rate of capsular contracture (CC) higher with overs than with unders?
12. My doctor only does unders (or overs), what should I do?
13. I was told Symmastia and displacement can be common in active people with unders?
14. Does subpectoral placement cause muscle atrophy?
15. How long does it take for implants to drop with unders?
16. Do implants placed over the muscle drop faster than those placed under?
17. I know I need a lift, but do not want the scars -- I would like to get unders, is this okay without a lift?
18. Should I get smooth or textured implants if I get overs/unders?
19. Do I have to massage if I get unders?
20. Which placement helps hide rippling?
21. Is breast cancer easier to detect with unders rather than overs?
22. Do implants rupture more often with unders than with overs?

Incisions
1. How many incisions are there?
2. What incision should I get? What incision is best?
3. How long will my incision be?
4. I am getting a lift, can my lift incisions be used to insert my implants?
5. My bra is hurting my incision lines, what can I do?
6. Why do some surgeons make large incisions compared to some endoscopic incisions I have seen?
7. Is it true TUBA has a lessened chance of staph-infection? What about the other incisions?
8. How long does it take for scars to fade in all the incision placements? Do some areas heal better than others?
9. Will my surgeon use permanent or dissolvable incisions for my incision lines?
10. What are Steri-Strips™? or Surgi-Tape? Why do some surgeons use them and some don't?
11. Can't my surgeon use fibrin tissue sealant (tissue glue) on my incisions?
12. I just had my sutures removed and my incision line is opening back up? How can I tell if I have an infection?
13. My surgeon gave me 2 sets of incisions, peri-areolar and crease. He/She said it was to help him/her place and situate the breast implants correctly. But my friends don't have four sets? What gives?
14. How long do I have to wait to use scar remedies on my incision lines?
15. I want to go larger (or need a revision) can my surgeon use my old incisions?
16. Is TUBA really scarless?
17. I keloid, which incision site is best for me?
18. If start to develop hypertrophic scarring what can be done about it?

TUBA (Transumbilical Breast Augmentation)
1. What is the difference between a TUBA and a traditional breast augmentation?
2. I have heard that the TUBA procedure is scarless, it this true?
3. Is there much pain involved with a TUBA?
4. Can I have implants placed behind (under) the pectoral muscle with TUBA?
5. I have heard that visible tracks can be seen after this procedure. Is this true?
6. Is Asymmetry common with the trans-umbilical approach?
7. Is there usually a milder healing phase associated with TUBA than with traditional methods?
8. Is it true that having a trans-umbilical breast augmentation voids the warranty issued by breast implant manufacturers?
9. I have my navel pierced, will I need to remove it before surgery? Will I have to let it close up afterwards?
10. Is TUBA is usually more expensive than traditional incision placements?
11. If I have a rupture, can I have my implants replaced through the navel as well?
12. Can I have a breast lift AND TUBA?
13. Can I get silicone gel or cohesive silicone gel implants with TUBA?
14.I have heard the chance of infection is lessened with TUBA. Is this true?
15. Why don't more surgeons perform TUBA?
16. Someone told me that TUBA is not FDA -approved, is this true?
17. My surgeon told me that TUBA is dangerous and not a good procedure and that only uncertified surgeons perform it.
18. I was told that TUBA can cause internal bleeding and that I can die from having an artery cut during this "blind" procedure. This scares me, is it true?
19. Can I get very large implants with TUBA?
20. Where can I view photos and read journals of real TUBA patients?

Preparation
1. What kind of lab work will I need performed?
2. When should I stop taking aspirin or Vitamin E before surgery? What about drinking alcohol?
3. Should I or must I quit smoking before my surgery? Can I use the patch?
4. Should I take Bromelain or drink pineapple juice before my surgery and after to help with bruising and swelling?
5. What is Arnica montana? I have heard that it can prevent/reduces bruising and swelling; which is the best kind to take?
6. If I am pregnant will my surgery be canceled?
7. What should I bring to my consultation?
8. What about my home -- how can I prepare?
9. What about my birth control, I don't want to be on my period for surgery.
10. How much time should I take off work?
11. Do I need to buy a recliner?
12. Do I need to follow a special diet in the weeks ahead and after my procedure?
13. What do I bring to the hospital/surgery center or keep in the car for the ride home?
14. I am so nervous! What can I do to ease my pre-operative fears?

Surgery
1. What type of anesthesia is best? Do I have a choice?
2. Can I have my surgery under local only?
3. What does an IV feel like?
4. What does anesthesia feel like?
5.Do I have to be catheterized??
6. I am having my surgery performed in the Surgery Center. What accreditations do I look for?
7. Can I have other procedures performed with my breast augmentation?
8. How long does surgery last for?
9. What if I wake up DURING surgery? What if I don't wake up at all?
10. Will doctors other than my surgeon perform any part of the operation? Will students be present to watch?
11. What will it feel like when I wake up? Will I be groggy? Will know what's going on? Will I be scared?
12. How long do I have to be there before I am able to go home?
13. What do I bring to the hospital/surgery center or keep in the car for the ride home?
14. Will I get sick on the way home?

Recovery
1. What if I get sick and can't keep my medicine down?
2. I am a very active person, how long should I wait until I resume exercising?
3. How long before my implants drop (or "fluff")?
4. Why are my breasts red and feel like they are sunburned?
5. Why are my breasts shiny? When will it go away?
6. How long before soften up?
7. Am I too firm? How firm is too firm?
8. One seems to be dropping quicker than the other? Is this normal?
9. What is the strap used for?
10. How soon can I go back to work?
11. Will I regret my decision to get breast implants?
12. When can I tan my new boobies?
13. My bra is irritating my incision lines what can I do??
14. My new breasts are squeaking and gurgling! is this permanent? When will it stop??
15. My breasts look like cones or torpedoes, is this permanent?
16. My nipples are too sensitive and are constantly erect? What can I do to ease this?
17. My nipples are pointing at the floor (or up or outwards, etc.), does this mean I needed a lift or I have been botched??
18. I hate my new breasts they are ugly and bruised and aren't big enough! Am I going crazy?
19. My breasts are too big! I hate them! When can I have a redo?
20. I feel so depressed -- is this normal??
21. When can I start jogging again?
22. When can I ride horses again?
23. When can I go swimming or water skiing again?
24. Rollercoasters: Are they dangerous after surgery?
25. My surgeon has me wearing underwires and I have had an inframammary incision -- what can I do to lessen the irritation?
26. What can I do about my scars? What treatments lessen the appearance of them?
27. When can I begin having sex again?
28. Will I have to sleep on my back or side forever??
29. My breasts are numb, will I ever have sensation again?
30. Can I drive myself home after surgery if I do not have General anesthesia?
31. I have a ride home from the surgery center but my friend can't stay over that night? Is that okay?
32. I am traveling out of town for my surgery and will stay at a hotel for a few days -- can I take care of myself?
33. How soon after surgery can I fly in an airplane?
34. I plan on taking a vacation soon after my breast augmentation, how long should I wait?

Complications & Removal
1. If one of my implants deflate, will I know it? Will I become flat immediately?
2. If I choose to have my implants taken out, will I need a lift from possible tissue stretching?
3. What is Symmastia (uniboob)?
4. What is Capsular Contracture and how often does it occur? Is it painful, what can be done about it?
5. What are keloids?
6. What is bottoming out? How do I know if I have it?
7. If I have a complication, what is covered and will I have to pay for surgery again?
8. One of my breast implants is in my armpit, what happened??
9. What is a hematoma/seroma and how do I know if I have one?
10. My suture popped and if open slightly? What should I do?
11. My sutures have been out for a few days and my wound has opened back up? What does this mean and what should I do?
12. My temperature is elevated, how can I tell if I have an infection?
13. It has been a few weeks and my breast has become tender, red and swollen all over again? What is going on?
14. My arm(s) has been numb ever since my surgery -- is this caused from my breast implants?
15. I have red lines coming up from my breasts to my neck -- what is this from?
16. I am very asymmetrical and I am 6 months post-op, is it going to get better?
17. I have clear or milky fluid coming out of my nipples! Is this an infection or am I lactating or something??
18. Why do I look like I have 4 breasts? Does this go away?
19. What is Mondor's cord and how do I know I have it?
20. I have lumps and wrinkles all on the sides of my breasts -- what causes this and does this go away?
21. Is it true the replacement of implants is fairly minor?
22. I have been feeling very fatigued and "under the weather" lately, are my implants making me sick?
23. I have heard of fungus growing in the saline of a saline filled implant, is this true and can it cause an infection?
24. I have heard that the silicone shell of a saline implant can cause silicone toxicity or silicosis, is this true?
25. Will I have stretch marks? How can I keep this from happening?

Miscellaneous FAQ
1. How much weight will I gain with my implants?
2. Do breasts glow in the dark when flashlights are placed under them?
3. What bra size am I?? How do I figure this out?
4. Can I scubadive with breast implants?
5. Does wearing a seatbelt increase my chances of rupture or trauma-induced Capsular Contracture (CC) if I have an accident?
6. I want to submit a journal but I am leery about having my photos online, can I submit a journal without photos?
7. Can I work out my chest muscles if I have unders? Will this rupture them?
8. Can I go without a bra now that I have implants? -- particularly if I have unders?
9. Is it true that I will have to replace my implants ever 10 years?
10. I would like a signature doll, how do I go about getting one?
11. I can't get into the forum, it says "invalid password"? How can I post again?
12. Do you have get togethers for the girls on the site? Where do I go to find out about it?
13. I want to submit before & after photos, how can I do this?
14. I filled out the "recommend a surgeon section" and did not get a reply -- how can I get a referral for a surgeon in my area?
15. What is the BreastImplants4You Online Newsletter about?
16. I am getting spammed to go to other sites or have been receiving threatening or perverted emails through the message boards , what can I do?

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