Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Larry C. Leverett performs breast augmentation on women in or nearby the Greater Phoenix area, such as Ahwatukee, Chandler, Glendale, Maricopa County, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Gilbert, who want to “augment” or increase the size of their breasts.
What is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation is technically known as “mammoplasty.” It is one of the most popular procedures among our plastic surgery patients. Breast augmentation surgery is one way that may make you feel more confident and feminine again. Breast augmentation involves surgically inserting an implant behind the natural breast tissue or under the muscle to increase the size of the breast.
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for as low as$6,800
for as low as$5,900
*Special pricing available on cash purchases
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?
Costs for breast augmentation varies from patient to patient depending on the extent of surgery. Dr. Leverett offers financing through CareCredit® and Prosper Healthcare Lending. Within hours, you can be pre-approved for your breast augmentation. Our office also accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, cash and cashier’s checks.
Benefits of Breast Augmentation
Breast implants is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the U.S. There are several reasons why women choose to undergo breast augmentation, with all of them offering various benefits. Some of the benefits of breast augmentation may include:
- Improves self-esteem and self-confidence
- Restores symmetry to uneven breasts
- Restores volume, firmness, and fullness to breasts as a result of aging/weight change
- Enhances the body’s figure
Breast Implants – Type, Shape, and Size
Everyone has different goals. Therefore, we offer a variety of implant types, shapes, sizes and placement methods to compliment your figure and enhance the appearance of your breasts. We have many of the implants in the office for you to review the differences. We will discuss what is recommended for your frame and which implant will help you achieve your individual goals.
MemoryGel® and Natrelle®
MemoryGel® and Natrelle® silicone breast implants feature a cohesive, gelatin-like silicone substance that acts as a solid rather than a liquid. It holds together uniformly while still retaining the natural give of breast tissue. Simply put, silicone gel breast implants, also known as “gummy bear implant” feel more like natural breast tissue.
Saline
Saline breast implants are inflated with a saline (salt water) solution through a valve. Saline is much like the fluid that makes up most of the human body. Dr. Leverett conducts thorough consultations to help his patients choose the most appropriate implant type and size.
Dual Plane Technique:
Reduce the possibility of a scar!
Dr. Leverett has extensive experience with breast augmentation using the dual plane technique. With a dual plane breast augmentation, the implants are placed under the muscle in the upper portion of the breast and over the muscle in the lower portion. In many cases, this allows patients experiencing minor droop, known as ptosis, to achieve a lifted appearance without the standard external breast lift incision. Many patients are able to maintain a smooth transition with the muscle coverage superiorly, yet enhance the lift inferiorly. By placing the implant partially under the muscle, many patients maintain great blood supply to the nipple and minimize distortion for mammography. Should you decide to have a formal lift in the future, you are able to do so while keeping the implants.
You can discuss your breast augmentation surgery options, including the dual plane technique, with our experienced board-certified plastic surgeon at your complimentary cosmetic consultation.
Benefits of dual plane technique may include:
- Restore fullness
- More natural appearance
- One inconspicuous incision
- Reduced rate of capsular contracture
Your Breast Augmentation Consultation
At your consultation, we will go through any pertinent medical history, review your questions and discuss your surgical goals. We will then do a breast exam that entails measurements and frame analysis. After reviewing the options, if implants are recommended, you may try on various implant shapes and sizes to find an implant that will optimize your results to achieve the look you desire.
Choosing a Size for Your Breast Implants
Choosing the appropriate implant size is very important. Dr. Leverett carefully listens to his patient’s desires and considers many factors, including their frame and proportions, to help them decide which implant size is best for their body. Some patients bring photos or even friends to show examples of their size preference. Dr. Leverett also uses implant samples that you can try on under your shirt and get a feel for particular implant size and how it fits your body. Remember, the number one reason many patients undergo revision breast augmentation surgery is that they wish they had gone bigger! Dr. Leverett helps prevent those revisions by thoroughly reviewing the size options with his patients and allowing ample time for trying on and getting acquainted with the selected implants.
Your Breast Augmentation Surgery
Most patients have breast surgery using local IV sedation, which usually allows for a quick recovery and minimal post-surgical nausea. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis.
Additional Information about Your Surgery
Incision and Scarring
Dr. Leverett has experience with various augmentation incisions, such as axilla (armpit), areola and most commonly preferred, inframammary fold (bottom of the breast). He has done extensive work with post-surgical scar management. To ensure that your incision is minimal, he uses dissolvable sutures and post-surgical scar management protocols for various skin types.
Breastfeeding after surgery
Dr. Leverett believes the experience of breastfeeding is amazing and rewarding. Breast implants rarely affect your ability to breastfeed.
Nipple Sensation
There is always a risk of nipple sensation loss. However, it is very uncommon for patients to experience a permanent loss of sensation. Patients may have heightened or lessened sensation following the augmentation procedure, with an expected return to normal four to six months after surgery.
Implants “settling” into place
This varies greatly from person to person. Following breast augmentation, Dr. Leverett may have you wear a particular type of bra or perform massage depending on your body type and implants. Most women have a very good feel for what their end result will be at two to three months. Subtle changes may continue to occur for up to a year.
When to replace your implants/ How long do they last?
Many people have heard that breast implants must be replaced every ten years. This is a common misconception. Dr. Leverett feels there are only a few reasons why an implant needs to be replaced. One reason is because of implant failure or the desire to change implant size. Another common reason is to exchange saline implants for silicone implants. The softness and appearance of silicone gel implants generally lead to more natural-looking breasts.
Recovery: Discomfort following surgery
Just like any surgical procedure, breast augmentation is associated with some discomfort. The implant size, the placement location and the amount of swelling are the major determinants of the amount of pain the patient experiences. Dr. Leverett prescribes pain medication and muscle relaxers to his patients to keep them as comfortable as possible. To minimize pain, it is important to follow Dr. Leverett’s postoperative instructions, such as keeping your torso elevated and applying ice packs to reduce swelling.
Most patients return to work in five to seven days depending on the physical requirements of their job. Patients can drive after discontinuing pain medication, which on average is three to seven days. Muscle soreness commonly persists for 10 to 14 days and varies amongst patients. Many return to their regular exercise routine around four weeks after surgery.
Implant rupture
All of today’s breast implants have a lifetime product replacement warranty. Depending on the type of implant you have, there are many options for upgrading your warranty to include an allowance for fees incurred by the surgical facility, anesthesiology and surgeon’s fee. Dr. Leverett only uses FDA-approved silicone and saline breast implants.
Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
If you desire more voluptuous breasts, you may be a good candidate for breast augmentation. Breast implants can help restore volume, firmness, and fullness to your breasts if you have recently experienced pregnancy or weight loss. To be considered a candidate for breast augmentation you should be in good health and be fully developed, as well as have realistic expectations of your results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it True That Breast Augmentation Can Cause Cancer?
Many people hold the belief that breast augmentation implants can cause cancer. This is, in fact, false. Breast implants add no risk of breast cancer. However, certain types of breast implants have been linked to a higher risk of developing anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma but Dr. Leverett does not use these types of implants.
Are Breast Implants Covered by Medical Insurance?
As a cosmetic procedure, breast augmentations and breast implants are typically not covered by medical insurance. However, if you are receiving breast implants as a component of a breast reconstruction procedure, part or all of the cost may be covered.
Do Breast Implants Go Under the Muscle?
Patients actually have the option to choose whether their breast implants go underneath or on top of the muscles in the chest. Placement under the muscle may require a longer recovery period, but often produces results that look and feel more natural. With implants placed above the muscle, recovery is often shorter.
Is it Normal to Gain Weight After Breast Augmentation?
It is perfectly normal to gain weight following a breast augmentation. Some of the weight gain will be associated with the weight of the breast implants. Patients can also expect some weight gain as a result of the stress that surgery places on the body. Most patients have no problem losing this weight once they are completely healed.
Does Breast Surgery Leave Scars?
Breast surgery does in fact leave scars, but the exact size and location of these scars will depend on the surgical approach of your treatment. In any case, your surgeon will make every effort to make incisions in a discreet location, so that any scarring will be well-hidden by clothing and swimwear.