Is Breast Augmentation Painful?

Most patients find breast augmentation surgery to be virtually painless. There is mild swelling, bruising, pain, and discomfort during the early stages of your recovery, but nothing that pain medication, ice, and rest cannot help manage.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

After your surgery, you will return approximately 1 week later to monitor your recovery and have any bandages removed. We include a post-operative lymphatic massage treatment to help reduce swelling and promote recovery. Depending on your healing, your surgeon will typically see you several times throughout your recovery to monitor your progress. You may also have photos taken at one of your final check-ups for comparison.

How Long Until I See Results?

While your breast augmentation results could be immediately noticeable, depending on the change in your breasts’ appearance, it will take time for them to settle into their final shape. We tell patients it will take about 6 months to 1 year to see the final results after their implants have settled into their natural resting position.

What Will the Scarring Look Like?

Your scarring will be a combination of your surgeon’s skill, the amount of time that has passed, your scar care, and your body’s individual path to recovery. Despite all the best care, it is important to accept that scars will always be visible but will fade over time. You will have more visible skin scars depending on where your incision was made. It would be a skin scar if it were located under the breast or in the inframammary area. Breast augmentation scars go through a gradual 12-month maturation process: you can expect them to start slightly raised and red or pink. They may be more noticeable at first if you have a lighter skin tone. Over time, scars flatten and fade to a shade closer to your skin tone. If the incision is around the areola, it will not be visible on the skin and will be hidden at the edge of the areola, though it is possible for this scar to widen over time.

When Can I Exercise Again After My Breast Augmentation?

You can gradually resume a light exercise routine about 1 week after your breast augmentation, except for chest muscle exercises, which can usually be resumed around 6 weeks. We encourage you not to prematurely rush your recovery by using your pectoralis muscle. Doing so can lead to potential complications, such as displacement of the implant to the sides, bleeding or fluid collection, or an increased risk of capsular contracture.

Can I Combine a Breast Augmentation With Other Procedures?

Absolutely! Many women will combine their breast augmentation with a breast lift to improve sagging breasts and an overall perkier bust appearance, fat transfer to enhance the cleavage area, or another body contouring cosmetic procedure, such as a tummy tuck . Patients are encouraged to share their ideas for combined procedures during the initial consultation so they can be incorporated into their surgical plans.

What Are the Risks Associated With a Breast Augmentation?

While breast augmentation is a common procedure, it is not devoid of risks. Some are outlined below: Anesthesia risks Bleeding Changes in nipple or breast sensation Fluid accumulation (seroma) Formation of tight scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture) Hematoma Implant leakage or rupture Infection Persistent pain Poor scarring Possibility of revision surgery Wrinkling of the skin over the implant Implant malposition Breast implant-associated breast implant illness (BII), lymphoma (ALCL), or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) Patient safety is incredibly important to our team. If you experience any of the previously mentioned reactions or long-lasting side effects, please contact our office immediately so we can help.

How Do I Find the Best New York City Breast Augmentation Plastic Surgeon Near Me?

We recommend researching the best plastic surgeons in the New York City area to ensure their qualifications, board certifications, and practical experience align with your expectations. You should also read past patient reviews to see how the surgeon has interacted with patients. Finally, we recommend that patients schedule an in-person consultation to observe the surgeon’s bedside manner and feel comfortable before surgery.

Breast Augmentation

New York, NY

Introduction to Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation with implants is a cosmetic procedure that increases or replaces lost volume in a woman’s bosom using saline or silicone implants. Breast surgery encompasses a range of procedures, including augmentation, reconstruction, and other treatments designed to address various needs and goals.

Women can choose to get implants to accentuate their aesthetics, improve how clothes fit, or improve their self-esteem. Breast enhancement and breast enhancement procedures are available to help improve breast size, shape, and symmetry, offering both aesthetic and emotional benefits.

The practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin offers breast augmentation for all patients looking to rejuvenate their bosoms. Augmentation mammoplasty is the medical term for breast augmentation, referring to the surgical method used to enhance breast size and shape.

To learn more about breast augmentation with implants, please continue reading below.

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What is a Breast Augmentation?

One of the most popular types of cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation with either saline or silicone implants, provides a very natural look. Breast implant surgery is one of the most common cosmetic breast surgeries. Saline implants allow minimal incision breast augmentation; the scars are virtually invisible. Certain implants are adjustable following insertion, enabling fine-tuning of the look and feel. Implants can be placed either under the muscle or under the breast and through incisions placed in the armpit, around the areola, in the breast fold, or even through the belly button. In some cases, a breast lift or fat transfer will be combined with Breast Augmentation. Fat grafting is a technique used for natural breast enhancement, involving harvesting, refining, and transplanting fat from other areas of the body into the breasts. As with all cosmetic surgery, the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin works closely with you to determine the ideal size, shape, placement, and location of the implant.

Breast augmentations are highly customizable, offering a range of implant types and surgical techniques to suit individual needs and preferences. The popularity of the procedure continues to grow each year. Breast augmentation surgeries are among the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures.

Augmentation mammoplasty is a surgical procedure designed for breast enlargement and improved symmetry.

Steps of Implant Selection

There are various considerations for patients considering breast augmentation. Patients can choose from different types of breast implants and a range of breast implant sizes to suit their individual preferences and body proportions. They must choose the type of implant, the size, the implant placement technique, and even the incision placement technique they prefer.

A customized surgical plan is developed for each patient to ensure the best possible results, tailored to their unique goals and anatomy.

Type of Implant

You can choose between saline implants (filled with sterile salt water) or silicone-filled implants. Saline breast implants are known for their adjustability and require only a small incision, often less than an inch long, which can be well concealed beneath the breast. In contrast, silicone implants are filled with a cohesive gel that closely mimics the feel of natural breast tissue. When comparing saline and silicone implants, saline implants may feel less natural but allow for easier detection of ruptures, while silicone gel breast implants offer a more natural feel, reduced rippling, and increased durability. Silicone gel breast implants are often preferred for their realistic texture and longevity. Cohesive gel implants, an advanced type of silicone implant, are designed to provide natural-looking results and maintain their shape even if the shell is compromised.

Implants are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. Round implants are popular for achieving fullness and volume, while anatomical (teardrop) implants are specifically designed to mimic the natural breast shape for a more realistic aesthetic. Smooth implants are another option, offering benefits such as a softer feel and a lower risk of certain complications compared to textured implants. The most natural breast appearance requires selecting the right implants for your body.

Implant Size

Patients need to choose their implant size, which ranges from small to very large. Selecting the right implant size is essential for achieving the desired breast volume and natural proportions. It is important to remember that a bigger size isn’t always the best choice for everyone’s profile. Your surgeon will present different cup sizes during the consultation to help you make a decision.

Implant Placement

There are three common implant placements: behind the breast tissue (known as sub-glandular), behind the breast fascia (known as sub-fascial), or behind the pectoralis chest muscles (known as sub-muscular). Most augmentations are submuscular, as they reduce the risk of implant visibility, scar tissue, and infection. Implant placement beneath the chest muscle is often recommended for patients with limited breast tissue, as it provides a more natural appearance and reduces the visibility of implant edges.

Incision Placement

There are several options for breast augmentation incisions, each with its own advantages and considerations regarding scar placement and healing.

Inframammary: This incision conceals the incision within the fold of your breast and avoids the mammary glands, minimizing the chance of infection and breast hardening.
Periareolar: This is often selected by women with small breasts who do not have under-breast folds. The incision is hidden within the areola, though it can lead to issues with nipple sensation, scar widening, and complexities during breastfeeding.
Trans-axillary: This approach hides scars in the armpits, which are sometimes almost invisible, but it is the dirtiest entry point and has the highest rate of capsular contracture.
Trans-umbilical breast augmentation (TUBA): This method involves making an incision through the belly button. Patients who are getting tummy tucks at the same time may opt for this incision for a convenient combined procedure.

Incision placement is finally crucial for achieving discreet results and minimizing visible scarring, so careful consideration and surgical skill are essential.

After surgery, a surgical bra is typically worn to support healing, protect the incisions, and help manage swelling and discomfort.

What Are the Benefits of a Breast Augmentation?

Patients who have received a breast augmentation in New York City at the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin have enjoyed long-lasting results and a boost in their self-confidence. Other benefits are listed below:

Added volume to small breasts
Better clothing fit
Immediate and stunning results
Improved breast symmetry
Provides lift after pregnancy and weight loss
Quick recovery

Breast augmentation offers women the opportunity to enhance their breast size, restore lost volume, and improve self-confidence.

Who Are the Best Candidates for the Breast Augmentation Procedure?

An ideal candidate for breast augmentation in the greater New York area has some of these characteristics:

Dissatisfied with the shape and size of the breasts
Done with breastfeeding
Done with childbearing
Have realistic expectations
No underlying medical conditions
Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Breasts are asymmetrical

Cosmetic breast surgery requires careful evaluation to ensure patient safety and optimal results.

Breast augmentation should only be considered after a patient’s breasts have fully developed.

Your Breast Augmentation Surgery journey

What’s the First Step?

The first step to getting a breast augmentation in New York City is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin, both active members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).

During your consultation, your personal surgeon will ask you questions about your health history and your desire to get a breast augmentation. It is important to provide a complete medical history to ensure your safety and allow the surgeon to tailor the procedure to your specific needs. They will consider your frame and body proportions when determining your desired implant size. This is the best setting to discuss your concerns and obtain informed answers to your questions. Several options may be available after a clinical examination and a discussion of your needs. Computer imaging can help you anticipate the outcome of this type of surgery, including helping with decisions on implant type, size, placement, and incision.

Once you decide to move forward, they will draft your surgical plan, and our expert team will provide a detailed, written quote, discuss scheduling, and review pre-operative instructions.

What to Expect on the Day of Breast Augmentation Surgery

On the day of your breast augmentation surgery at the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin, our friendly staff will welcome you to the practice, get you settled in the surgical suite, and review your surgical plan in case of any last-minute questions and/or concerns. Finally, a board-certified anesthesiologist will administer twilight IV anesthesia in our fully accredited operating room. Intravenous sedation is commonly used to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. Breast augmentation is typically an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return home the same day.

Once you are sedated, breast augmentation is performed by making the planned incision and creating a pocket for the implant, which may be positioned either subglandularly (above the muscle) or submuscularly (below the muscle), depending on your surgical plan. The implant of choice will be inserted in the plane of choice. Your surgeon will take extra care to minimize scarring. Once the implant has been placed, she will close the incisions using layered sutures in the breast tissue to provide extra support for natural breast tissue and close the external breast skin incisions with absorbable sutures and bandages.

The operation should take about two hours, depending on the techniques used.

Your guide to post-breast augmentation Surgery care

Breast Augmentation Recovery

After the surgery, you will be monitored in a recovery room until the effects of anesthesia wear off. Patients are advised to have a family member or friend drive them home, as the effects of anesthesia can sometimes last longer. Before leaving the recovery facility, you will be provided with some post-operative instructions and temporary prescription pain medication to make your breast augmentation recovery more tolerable. Proper recovery is essential for achieving the best results from breast enhancement surgery.

After your surgery, we will have you return to the practice approximately 1 week later to monitor your recovery and remove any stitches and bandages. We include a post-operative lymphatic massage treatment to help reduce swelling and promote recovery. You can expect another appointment about a month or two after surgery, followed by another three months post-surgery, and again six months later. You may also have photos taken at one of your final check-ups for comparison.

Most patients return to work after two days. The speed of recovery is influenced by many factors, including the technique used. Deeper implants, below the chest wall muscle, require a longer recovery than superficial implants (above the muscle). While light activity is encouraged soon after surgery, you’ll need to avoid more strenuous activity for a few weeks.

Body Contouring Procedures

For many patients seeking a more dramatic transformation, combining breast augmentation surgery with body contouring procedures can deliver truly remarkable results. In New York City, it’s common for individuals to enhance their silhouette by pairing breast implants with procedures such as liposuction, tummy tucks, or thigh lifts. These body contouring procedures are designed to sculpt and refine other areas of the body, creating a more balanced and harmonious overall appearance.

Board-certified plastic surgeons like Dr. Lao and Dr. Samson are highly experienced in performing breast augmentation alongside body-contouring procedures, ensuring each patient receives a customized treatment plan tailored to their unique goals. Whether you choose saline or silicone breast implants, combining them with body contouring can help achieve a natural, proportionate look that enhances both breast size and body shape. This comprehensive approach to aesthetic plastic surgery allows patients in New York to enjoy the benefits of a more youthful, contoured figure, all under the care of leading plastic surgeons.

How Much Does a Breast Augmentation Cost in New York City, NY?

The cost of a Breast Augmentation in New York City will vary depending on numerous factors, including the size, shape, and type of breast implants, the surgical techniques used for the implant placement, and the incision. The best way to learn how much your breast augmentation will cost is to come in for your breast augmentation consultation with your surgeon so you can develop a surgical plan, which the expert team can then use to determine a costing and pricing plan for you.

Why Choose Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin?

The practices of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin should be your go-to for brow lifts in New York City, as, in addition to their medical accomplishments, they are known for their empathy and kindness towards their patients as they deliver their expertise in sculpting your aesthetics. Dr. Michelle Copeland is the first woman plastic surgeon with a Harvard doctorate in Medicine and Dentistry, and she has published numerous articles and presented her techniques internationally. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an attending surgeon at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin has a wealth of experience, including advanced training in microsurgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital with a focus on breast reconstruction. She brings a humanistic dimension to plastic surgery and enjoys helping patients achieve their cosmetic, aesthetic, and reconstructive goals through a combination of surgical and non-surgical techniques. Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin is double board-certified and also practices at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, both affiliates of Northwell Health, where she teaches residents.

Both doctors work with an international clientele, drawing patients from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Whether it’s a virtual consultation or in person, they will answer all of your questions, including options, costs, recovery, and all aspects of treatment for surgical procedures such as breast augmentation, breast reduction, liposuction, and rhinoplasty, as well as non-surgical treatments like Botox, Kybella, fillers, and other non-invasive techniques.

Long-Term Results of Breast Augmentation

The long-term results of breast augmentation surgery are often a source of great satisfaction for patients, especially when a board-certified plastic surgeon performs the procedure. With advancements in breast implants—particularly silicone gel implants—patients can enjoy a natural look and feel that lasts for many years. However, it’s important to remember that breast implants are not lifetime devices. Over time, factors such as capsular contracture, implant rupture, or changes in natural breast tissue may necessitate implant revision or replacement.

Regular follow-up visits with your plastic surgeon are essential to monitor the health of your breast implants and the surrounding breast tissue. Silicone gel implants, known for their durability and realistic texture, continue to be a popular choice for those seeking long-lasting breast augmentation results. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle and adhering to your surgeon’s recommendations, you can help preserve your breast size and shape for years to come. Should any concerns arise, such as changes in breast sensation or the development of tight scar tissue, your surgeon can address them promptly to ensure your continued satisfaction and well-being.

Breast Augmentation FAQ’S

After your surgery, you will return approximately 1 week later to monitor your recovery and have any bandages removed. We include a post-operative lymphatic massage treatment to help reduce swelling and promote recovery. Depending on your healing, your surgeon will typically see you several times throughout your recovery to monitor your progress. You may also have photos taken at one of your final check-ups for comparison.
Your scarring will be a combination of your surgeon’s skill, the amount of time that has passed, your scar care, and your body’s individual path to recovery. Despite all the best care, it is important to accept that scars will always be visible but will fade over time.

You will have more visible skin scars depending on where your incision was made. It would be a skin scar if it were located under the breast or in the inframammary area. Breast augmentation scars go through a gradual 12-month maturation process: you can expect them to start slightly raised and red or pink. They may be more noticeable at first if you have a lighter skin tone. Over time, scars flatten and fade to a shade closer to your skin tone.

If the incision is around the areola, it will not be visible on the skin and will be hidden at the edge of the areola, though it is possible for this scar to widen over time.
You can gradually resume a light exercise routine about 1 week after your breast augmentation, except for chest muscle exercises, which can usually be resumed around 6 weeks.

We encourage you not to prematurely rush your recovery by using your pectoralis muscle. Doing so can lead to potential complications, such as displacement of the implant to the sides, bleeding or fluid collection, or an increased risk of capsular contracture.
Absolutely! Many women will combine their breast augmentation with a breast lift to improve sagging breasts and an overall perkier bust appearance, fat transfer to enhance the cleavage area, or another body contouring cosmetic procedure, such as a tummy tuck. Patients are encouraged to share their ideas for combined procedures during the initial consultation so they can be incorporated into their surgical plans.
While breast augmentation is a common procedure, it is not devoid of risks. Some are outlined below:
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Formation of tight scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture)
- Hematoma
- Implant leakage or rupture
- Infection
- Persistent pain
- Poor scarring
- Possibility of revision surgery
- Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
- Implant malposition
- Breast implant-associated breast implant illness (BII), lymphoma (ALCL), or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
Patient safety is incredibly important to our team. If you experience any of the previously mentioned reactions or long-lasting side effects, please contact our office immediately so we can help.
We recommend researching the best plastic surgeons in the New York City area to ensure their qualifications, board certifications, and practical experience align with your expectations. You should also read past patient reviews to see how the surgeon has interacted with patients. Finally, we recommend that patients schedule an in-person consultation to observe the surgeon’s bedside manner and feel comfortable before surgery.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you are interested in increasing or improving your breast size and shape, please contact the practice of Dr. Michelle Copeland and Dr. Libby Copeland-Halperin today! You can call us directly or use our website to fill out an appointment form, and a member of our team will contact you.