All About Augmentation
Many women who are considering a La Jolla or San Diego breast augmentation procedure want to know the specifics about what to expect during the consultation and the day of surgery. Dr. Richard Chaffoo is a highly-qualified, highly-trained plastic surgeon who takes the time upfront to reassure his patients and answer all of their questions so they feel comfortable and confident that their San Diego breast enlargement procedure will be a complete success.
Your Breast Enlargement Consultation
At your initial consultation with Dr. Richard Chaffoo, he will obtain a complete medical history. Included in that history will be any family history of breast cancer and recent radiological studies such as mammograms. In addition, he will ask you to talk about changes you've noticed in your breasts, including enlargement during pregnancy, asymmetries, changes after breastfeeding, breast masses, and any prior breast surgery procedures.
You will also be asked about your present bra size or cup size and your desired final outcome. Bra cup size is neither standardized within the beauty industry nor within the plastic surgery field. Because cup size cannot be guaranteed based upon factors beyond our control, it is very important that the patient also undergo sizing at the time of the initial consultation. You will be able to try on a number of different saline and silicone implant sizers, which will be placed within a bra under a tight fitting shirt to help determine the overall aesthetic shape of the breast that you would prefer. The final fill volume, or cc of the breast implant is much more important as an aesthetic goal than the bra or cup size.
More about Breast Asymmetry & Position
Your initial consultation also will include a thorough physical examination and evaluation of the breast and chest wall to ensure you are a candidate for San Diego breast enlargement. Remember that it is the norm for the breasts to have some asymmetry. This may involve a difference in the size, shape or width of either breast, position of the nipple and differences in breast volume. Furthermore, there may be differences within the chest wall including mild scoliosis or curvature of the spine and variations in the shape of the sternum or breastbone, called pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum. Dr. Chaffoo will point these out to you during the initial consultation. Careful measurements will be made of the nipple position, nipple diameter and position of the breast fold as there is considerable variation from one breast to another and from one patient to another.
It is important to carefully note your existing breast anatomy so that you can have realistic expectations about your San Diego plastic surgery outcome. While some asymmetries such as nipple position can be corrected during surgery, many of the other asymmetries will remain after breast augmentation and would not have been noticed by the patient prior to surgery.
The amount of cleavage is determined in large part by the position of the breast on the chest wall. In other words, if the breasts sit relatively close together, then cleavage can be easily obtained. However, if the breasts sit relatively further apart on the chest wall with a relatively large sternum or breast bone, then the amount of cleavage will of course be less. In La Jolla, Breast augmentation will make the breasts larger, but not move their position on the chest wall.
San Diego Breast Enlargement Surgery
There are steps a skilled plastic surgeon can take during surgery to help a patient achieve a more flattering breast size and contour, while also adhering to the objectives discussed during the consultation. At the time of surgery, Dr. Chaffoo places sterile surgical sizers intra-operatively and the operating table is placed in various positions, both flat and sitting. The breasts are then examined from several angles to determine the optimum implant size. Once the optimal size is determined, the sterile surgical sizers are removed and replaced with the permanent implant. The sizers help Dr. Chaffoo confirm that the desired breast implant size will achieve the patient's objective.
Dr. Chaffoo believes that taking these steps during San Diego breast augmentation surgery provides for the most accurate breast volume and shape for the patient. In addition, he has an extensive gallery of breast enlargement photos that show real patient results. He encourages you to review the cases in his photo gallery and even bring pictures of models from the Internet or magazines with you during the consultation to help communicate your desired breast size and shape. It is all this information that is part of the artistry of plastic surgery to allow you to achieve your aesthetic goals.
Next Steps
If you're considering a cosmetic breast enhancement procedure such as a breast augmentation, San Diego plastic surgeon Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS, FICS can help. He has two offices conveniently located close to you on Genesee Avenue in La Jolla on the Scripps Memorial Hospital Campus at the Ximed Medical Center and on Hancock Avenue in Murrieta. Request your complimentary consultation online or call (858) 997-0096 for an appointment with triple board certified plastic surgeon Richard Chaffoo, MD, FACS, FICS at La Jolla Plastic Surgery.
