PLANNING

During your initial consultation with Dr. Kolker, he will thoroughly discuss your goals and desires for breast augmentation with you. Everyone's wishes for breast enlargement are unique. After a careful history and conversation where he will come to understand your special aspirations and needs regarding breast augmentation, Dr. Kolker will meticulously measure and examine your breasts for dimension, shape, size, symmetry, and proportion to your body.

Following his comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Kolker will carefully advise you on the type, method, and placement of breast implants that suit you best. Often, a variety of breast implant types, access locations, and breast implant positions will be available to you, and Dr. Kolker will help you to tailor the particular nuances of the breast augmentation procedure that will be perfect for you. Both saline breast implants and silicone breast implants may be used for your breast enlargement, and Dr. Kolker will help you to decide which is the best choice for you. Dr. Kolker has been a primary investigator for the FDA adjunct studies for silicone breast implants for both major implant manufacturers (Allergan/Inamed and Mentor) for years prior to the November 2006 FDA approval of silicone breast implants for cosmetic breast augmentation; as a result, Dr. Kolker has vast experience and expertise in silicone gel implant surgery as well as an extensive experience with saline implant breast enlargement surgery.

How do you know which type of implant to choose for your breast augmentation? As every woman's needs, desires, and concerns are unique, Dr. Kolker will help you to carefully weigh the alternatives, and to choose the implant type that is best for your breast augmentation.

PROCEDURE

After in-depth discussion and careful consideration, together you and Dr. Kolker will decide upon the ideal incision location, implant type, size, shape, and location for your breast augmentation. Breast enlargement incisions are made underneath the areola (a periareolar incision, a small, discrete, gently-curved incision right at the junction of the light and dark skin of the nipple area), in the underarm (transaxillary endoscopic breast augmentation, with no incision on the breast at all, using a special surgical camera called an "endoscope"), or in the fold beneath the breast (an inframammary breast augmentation). The breast implants are most often placed below the chest (pectoralis) muscle (subpectoral breast augmentation, or submuscular breast augmentation), which result in the most natural shape and appearance, and which is less likely to form scar tissue. Occasionally, in women with asymmetry, atypical shape, or mild droop (ptosis), placement beneath the breast gland or partially beneath the gland and muscle (subglandular breast augmentation or dual-plane breast augmentation) may be considered. The breast augmentation procedure is performed safely, comfortably, and conveniently in our office-based surgical unit, accredited by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). Anesthesia is administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. The duration of breast augmentation surgery is between one-and-a-half and three hours.

RECOVERY

Following your breast augmentation procedure, you are cared for in our recovery room by our licensed registered nurse, and when you are fully awake and comfortable, you will go home on the same day with a friend or family member. Dr. Kolker suggests taking seven days for recovery when feasible, although it is indeed possible to return to work or school as early as four or five days after your breast augmentation (provided there is no heavy lifting involved). Your breasts will appear full and firm immediately after breast augmentation surgery, and swelling and bruising may be present for up to two weeks. A special supportive bra is worn for three to five days, which is then replaced by a sport bra. Normal bras and bikini tops can be worn after about two weeks. Light aerobic activity (elliptical or Precor, stationary bicycle, light treadmill) may be resumed as early as five days following breast augmentation, and more strenuous activity is begun at three weeks (excluding chest exercise, which is resumed at six weeks). The breasts reach their final shape and feel approximately two months after breast augmentation. Your relationship with Dr. Kolker does not end after breast augmentation surgery; he will see you often through the first weeks and months following your procedure, and will advise you on all matters of breast health including exercise, activity, breast self examination, and the need for future mammography as you require. Dr. Kolker will be available to you at any time during your recovery following breast augmentation.

RELATED PROCEDURES

Breast augmentation is most often performed as an isolated procedure. For those individuals who desire additional plastic surgery enhancements, breast augmentation may be combined with inverted nipple correction, breast lift (augmentation mastopexy), liposuction, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), and facial rejuvenation procedures.

If you would like to learn more about having a breast augmentation in New York, and about the breast enlargement techniques and breast implants that will suit you best, we invite you to meet with Dr. Kolker for a private consultation at our office, located at Park Avenue and 70th Street, by calling 212-744-6500, or by scheduling an appointment online.