Before & After Photos

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to increase the size of the breasts and enhance the body contour of a woman. Over 2,000,000 women have increased the size of their breasts through breast augmentation. The saline or silicone implant is placed under the pectoral muscle to provide increased breast size with a natural contour. A variety of implant size options are available. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, and patients are usually able to return to work within one week.

How long will I need to take off from work?
Every person’s tolerance of pain, discomfort or fatigue varies. Most patients take about 1 week from work. However, some return to work sooner, others later depending on the type of employment and demands at the job.

When can I drive?
Most patients can drive on or about the 4th day from surgery. However, if you are still taking narcotics or medication for pain, you should not be operating a vehicle.

Can I continue taking my birth control pills?
Absolutely. However, you may not have anything the morning of your surgery. You may take your contraception when you return to your home after surgery.

What medications should I avoid?
You should avoid aspirin and ibuprofen type products. Tylenol is fine. Even if you experience cramping during your menstrual cycle (we know you may lean towards Motrin, however, only take Tylenol products). You will also need to avoid vitamin E and herbal remedies; such as St Johns Wort, ginko biloba, kava kava, etc. Because there is no regulation over these "natural" or "herbal" remedies, any problems with the remedies are not recognized until some misfortune. It is always better to be safe!

What medications or vitamins should I take to speed up my healing?
There is lots of discussion on what can be taken to expedite the healing process, however we do not recommend anything specific during your recovery period. There is minimal bruising postoperatively and the pain is defused with the medications that are provided for you by Ocean Plastic Surgery Center. If you have a vitamin regiment that works for you mention it to the doctor prior to surgery and chances are you will be free to continue taking the products you are already comfortable with.

Can I still breast feed if I have future children?
Absolutely! Again, the implants are behind the muscle so the milk ducts can still function. If you have already had children and breast fed successfully prior to having implants you should have no difficulties in breast-feeding with future pregnancies.

Where do you make the incisions?
For most of our patients the incision is created at the lower half of the nipple along the areola border. The lighter skin of the breast meets the darker skin of the areola and allows the incision to be very well camouflaged.

We also offer the axillary (armpit) and inframammary approach to our patients who may have too small of an areola for the standard incision. When using the axillary approach, we use Endoscopic Technology when inserting an implant through the armpit area. This approach is a nice alternative for many patients and has better results that the traditional "blind" approach.

Can I go without a bra?
Going without a bra is a personal choice for the patient. Immediately following the surgery you will wear a support bra that we provide. After the first postoperative month we recommend that our patients find a variety of comfortable fitting bras and wear them for daily activities. When dressing up for the evening or dressing down for fun in the California sun occasionally you may want to go without a bra and that’s fine too.

Why do some women have a big gap between their breasts? I want more cleavage.
This is a result of 1 or 2 things. The sternum may be thick or raised at the junction of the ribs and sternum, creating a small obstacle beneath the implant not allowing the implant to come toward the center, or the rib cage or chest wall is round so the implants don’t sit closely together.

We create a precise pocket along the midline and center of the chest (the sternum) allowing for beautiful cleavage.

How long do the implants last? When should I get them replaced?
The implants may last your lifetime. However, nothing on this planet is indestructible. A number of the implant manufacturers provide a lifetime replacement policy in the event of deflation. This is great news but rarely necessary.

What kind of implants do you use? What are the advantages and/or disadvantages?
We generally use smooth round implants which are filled with your choice of either saline or silicone. These implants move with your breasts and with your body to provide a much more natural look and feel. 

The textured, contoured, anatomical or teardrop shaped implant does not have the same mobility as the smooth implants and therefore doesn’t allow for the same natural quality of the breast. The aesthetics can be nice but breasts have a certain feel as well. 

At Ocean Plastic Surgery our goal is for your results to look and feel natural.

What is capsular contracture?
When the breast becomes very firm and the implant cannot move.

Do you use the "adjustable" implants?
Presently we use a breast implant manufactured by Mentor Corporation that is filled with saline or silicone.

Do I have to move the implants?
Because we understand the importance of a natural looking and feeling breast it is important to move the implants under the muscle. We feel that this aids in reducing the occurrence of capsular contracture. Our patients are always so pleased at how natural the breasts look and feel.

How can I get silicone gel instead of saline?
Silicone implants are also an option if you are 22 years of age or older.  After having examined you, Dr. Aiello or Dr. Esmailian with discuss with you your options as far as the saline or silicone gel implants.  Some patients do benefit from the use of silicone gel implants rather that the traditional saline filled implants.

What are the risks with saline (salt-water) implants?
In the unlikely event that a saline implant becomes ruptured or leaks, the salt- water is harmlessly absorbed by the body.

How do you determine size?
When you come for your free visit, you and Dr. Aiello or Dr. Esmailian will have the opportunity to discuss what your needs and wants are. We also provide several photographs for your review -- this is a tremendous help in determining implant and breast size. We encourage patients to bring photos to the office of breasts they find attractive and suggest the size the patient may be considering.  In conjuction with what your desires and the measurements performed, we also ask you to perform the "rice test", which will be described to you in detail during the consultation in our Newport Beach or Los Alamitos office. 

Where is the surgery performed?
We have a fully accredited operating room on site at our Los Alamitos office. We perform about 30 surgeries a month in our operating room.

Will I be asleep during the surgery?
Yes you will be asleep during your surgery. Most breast surgeries are performed using general anesthesia. We use MD anesthesiologist in our operating room.

Are you board certified?
Dr. Aiello is Board Certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery and is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Esmailian is Board Certified by American Board of Surgery and is a candidate member of both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.