Breast Augmentation in Fresno, CA
Serving Fresno and the Central Valley
Schedule a ConsultationWhat is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation surgery enhances the shape, size, and projection of the breasts using saline or silicone implants. Women who have naturally small breasts or who are unhappy with the shape of their breasts can benefit significantly from this procedure. Breast augmentation offers several options, including size, type of implant, incision placement, and implant placement, and can be customized to fit your unique needs and anatomy.
If you are looking to correct other issues with your breasts, Dr. Chin offers additional breast surgery procedures.
What Are the Benefits of Breast Augmentation?
Women choose breast augmentation to:
- Improve body image
- Relieve emotional discomfort and embarrassment
- Boost confidence
- Allow for more diverse wardrobe choices
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Procedures
Photo Gallery
Dr. Chin strives to enhance patients’ natural beauty while preserving their unique ethnic characteristics and deliver outstanding patient care with patient safety as a priority.
What Can Be Achieved With Breast Augmentation Surgery?
A Natural Look
Some people mistakenly believe that breast augmentation always produces overly large breasts that look obviously fake. However, many techniques can be used for the procedure in order to achieve breasts that look and feel natural. Results can be subtle (so that no one will know you underwent breast augmentation surgery) or dramatic—the choice is up to you.
Rounder, Fuller Breasts
Breast augmentation enhances the breasts to improve not only their size, but also their shape. There is a range of implant types and shapes that can be used to achieve the rounder, fuller breasts you desire.
Enhanced Cleavage
Many women go to great lengths to create their desired cleavage, from wearing extremely padded bras to taping their breasts together. Breast augmentation can help achieve breasts that exhibit your desired amount of cleavage.
More Symmetrical Breasts
All women have some degree of breast asymmetry, but it is usually unnoticeable. However, some women may have one breast that is significantly less developed and smaller than the other. Breast augmentation can be performed with implants of varying sizes to produce breasts that are as close to the same size and shape as possible.
Restored Breast Volume
Pregnancy, significant weight loss, or natural aging can cause your breasts to lose volume over time. Breast augmentation can restore volume to the breasts as well as improve a minimal degree of sagging. Patients with significant sagging can benefit greatly from breast augmentation combined with a breast lift.
Saline Implants
Saline implants consist of an outer silicone shell filled with a sterile saltwater solution. These implants are filled after they are inserted into the breast, so a smaller incision can be used.
Silicone Implants
Silicone implants consist of an outer silicone shell filled with a viscous silicone gel. These implants are said to produce a more natural feel because they are soft, like natural breast tissue.
Gummy Bear
Gummy bear implants are a type of silicone implant with a thicker, more cohesive gel filling. These implants come in a variety of shapes to achieve specific breast appearances. Gummy bear implants are less likely to rupture; if a rupture does occur, they will retain their original shape.
What Are My Breast Implant Incision Options?
Breast implants can be inserted using one of several incision techniques, with the best option depending on your goals and implant type. During your breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Chin will evaluate your breasts and recommend the incision method that offers optimal flexibility for placing your breast implant while minimizing scarring.
Periareolar Incision
This incision is made along the edge of the areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple). It is a popular choice because the resulting scar blends naturally with the pigment change at the edge of the areola, making it less noticeable.
Inframammary Incision
Located along the natural crease under your breast, this incision is well-hidden and provides easy access for implant placement.
Transaxillary Incision
Made within the creases of the armpit, this type of incision leaves no visible scar on your breasts.
How Is Breast Augmentation Performed?
Breast augmentation is performed by placing implants underneath your chest muscle or on top of your pectoral muscle. The technique used will depend on your unique anatomy and Dr. Chin’s recommendations.
The procedure is done using general anesthesia and takes about one to two hours. Dr. Chin will make incisions under the breast, under the arms, or around the nipples — depending on the recommended surgical plan — and place implants in the breast pocket.
After the implant is in position, the incision is closed with sutures and covered with a gauze dressing.
What Can I Expect From My Breast Augmentation Recovery?
Once your breast augmentation surgery is complete, Dr. Chin will place surgical dressings on your incisions, and you may also have surgical drains placed to help minimize swelling and the risk of fluid retention. You will be required to wear a compression garment as you recover, which will also help reduce swelling while providing support for your new breasts.
In the first few days after your breast augmentation, you will experience swelling, bruising, and some discomfort, which can be managed with over-the-counter or prescription pain medication.
During the first week, it is essential to rest and follow postoperative care instructions. This includes avoiding lifting heavy objects, though you can resume light daily tasks within a few days. You can return to work and other daily activities within a week or two after surgery, depending on the nature of your job. Exercise and other strenuous activities must be avoided for at least six weeks, or until you are cleared by Dr. Chin. He will give you specific instructions to follow after your procedure based on your unique circumstances.
When Will I See My Breast Augmentation Results?
While you will notice a difference in your breast size immediately after surgery, your full results will take time to develop. You will have significant swelling, which will dissipate over time and be mostly gone by about three months after surgery. However, minor swelling may remain for up to six months.
You may notice that your breasts sit higher on your chest than expected: this is normal, and your breasts will “drop and fluff” around the one to three-month mark, settling into the correct position on your chest. You may also experience a feeling of tightness in your chest, and your breasts may feel firm. As the swelling decreases and your body adjusts to the implants, your breasts will soften.
Improvements in your breast shape, softness, position, and overall appearance will improve over time, and your final breast augmentation results are typically visible three to six months after surgery. However, you may notice subtle changes in shape and feel as swelling continues to decrease and your breasts settle into place.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in Fresno?
The cost of breast augmentation in Fresno varies based on several factors, including your surgeon’s experience and reputation, the type of implants you choose, and whether you decide to combine other cosmetic procedures with your breast augmentation.
One of the primary factors that influence breast augmentation cost is the type of implants you choose. Silicone implants typically cost more than saline implants, and gummy bear implants may cost more than silicone implants. Another factor is whether or not you wish to combine other aesthetic procedures with your breast enhancement. For example, many women may want to add liposuction or a tummy tuck to their breast augmentation, or even undergo a Mommy Makeover to restore a more youthful body contour after the effects of pregnancy or aging.
When you come in for your breast augmentation consultation at Valley Institute of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Chin will create a customized treatment plan for you and provide you with a cost estimate for your procedure or procedures. He also offers financing through CareCredit®.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation
Am I a good candidate for breast augmentation?
If you are bothered by the size of your breasts and want larger or more shapely breasts, breast augmentation is ideal for you. Patients who are dissatisfied with the changes in size or shape of their breasts following pregnancy, weight loss, or aging will benefit tremendously from the procedure.
The best candidates for breast augmentation need to be nonsmokers in good health who want to improve the aesthetic appearance of their breasts. You should also have clear and realistic expectations of the procedure’s outcome.
How do I determine the best implants for me?
During your consultation, Dr. Chin will evaluate your body type and listen to your goals for breast augmentation in order to determine the best implants for your individual needs and desires. He will take measurements and perform a computer analysis and simulation using the VECTRA® XT 3D imaging system to simulate how the implants may look on your body. You can actually see a 3D image of what you may look like after surgery! This will help you decide on the type of implant that will best fit your body, as well as any limits on implant size.
You will also be able to try on different implants so that you can look in the mirror to see if they will give you the look you want. If you need a breast lift, Dr. Chin can also simulate what a lifted and perkier breast would look like on your body with or without breast implants.
What are the benefits of having an implant placed beneath the muscle rather than over it?
Placing the implant beneath the muscle provides a more natural look and feel and is a good choice for patients who do not have adequate breast tissue to cover the implant size they desire. Submuscular implant placement may also reduce the risk of capsular contracture.
Am I too young for breast augmentation?
Young women who seek to enhance their breasts with implants should wait until they have attained full physical and emotional maturity. Generally, teenagers under the age of 18 are considered too young, and silicone implants are only approved for women over 21.
A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon can provide more insights and help you find the best path toward your cosmetic goals.
Will augmentation work for me if I have sagging breasts?
Placing breast implants in already sagging breasts adds volume to the breasts but cannot offer the necessary lift that droopy breasts require. On the contrary, the extra weight of the implants could contribute to more sagging.
To achieve the best results, consider combining a breast lift and augmentation to elevate the breast and achieve a more youthful-looking profile.
Can my breast implants affect my ability to breastfeed?
In most cases, implants will not affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed. If the incision is placed in the natural fold below the breast, the tissue and milk ducts will not be damaged, and nursing should be possible.
It is advisable to discuss your future plans with Dr. Chin so he can develop a surgical plan that preserves the anatomical structures required for breastfeeding.
How long will my breast augmentation results last?
Breast augmentation results are long-lasting. However, as the natural aging process continues, the shape, size, and position of your breasts may be affected.
Additionally, breast implants are designed to last up to about 15 years, so you will likely need to undergo a breast revision or an implant volume revision to replace or remove them.