Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. That means that hundreds of thousands of women have taken this step toward a shapelier figure.

Coressence anticipates resuming performing breast augmentations later this summer.  Until then, Coressence can refer you to several excellent surgeons to help meet your needs. We have designed our website to identify and explain your options. We want you to leave our website with confidence, feeling like your questions have been answered in preparation for your consultation. We believe that the most natural results in breast augmentation can only be obtained by individualizing the procedure to your specific body type and your aesthetic preferences, and the more you know about your options, the better equipped you will be to choose the right procedure for you.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General Questions
Safety
Choosing the Implants
Choosing the Implant Placement
Choosing the Incision Site
What to Do Before and After
Privacy Considerations

GENERAL QUESTIONS

How do I know if a Breast Augmentation is right for me?
Breast Augmentation can benefit anyone who desires an increase in breast size. The procedure is best suited for healthy people who have good eating and exercise habits. Certain health conditions require additional screening, such as an EKG or medical clearance from your primary care physician, before we can recommend breast augmentation surgery. We do not advise breast implants for women who are currently pregnant or nursing, have an existing malignant or pre-malignant cancer of their breast without adequate treatment, or have an active infection anywhere in their body.

After you have had the opportunity to review the wealth of materials on our website, we recommend you explore the available treatment options further with us during a free consultation. At that time, we will discuss your current situation, your goals and expectations, and develop an individualized plan designed to achieve optimal results for you. We will review the options for breast augmentation surgery, review the anatomy, and discuss with you how we can make you look your best. The finest possible results begin with a caring and thoughtful initial consultation. By the end of the consultation, we will develop a specific price quote, and we can apply for any financing options that you may be qualified for while you wait.

How long does a breast augmentation procedure take?
Breast augmentation procedures typically last approximately one to two hours.

How long do the results last from a breast augmentation procedure?
Many women can get a lifetime of use out of their breast implants, but it is best to assume that you will need to replace your implants at some point over the course of your life.

Will my breasts still move like normal breasts?
This depends upon multiple factors, such as the type of implant you receive, the pocket dissection, the way your body holds the implant and whether or not there is any degree of capsular contracture. It is possible for many women to have breast implants that are soft and move nicely, while other women have results that are firmer with an implant more fixed in position.

Will getting breast implants cause stretch marks on my breasts?
Insertion of implants can cause stretch marks but rarely does. If you are concerned, go for a smaller size implant to minimize the stretching of the skin, or choose an adjustable implant to slowly stretch the skin over time.

What are the alternatives to breast augmentation?
The alternatives to breast augmentation include accepting your breasts as they are or wearing a padded bra or external prostheses.

Can I combine breast augmentation surgery with another procedure?
Yes! For superior body contouring results, breast augmentation can be performed at the same time as a SmartLipo procedure, which is one of our most popular procedures.

SAFETY

Are there any special concerns for patients with darker skin?
A large percentage of our patients are African American or otherwise have darker skin. Several of our patients with darker skin have expressed fear of heavy scarring (hypertrophic scarring) or Keloid scarring (pathologic scarring). These terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, but they represent different physiologic processes. We will discuss these risks with you during your free consultation, and work with you to determine the course of action that will give you optimal results with minimal risks. See below for a further explanation of the risks of scarring. Hypertrophic (heavy) scars reflect the physiologic response to local tension on scars, the location of the scars, and the individual’s own genetic tendencies. Hypertrophic scars are limited to the area of injury, and are particularly prone to occur on the breasts. Keloid scarring is a genetically inherited disorder in which scars heal as if they were tumors, growing outside the confines of the original wound or trauma. Keloids are uncommon and may be difficult to remedy. Keloids are less common on the breasts and rare in the axilla (the incision site for inframammary insertion).

Will the feeling in my breasts or nipples change as a result of breast augmentation?
Feeling in the nipple and breast can increase or decrease after implant surgery. The range of changes varies from intense sensitivity to no feeling in the nipple or breast following surgery. Changes in feeling can be temporary or permanent and may affect sexual response or the ability to nurse a baby.

Please bear with us as we transition to our new website. More information regarding safety concerns associated with breast augmentation will be coming shortly.

BREAST AUGMENTATION OPTIONS: CHOOSING THE IMPLANTS

What breast implants do you use?
We will help you choose the right implants that will allow you to obtain the best possible results for your breast augmentation surgery. There are many different types of breast implants are currently available. The two categories of implants are saline (salt water) implants and silicone implants. In terms of shape, breast implants can be either round or "anatomical" shaped implants. One of the more recent advances in breast implants has been the use of "adjustable" breast implants that can be inflated to the final volume up to six months after surgery. These specialized implants can be used to correct breast asymmetry and gives us the ability to adjust the final size at a later date.

What are saline breast implants?
A saline breast implant is inflated with a saline (salt-water) solution through a valve. Saline is much like the fluid that makes up most of the human body. We offer two types of saline implants at Coressence. One type of saline implant has a self-sealing valve located on the front (anterior) of the implant that is used for filling the device, and the other type has a valve on the back (posterior) of the implant that allows saline to be added after surgery (postoperative adjustability). The latter type of saline-filled breast implant allows us to adjust the size of your breasts for up to six months after your surgery.

What are silicone breast implants?
Silicone breast implants are filled with silicon, a substance that in nature combines with oxygen to form silica (beach sand, crystals, and quartz are made of silica). Silica is the most common substance on earth. Studies have been conducted that found much higher levels of silicone in cows’ milk and commercially-available infant formula than in the breast milk of women with implants.

What are the major differences between saline and silicone breast implants?
Saline implants are slightly more firm than silicone implants. The major advantage of silicone breast implants over saline breast implants is that most patients believe silicone implants have a more “natural” feel than saline implants. The two different types of implants carry different risk profiles and different incision options, which we will discuss with you in depth at your free consultation.

BREAST AUGMENTATION OPTIONS: CHOOSING THE IMPLANT PLACEMENT

Please bear with us as we transition to our new website. More information regarding breast implant placement options will be coming shortly.

BREAST AUGMENTATION OPTIONS: CHOOSING THE INCISITON SITE

Where are the incisions made?
At Coressence, we offer four different ways to place the incisions for your breast augmentation surgery: (a) inframammary fold; (b) peri-areolar (nipple); and (c) transaxillary (underarm). During your consultation, we will help you decide which incision option will give you the best possible results for your breast augmentation surgery.

Please bear with us as we transition to our new website. More information regarding the different options for the incision site for your breast augmentation procedure will be coming shortly.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE AND AFTER

How do I begin the process to get Breast Augmentation?
Contact us! You can call us at (910) 321-0079 or click here to reach us via our website. We will conduct a consultation with you and will discuss your current situation, your goals and expectations, and develop an individualized plan designed to achieve optimal results for you. By the end of the consultation, we will develop a specific price quote, and we can apply for any financing options that you may be qualified for while you wait.

What should I do in preparation for the breast augmentation procedure?
One thing we recommend is for you to be close to your ideal weight before having a breast augmentation performed. Significant weight loss after receiving breast implants could adversely alter the results, including the risk of ptosis (drooping) and size reduction. Alternatively, significant weight gain could lead to increased breast size.

What should I do after the breast augmentation procedure?
Patients will be provided with post care instructions to refer to following surgery. We will place you in a special bra or compression garment to aid in the healing process. Compression garments provide support and comfort, minimize swelling, and help to maintain the position of the implants. This is why it is important that you wear the compression garment as we recommend.

How long should I wait to resume normal activities after breast implant surgery?
We will advise you on a case-by-case basis regarding how long you will need to take off work and when and how to resume your normal activities. Generally the first few days are the most uncomfortable, and the average time to return to full activities is four to six weeks. We generally recommend walking to encourage circulation.

PRIVACY CONSIDERATIONS

Do you keep my information confidential?
Coressence keeps you personal health information safe. Coressence shall not publish or otherwise make generally available any information or data that identifies a patient for purposes other than treatment, payment or other health care operations, without his or her express written consent. All clients are asked when signing their consent if we may use their photographs for teaching, marketing, publication or scientific purposes. This does not restrict the internal use of such information or data that is required in the performance of the scope of work that Coressence has been engaged to perform for a client. Coressence also maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect individually identifiable health information. Coressence is always making ongoing improvements to maintain and enhance our level of security for individually identifiable health information.

MORE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS COMING SOON!