Breast Augmentation Maryland
Breast augmentations are an incredibly popular choice for women of all ages. Augmentation can help you achieve the breast size, shape or profile you’ve always wanted.
Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr Adam Tattelbaum, is a specialist in breast augmentation in Maryland. With a career spanning more than two decades, he has helped thousands of patients achieve their aesthetic goals through breast augmentation.
To start your journey and learn more, we offer free consultations at our offices in Rockville, MD, and Mclean, VA. Our location means we can serve patients in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C.
You can book your consultation by calling 301-656-6398 or filling out a contact form.
| Breast Augmentation Surgery Overview | |
|---|---|
| Aim | Insert or exchange breast implants |
| Surgery Length | Approximately 2.5 hours |
| Recovery | 1 week off work, 3 weeks of limited activity, then gradually resume normal activities |
| Results | Final results are visible 3-6 months post-surgery |
| Cost | The average cost is approximately $7,000 |
| Risks | Potential changes in nipple sensation and the ability to breastfeed post-surgery |
Meet The Doctor
“Patients often come in and the first thing they want to do is show me pictures of their dream breasts. I ask them not to.
I don’t want to be constrained or biased by an image until we have gone through the very personal process of implant sizing together.
Throw out the concept of a cup size, because this means very different things to different people. In a consultation, we’ll think about your figure and your goals.
That’s because your height, hips and shoulders are all a consideration when finding the right breast implant.
Once we find a suitable implant, the dream pictures are useful for a comparison and reality check.”
Written By Dr Adam Tattelbaum M.D.
Why Choose Dr Tattelbaum?
- Double board-certified plastic surgeon
- Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
- Listed in “America’s Top Surgeons” by the Consumer Research Council of America
Breast Implant Size
The key to breast implant sizing is to consider the size of the patient as a whole. The breasts must balance with the rest of the body. The goal is to find an implant that provides enough curve under the arm to achieve a balanced, hourglass figure.
In a consultation, you’ll try on several implant sizers. We’ll first identify the right implant width and then move on to the projection – looking at the difference between low, moderate, and high profile implants.
Dr Tattelbaum’s Perspective
“When I size a patient, I don’t think in cup size. Instead, I think about the patient’s size. I try to find implants that balance with the height, shoulders and hips. An implant that is too small will look like a torpedo, but an implant that is too big will make the patient look top-heavy.”
Breast Implant Type
Breast implants can be filled with a saline solution (salt water) or silicone gel.
Silicone breast implants are highly popular because they look and feel more natural, with a softer touch and minor rippling under the breast. However, they’re more expensive, can require a slightly larger incision, and the volume cannot be adjusted because they are sealed. Plus, MRI check-ups are recommended long-term to screen for rupture.
Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. The implants are inserted empty and filled once they’re in place. If a saline implant happens to rupture, it will deflate, but your body will safely absorb the saline.
The right choice will depend on the patient and their needs.
Dr Tattelbaum’s Perspective
“I prefer using silicone implants because they tend to look more natural, but there are some cases where silicone makes less of a difference.
If a woman has little or no breast tissue, I prefer silicone because it is much harder to hide saline implants in such cases. A woman with ‘B’ or ‘C’ cup breasts will hide saline implants better, but would still feel more natural with silicone.
But if a patient has enough natural breast tissue and some mild drooping, I will sometimes recommend a saline implant. Saline implants are more full at the top (like a balloon) and elevate the skin of the breast more.
And if I have a patient with significant asymmetry, saline implants are more flexible because the volume can be adjusted.”
Breast Implant Texture
Breast implants can come with a smooth or textured surface.
The main difference is that smooth implants don’t stick inside the pocket where they are placed, whereas textured implants stick to the surrounding tissue with no motion.
Textured surface implants may have a lower rate of capsular contracture (abnormal scar tissue tightening) when implants are placed above the muscle, but it doesn’t make a significant difference below the muscle.
Textured implants have also recently been implicated as a possible causative factor in a rare type of lymphoma. While it is extraordinarily rare, we’re less enthusiastic about using textured implants. This association has not been demonstrated in smooth implants.
Dr Tattelbaum’s Perspective
“For most patients, I prefer smooth implants because they can move within the pocket, which means they tend to look more natural. Textured implants stick to the surrounding tissue with no motion and are slightly more feel-able.”
Breast Implant Shapes
The shape of an implant can make a difference to the final result of your breast augmentation. There are two main options:
- Teardrop
- Round
A teardrop implant is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom. In some cases, they can look more natural.
All teardrops are textured, so the implant sticks inside and maintains the correct orientation. However, on rare occasions, a teardrop can turn sideways and look abnormal.
Teardrop shapes include the famous gummy bear implant, which has a textured surface and a thick gel inside to maintain the shape, yet with a natural feel that retains its shape.
These implants are textured and firmer, sometimes requiring larger incisions. We use them only in certain situations.
Meanwhile, a round implant has an even spread of silicone or saline fill throughout the implants.
Dr Tattelbaum’s Perspective
“I prefer smooth, round silicone over teardrops because a rounded silicone implant takes on a teardrop shape when inserted under the muscle. Yet, if a round implant rotates, it will make no difference.”
Breast Implant Placement
Under Or Over The Muscle
Breast implants can be placed in two locations: above the pectoral muscles but underneath the breast tissue (sub-glandular implant placement), or underneath the pectoral muscles (submuscular implant placement).
We prefer submuscular placement as:
- It looks more natural with the muscle draping over the top of the implant to give a softer look
- Submuscular implants have a lower rate of “capsular contracture” (abnormal tightening of scar tissue around the implant)
- The infection rate is lower, and future mammograms are interpreted more easily
- If a patient eventually needs a breast lift, having the implant under the muscle preserves more blood supply to the breast making future lifts less risky.
Incision Points
Breast implants can be placed through various incisions points:
- Below the areola (periareolar incision)
- In the fold of the breast (inframammary incision)
- Through the armpit (transaxillary)
- Through the belly button (transumbilical)
- Through a tummy tuck (transabdominoplasty)
The mainstay of our practice is the inframammary approach. It is often the best concealed.
Recent evidence shows that an areolar approach may increase the risk of late tightening or contracture of the implants. Transaxillary and transumbilical are less precise, so we don’t favour them. A transabdominoplasty is an option for patients having a tummy tuck and considering saline implants, but it is also less precise than an inframammary approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you use an implant funnel?
Are silicone gel breast implants safe?
FDA-approved studies reveal no health issues linked to silicone implants. They neither cause breast cancer nor systemic diseases and are safe for breastfeeding.
For more information, read our post: Silicone Breast Implant Safety
Who makes implants?
In the United States, three companies are FDA approved to supply breast implants: Allergan, Mentor, and Sientra. They are all excellent and well-studied products.
What are the risks of breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation surgery comes with some risks, most of which are incredibly rare – such as include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, and capsular contracture. We discuss risks with you during the consultation so you’re fully aware of everything that can happen. This may be a little scary, but the likelihood of any issues occurring is low.
When should I consider breast augmentation?
Most breast augmentation patients are unhappy or self-conscious about the size of their natural breasts. Some patients require implants to rebuild the breast following medical treatment, pregnancy, or weight loss. Whichever camp you fall into, there’s no right or wrong time. However, we suggest younger patients wait until their natural breast tissue has finished growing first.
How do I prepare?
Determine your desired outcome, note down questions for your consultation, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and cease specific medications. Organize post-surgery care and pre-cook meals. Engage in regular activity but avoid pectoral exercises close to surgery.
What is breast augmentation recovery like?
Recovery entails swelling, stiffness, and potential pain. Patients may need painkillers and a compression bra. We recommend a week’s rest and limiting strenuous activities for 21 days. Regular follow-ups ensure a smooth recovery.
How long will it take to see results?
It can take 3-6 months to see the final results. It takes a while for the skin and muscles around the surgical site to adjust, for the incisions to heal, and for the swelling to reduce. Your implants will gradually settle into their final position, dropping down the chest and filling out with volume as the skin relaxes.
How long do breast implants last?
The average breast implants last around ten years. At this point, you may want to consider an exchange. We’ve written a post on this subject so you can learn more: How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Can I combine breast augmentation surgery with other cosmetic procedures?
A breast augmentation can be combined with several other procedures at the same time. Our patients typically combine augmentation with a breast lift, breast reduction, or a tummy tuck. This increases the initial cost but may save you time and money in the long run if you were planning to have further surgeries – as you’ll only pay one set of anesthesia and facility fees, and you’ll only go through one recovery period.
Will I be able to breastfeed with implants?
It is possible to breastfeed with implants. However, the area of incision matters. In surgeries where incisions are made through the areola, by definition, some of the milk ducts are cut. Even so, many are left intact so breastfeeding is often possible.
A patient planning to breastfeed may wish to consider an inframammary incision, which is below the ductal breast tissue so it may have less impact on breastfeeding. There is also newer evidence that an inframammary incision may reduce the risk of scar tissue tightening (capsular contracture) around the breast in the future.
For more information, read our blog post: Can You Breast Feed With Implants?
Reviews
Breast Augmentation Results
Want to see before and after pictures from our previous patients?
Location
Our practice has two offices, one in Rockville, MD, and another in McLean, VA. For your consultation, you can attend whichever office suits you better.
Our office in Rockville is approximately 15 miles north of Washington, D.C – a thirty-minute drive. It’s well-placed to accept patients from the capital, along with most Maryland cities, like Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Frederick, and Silver Spring.
Our office in McLean is close to the Potomac River and is easily accessible to those in Northern Virginia, such as Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, and Manassas.
Schedule A Consultation
To schedule an appointment for a breast augmentation consultation, please get in touch today.
The consultation lasts for roughly one hour. In the consultation, Dr. Tattelbaum will:
- Evaluate your health, starting situation and medical history
- Answer any questions you may have
- Look at implant sizes in a testing bra to help choose the right size and achieve your goals
- Cover the risks, benefits, and alternatives to breast augmentation so you can make an informed decision
For the consultation, we recommend you bring:
- Questions and notes: Many people forget what they wanted to discuss and ask about during the consultation, so it’s always best to bring a written list.
- A second pair of eyes: Whether it’s a friend, significant other, or loved one, having an extra opinion can help.
- Different blouses or shirts: It can help to look at yourself in both work and casual wear when testing different implant sizes.
Other Breast Surgeries
Dive Deeper
- How to choose the right breast implant size
- How to choose the right breast implant type
- How to find the best plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation
- Breast augmentation recovery: a week-by-week guide
- How much does breast augmentation cost in Maryland?
- Before and after breast augmentation – examples from past patients
