Breast Augmentation in San Diego - Breast Surgeon

Breast Augmentation Surgery San Diego

Abhay Gupta, MD, FACS, is well-known both as an extremely skilled breast augmentation provider and as a caring cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Gupta is committed to helping women who are unsatisfied with the size or asymmetrical nature of their breasts achieve the curvy profile that they desire. Whether patients had small breasts to begin with, or lost volume or elasticity due to major weight loss, breast feeding, trauma, lumpectomy or mastectomy, Dr. Gupta can customize a surgical breast enhancement treatment plan to help.

Breast Augmentation & Breast Implant Options

Dr. Abhay Gupta discusses breast augmentation, including the difference between silicone and saline implants.

By augmenting breasts with either saline or silicone breast implants, Dr. Gupta provides patients with a fuller profile throughout the chest area. What many patients do not realize is that breast augmentation can also enhance cleavage, as well as deliver a slight lift. However, patients whose breasts sag severely should consider breast lift surgery (mastopexy) as an alternative or complement to breast augmentation in San Diego.

View Before & After Photos

Suitable candidates for breast augmentation surgery with Dr. Gupta include women who do not smoke and are in good overall physical and mental health. While many women can still breastfeed after breast augmentation, a small number of women find that they cannot. Suitable breast augmentation candidates understand this risk, as well as the other surgical risks involved. In addition to these criteria, suitable breast augmentation candidates would like to enhance their breasts due to one (or more) of the following reasons:

They are unhappy with the small size of their breasts
They are unhappy with the asymmetrical nature of their breasts
They want to restore the volume of their breasts after breastfeeding, major weight loss, lumpectomy, mastectomy or a similar circumstance
They want to reconstruct their breasts after undergoing lumpectomy, mastectomy or physical trauma
They are frustrated with a congenital birth defect that impedes development (e.g., Poland syndrome)

Breast Augmentation Procedure

Breast augmentation surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically takes one to two hours. Dr. Gupta performs the surgery at a hospital or accredited surgical center. Patients will need someone to drive them to and from the surgical center.

A Board Certified Anesthesiologist administers general anesthesia prior to the procedure to maximize patient comfort. The patient does not feel a thing during surgery.

To begin breast augmentation, Dr. Gupta must first make a small incision that measures about three centimeters in length. Through the incision, he inserts either a saline or silicone breast implant under the breast tissue. Depending on the type of breast implants that the patient selects (saline or silicone breast implants) and the patient’s aesthetic goals, Dr. Gupta will make the incision in one of three places (for each implant): in the armpit, in the natural fold beneath the breast or on the areola. Prior to surgery, Dr. Gupta and the patient will review these options and decide which is best.

During the consultation phase, Dr. Gupta and the patient will also decide where to place the implant — either over or beneath the pectoral (chest) muscle, depending on the patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals. Dr. Gupta will review the pros and cons to both the subglandular (over the muscle) and subpectoral (beneath the muscle) positions with the patient at this time.

Dr. Gupta will discuss the pros and cons of each type of implant during consultation. He offers breast implants of many different sizes and shapes, and the patient can try them on prior to surgery to choose which is best for her.

Once Dr. Gupta has completed surgery, he applies bandages to the treated area, and the patient is taken to a recovery room while the effects of the anesthesia subside. In most cases, the patient will be released to an authorized individual a few hours after surgery. The patient will need someone to stay with them the first night following the procedure.

Breast Augmentation Recovery

Once the bandages are removed, patients must wear a surgical bra for several weeks or as directed by Dr. Gupta. The surgical bra helps to minimize pain, swelling and bruising, and provides added breast support during the healing process.

View Before & After Photos

It is normal to experience some discomfort or pain for several days following the procedure. Dr. Gupta will prescribe pain medication to help ease any discomfort and may also prescribe antibiotics to safeguard against infection.

Breast augmentation patients should expect to take about 2 weeks off from work. They should rest and avoid any strenuous activity. During this time they should walk around the house every so often to minimize the chance of blood clots. Patients can resume normal activity and exercise in several weeks, as advised by Dr. Gupta.

Patients should follow Dr. Gupta’s pre and post-operative instructions, so they heal properly and minimize the risk of complications. They should also keep all follow-up appointments, so Dr. Gupta can monitor their progress.

Breast Augmentation Risks

As with any surgical procedure, there are some innate risks involved. Breast augmentation risks include persisting pain; irregular nipple or breast sensation; breast implant rupture; a hardening of the tissue surrounding the implant, causing the breast to feel hard or the implant to rupture (capsular contracture); and the possibility of a need for revision surgery, among others.

Dr. Gupta is an expert in his field and employs every preventative measure possible on his end to lessen any risks involved. To minimize risks on their end, patients should avoid smoking at all costs. They should also be honest with Dr. Gupta regarding their medical history and lifestyle habits. Lastly, patients should strictly follow the pre- and post-procedure instructions provided by Dr. Gupta.

FAQ’s about Breast Augmentation Surgery

Q. How long will my scars show and when can I start to use the scar creams?
A. All scars are permanent but will fade and become much less visible after about 6 to 9 months. You can start to apply scar creams to help the scars lighten and fade starting at 2-3 weeks.

Q. When can I exercise again?
A. You can do walking exercises immediately but no strenuous upper bodywork for 4 to 6 weeks.

Q. What position do I need to sleep in and for how long?
A. You will sleep face up for 1 week.

Q. When can I swim in ocean or pool?
A. You need to wait 4-6 weeks to enter a pool or ocean and want to make sure the site is completely closed and healed.

Q. How long do I wear the bra for and what kind of bras can I wear after that? (wire/no wire)
A. Bras are adjusted at 1 week, 3 weeks and 6 weeks; beyond 3 months, all types of bras will be ok.

Q. How long do my stitches stay in for?
A. Dr. Gupta uses all dissolvable stitches for less visible scars and no painful post-op suture removal appointments.

Q. How soon can I shower after surgery?
A. You will wait 2 days to shower.

Q. When do my steri strips comes off?
A. 3-4 Weeks

Q. When can I use a tanning bed or spray tan?
A. 2 months

Q. When do I start the breast massages and for how many days?
A. Start massages 2 weeks after, 5-10 mins a day, 3 times per day for several weeks.

To find out more about the various breast enhancement procedures offered by Dr. Gupta or to arrange a one-on-one consultation, please contact Gupta Plastic Surgery by calling (858) 408-6100.