For many women, the size, shape, and fullness of their breasts play a significant role in their ideal body image. Achieving the feminine contours you’ve always desired is possible with breast augmentation by Omaha-based Aesthetic Surgical Images. Our board-certified plastic surgeons have successfully performed several thousand breast augmentations to:
- Enhance body contour
- Add fullness after pregnancy, nursing or weight loss
- Balance breast size
Read more about our breast augmentation methods below.
Request a complimentary cosmetic consultation with Aesthetic Surgical Images for a personal discussion about Breast Augmentation in Omaha, Nebraska.
- Understanding Breast Augmentation Surgery
- Silicone or Saline in Your Breast Augmentation
- Your Breast Augmentation procedure
- Breast Augmentation Recovery
- What to Expect After Breast Augmentation Surgery
- Enjoying Your Breast Augmentation Results
- Breast Augmentation While Breast Feeding
- Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Augmentation
Breast Enlargement Surgery Before and After Photos
*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Understanding Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast augmentation is the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery in the United States. Science has proven it to be a safe procedure as long as it is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon in an accredited facility. At Aesthetic Surgical Images, it’s important for you to know that all of our Breast Augmentation surgeons are board-certified, and our facility is state-licensed and nationally accredited. In addition, we only work with M.D. anesthesiologists.
In your initial consultation, one of our physicians will sit down with you to discuss all the breast augmentation options that require thoughtful consideration including:
Breast Implants Size
Most women desire natural-looking breasts that complement their overall figure so our physicians will help you select the implants best suited to your body type and lifestyle. Our breast augmentation is customized for every patient.
Silicone or Saline in Your Breast Augmentation
We review the pros and cons of both silicone or saline breast implants with our Omaha and Des Moines area patients. Some women think silicone implants feel more like natural breast tissue. Others choose saline implants because they cost less and require smaller incisions. Options can be discussed during a breast augmentation consultation.
Breast Implants Position
Breast implants can be placed above or below the muscle of your chest wall. Your surgeon will
discuss the pros and cons of both of these options during your breast augmentation one-on-one.
Incision Method In Breast Augmentation
Incisions can be made along the bottom of the areola, the pigmented skin around the nipple, or just below the crease of the breast where it meets the chest, or in the armpit area.
At the end of your consultation, your surgeon will recommend a breast augmentation approach designed just for you. Take some time to browse through our Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions because it’s important to have a source of trustworthy information when you’re considering breast augmentation.
Breast Augmentation through the Belly Button
The transumbilical approach to breast augmentation has advocates, but the vast majority of plastic surgeons prefer other surgical approaches. Surgeons, who prefer the transumbilical approach, feel that this procedure has a major advantage – less scarring. They believe that transumbilical incisions heal imperceptibly. They acknowledge that there’s a steep learning curve with this procedure and that there are potential problems with implant malposition. There’s no question that excellent results can be obtained with this procedure.
The majority of plastic surgeons prefer the transaxillary infra-mammary or periareolar incisions. They feel that these incisions are associated with a decreased incidence of implant malposition. They also feel that scarring with these incisions is rarely a problem.
They feel that the probability of implant malposition with transumbilical incisions is higher than the probability of adverse scarring with traditional breast augmentation incisions.
It’s important to realize that surgeons have different comfort levels with different incisions. They do their best work when they are able to use their preferred incision. Although good results can be obtained with transumbilical incisions there’s probably a good reason why the majority of plastic surgeons prefer traditional surgical approaches.
Your Breast Augmentation procedure
Breast augmentation is typically performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Your doctor will make an incision through which he/she will place the implant. No matter which method you choose, our surgeons use precise breast augmentation techniques to place the incision in an inconspicuous area of the breast to minimize visible scarring.
Many women combine breast augmentation with a breast lift to improve fullness as well as the position and shape of their breasts or a tummy tuck with liposuction to complete a full Mommy Makeover.
Patient Testimonial: Aida
Breast Implant Massage
Breast Augmentation Recovery
When recovering from breast augmentation, one of the most asked questions is ‘when can I wear an underwire or push-up bra?’ Patients are always anxious to try on clothing that accentuates their new form! Unfortunately, if you do so too soon it can slow down or even derail the healing process. One concern is if you wear an upward pushing bra, that the implant may heal in that high position and create an abnormally accentuated upper cleavage… this may look good in some outfits, but is not very natural looking and may look out of place in other situations. Also, underwire bras put pressure on the skin along the fold of the breast, often where the incision is. Usually this area is numb for a few months after surgery, and if the wire rubs it too much you may not feel it before it can cause damage. I have had patients actually develop an ulcer or hole in the skin from wearing too tight of an underwire bra. This can cause worse scarring or even exposure if the implant (necessitating implant removal). I recommend to my patients not to wear an underwire bra for at least 3 months after surgery. Usually by then the sensation has begun to normalize and you can feel if the wire rubs on the incision or if it is too tight. I also suggest checking after a couple of hours with a new bra to make sure it is not causing redness or irritation, and be ready with a spare bra to change into if you find this problem. The last thing you want to do is spoil the results you have worked so hard to achieve!
What to Expect After Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast Augmentation is a very common surgery in the United States. Currently, over 300,000 women undergo augmentation each year, and that number continues to grow. It is a procedure that can be done safely and leaves women feeling more confident and happy about their shape. Still, each one of these women worry about how they are going to cope with the pain and healing during their recovery time. Every patient’s experience is a little different, but most state the hardest part is the first few days. The muscles of the chest tighten in response to the surgery and can be comparable to a ‘charlie horse’ in the muscle. Pain medicine and muscle relaxers are prescribed to help with the discomfort. Most patients take these every 4 hours for the first day, and then start to taper off of them. Typically, by 3-4 days after surgery most patients are off the narcotics and replace them with Tylenol as this will be strong enough to keep them comfortable.
After surgery, it is very important to avoid lifting heavy objects and strenuous exercise. Maximum lifting for the first few weeks is about 5-10lbs. Patients are able to walk right away after surgery, but for the first week walking should be restricted to just around the house. After that patients can gradually advance with walking, but not actual exercising or try to get their heart rate up until roughly 3-4 weeks, depending on healing and swelling. Too much activity too soon can lead to bleeding, worsening swelling or even popping stitches and delay healing overall.
Most patients with a sedentary job can go back to work after 5-7 days, but if the job requires lifting or physical labor then patients may need to wait longer to return. Another option is returning to work with restrictions until they are healed enough to resume the usual duties. Normally, by 4-6 weeks all restrictions are lifted and patients can resume all rigorous activity.
The scars from augmentation also go through stages and take a long time to fully heal. There are many ways to close the wounds, but most external stitches are out by 4-6 weeks. At that point patients can use scar creams or oils to help the scars fade quicker. Each plastic surgeon has their own routine with scar care so patients should always ask their surgeon before starting anything new. Scars usually start to fade by 2-3 months, but they will not reach their final appearance until at least 12-18 months after surgery. Usually, scars are just a thin white line when they are fully healed.
Going ahead with an elective surgery like this can be very scary, but remember over 300,000 women a year go through the same experience, and the vast majority are happy and glad they did it, despite the recovery period! It would be appropriate to speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon for further information.
Enjoying Your Breast Augmentation Results
Women who have had breast augmentation are understandably eager to see their results so you’ll be happy to know that improvement is immediately visible. Within three to four days after surgery, you can resume light activities, like driving. For the first three weeks, it’s important not to lift more than five pounds or raise your elbows above your shoulders. At the end of a month, you can return to full activity.
Final breast augmentation results appear gradually as swelling subsides and breast shape settles, and incision lines continue to fade over time. But, you’ll be able to start enjoying your new curves right away. See for yourself the difference breast enlargement can make when you visit our breast augmentation before & after photo gallery.
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Breast Augmentation While Breast Feeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause significant changes in a women’s breasts. These changes include loss of breast volume and the development of breast sag. For these reasons, it’s not unusual for women to request breast augmentation and in some cases breast lift surgery following pregnancy.
Occasionally these patients are still breastfeeding. Patients who are actively breastfeeding shouldn’t have breast augmentation surgery. We recommend that they wait at least 3 to 6 months after they stop lactating before proceeding with breast augmentation surgery. This delay allows the breasts to return to their normal baseline and helps with aesthetic judgments. In other words, the surgeon isn’t trying to hit a moving target. In addition, the potential for complications such as infection are probably less in patients who aren’t lactating.
If you’re considering breast augmentation it’s important to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. This surgeon should be able to help formulate a treatment plan that addresses your concerns.
“My experience with Dr. Endey was top notch, he is very professional and skilled. He and his staff made everything so easy and comfortable during each visit. I am extremely happy with my results, I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”
5 StarsDanielle1009
Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Augmentation
On the day of your consultation you will be greeted by our friendly, professional staff in the home-like setting of our office. Your surgeon will listen thoughtfully to your goals regarding breast augmentation in Omaha and answer all of your questions. Your surgeon will thoroughly explain all of the known risks of the procedure. You will then undergo a physical examination. After the physical examination your doctor will discuss the different options available to you regarding placement of incision, location of the implant, size of the implant and type of implant to be used.
At your initial consultation, you will meet with your own individual patient care coordinator. Throughout your experience at Aesthetic Surgical Images, she will always be available to take your calls, answer your questions, and assist you in any way she can.
When you call to set up your surgery you will also be scheduled a time to meet with the physician’s assistant for a pre-operative visit. This appointment is scheduled 2 weeks prior to surgery. You will receive important information and instructions at this visit. You will also need to avoid a number of medications for 2 weeks prior to surgery (a full list can be downloaded from our Patient Resources page). On the day of your surgery you will arrive at our Surgical Suite approximately 1 to 2 hours prior to your scheduled operating time. You will meet with our anesthesiologist and your doctor will visit with you and answer any questions you may have at that time. Your surgery typically takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
You will be closely followed during your postoperative course and should plan at least four visits the first month after surgery. (Your scheduled visits may depend somewhat on the distance you travel though.)
Most women can resume work approximately 3 to 5 days after a breast augmentation. Aerobic activities may need to be deferred for 4 to 6 weeks post-operatively. Most of the sutures will be absorbable but some may need to be pulled out after 2 to 3 weeks. Your surgeon will likely recommend wearing a soft bra for several weeks. You will not be allowed to wear a bra with underwire for three months post-surgery. Swelling and discoloration around the incisions generally subside in a few days.
Temporary changes in sensation of the nipples and skin is normal, and should improve with time. Scars after breast surgery do occur, but our surgeons make every effort to make scars as inconspicuous as possible and they will fade over time. Since incisions are made below the nipple, scars should not be noticeable even in low-cut clothing. One of our doctors is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help with any of your concerns.
Swelling will diminish over several weeks; if you experience bruising most will be gone in 7 to 10 days. Usually 80% or more of your swelling will be gone in two weeks and the last 20% gradually fades over the next several weeks. You will be asked not to put your elbows above your shoulders and not to engage in any heavy lifting for the first three weeks. Your surgeon and the staff will carefully help tailor your recovery to take into consideration your necessary daily activities.
If you live in the state of Nebraska, Aesthetic Surgical Images offers breast augmentation among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Breast enlargement is accomplished by placing an implant (either saline or silicone) underneath the chest muscle or less commonly just beneath the breast tissue. The choices for incisions include the armpit, the crease underneath the breast or on the lower edge of the areola. The areola is the darker skin which surrounds the nipple. All of these incisions typically heal very well and are usually inconspicuous after healing is completed. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that placement of the implant beneath the muscle of the chest wall has many advantages. It is generally accepted that implants placed under the muscle have a greater chance of keeping the breast soft and less chance of visible wrinkling. This approach usually makes mammography easier to perform and therefore more accurate.
Recovery following breast surgery is generally swift. You will need an adult with you for the first 24 hours after surgery. If you live outside of Omaha, we will ask that you spend the night at one of the neighboring hotels offering discounted pricing for our patients. You will wear either a wrap around your breasts or possibly a post surgical bra. This will be up to the discretion of your surgeon. You will be given appropriate medications to control discomfort after surgery and you will be placed on an antibiotic for a few days after surgery. You will likely also receive a medication for control of postoperative nausea. On the day after surgery you will return to our office for a visit. Your wrap may be taken off on that day and your surgeon or the physician’s assistant will examine you.
Following breast augmentation, there’s always the potential for breast implants to shift and every effort should be made to avoid this problem. In the post-operative period, we recommend that patients sleep on their back for four to six weeks following surgery.
Sleeping on the abdomen or side in the early post-operative period has the potential to cause shifting of breast implants and should therefore be avoided. Sleeping on the back is difficult for some patients and they often move to their side without knowing it. For these reasons, we recommend that patients sleep in a recliner.
After six weeks, we allow patients to resume all their normal activities without restrictions.
This is a very common question asked by women considering breast augmentation.
Many women indicate they are under the impression that implants need to be replaced every 10 years. This is not true. The myth that implants need to be replaced every 10 years probably came from the testimony provided by physicians during the approval process for silicone implants in the early ’90s.
The question asked several times to the testifying doctors was “How long will these implants last”? And the answer often was “We are not sure, but we believe they should last at least 10 years”. The number 10 was accepted by many as the life span of the implant. The accurate answer is the implants will very likely last much longer.
It is difficult to give an exact percentage, however considering there are at least 3 implant manufacturers and each implant manufacturer has a silicone line.
A saline line, textured implants, smooth implants, round implants, teardrop implants all with varying shapes. Consequently, there are thousands of different variations and each one would have a specific lifetime. The best way to think about it would be that in the first 10 years they probably won’t leak. In the second 10 years, they might leak and in the third 10 years, they probably will leak.
How Old is Too Old for Breast Implants? We frequently see women in their fifties who request breast augmentation. In the vast majority of these patients, breast augmentation can be performed without any difficulty. It’s important to realize that as we get older changes occur our bodies. Many women in their fifties have had multiple pregnancies. In many cases they have developed loss of breast volume and associated breast sag. For these reasons many of these patients will need breast lifts at the time of their breast augmentation.
In addition, as we age we frequently develop other health problems. It’s therefore important to have an appropriate medical evaluation before proceeding with surgery. This might include an EKG and laboratory studies.
Even when these issues are considered, patients who have undergone breast augmentation in there fifties report high satisfaction rates. In today’s world, fifty is still considered young.
Implant placement relative to the pectoralis major muscle continues to be a source of controversy. Although the majority of plastic surgeons prefer submuscular placement there is still a large group of plastic surgeons who feel strongly about subglandular placement. Each group can make convincing arguments regarding their position of choice. It’s safe to say both approaches have advantages and disadvantages.
In the context of these discussions we feel that every patient needs to be considered individually. Each patient has unique anatomic findings that effect the decision to place the implant under or over the muscle. The aesthetic goals of the patient are equally important and have a significant impact on the decision as well. The vast majority of patients are striving for larger breasts with a natural look. They want balance, harmony, and proportion with the surrounding structures.
The majority of breast implants are placed in a submuscular position. There are several advantages to this approach. These include more soft tissue coverage which results in fewer visible folds, creases, and ripples in the implant. This is especially important in women who have thin skin and minimal breast tissue who want saline implants. Another advantage of submuscular placement is a lower incidence of capsular contracture. This phenomena results in hardening and distortion of the breasts. Patients can also have significant pain with capsule formation. Capsular contracture can occur with the implant in either position but the incidence is higher when the implant is placed on top of the muscle. For these reasons, submusclar placement gives a more natural look in most cases.
Placement on top of the muscle should be considered in female body builders who have large muscles which can distort the implant during contraction. In women with breast sag, implants can be placed on top of the muscle to avoid a breast lift and scarring.
Every patient should be considered individually. It’s important that you meet with a board certified plastic surgeon who can help obtain your aesthetic goals.
Taking the next step
Your next step is to request a private consultation to discuss breast augmentation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. Request a complimentary cosmetic consultation with Aesthetic Surgical Images online or call (402) 390-0100 or (800) 331-5001. Remember to view our breast augmentation before-and-after gallery.
Why Choose Aesthetic Surgical Images
- For almost 20 years, Aesthetic Surgical Images in Omaha has earned a reputation as one of the top plastic surgery practices in the Midwest.
- Dr. Edney completed his 5-year residency in general surgery at Creighton University and subsequently received his board certification in general surgery.
- Dr. Marie Montag has been in practice since 1997 and is a Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
- Dr. Bruneteau completed a fellowship in microvascular surgery at the University of California and a fellowship in craniofacial surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston; also, is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
- Dr. Biggerstaff completed his plastic surgery training at the University of California, Irvine; also, he is Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.