Breast Augmentation Surgeon in Newport Beach

A successful breast augmentation starts with having a clear vision of what you want. – Dr. Brian Dickinson

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation surgery is a very common cosmetic procedure in the United States. It is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia where the surgeon uses saline or silicone implants to create a larger breast size and shape. Depending on their type of work, patients can return to work in a matter of days and can begin exercising within 3 to 4 weeks.

Achieving a happy patient is an important part of Dr. Dickinson’s practice. To ensure you are happy with the results, you will discuss every element of the procedure during your consultation, including what methods will be used during surgery. Bringing pictures to the consultation is helpful, but not required.

Above or Below the Muscle

One of the more common questions that patients ask in consultation is whether to put the implant above or below the muscle. Either location is fine. What usually determines whether to put the implant above or below the muscle is how thin the patient is in the upper pole of the breast. In very thin patients who may want a larger implants, the implant is best placed below the muscle. In a patient who has more breast tissue or greater soft tissue coverage the implant can be placed above the muscle. Silicone implants tend to be more forgiving above the muscle in terms of rippling than saline implants.

Below the Muscle and Breast Crease Augmentation

Below the Muscle | Breast Crease Incision

Incision Choice

There are four different access points for placing a breast implant. The implant can be placed through the armpit (axillae), through the areola, through the breast crease (inframammary fold), or with saline through the belly button (umbilicus). There are several advantages and occasional limitations to each incision.

Natural Look Breast Augmentation – Areola Incision

Selecting Your Type of Implant

There are two different types of implants, saline and silicone. The outer shell of either implant is the same, it is a silicone elastomer. So whether you have saline or silicone implants, you have a silicone shell in your body. What differs is what goes on the inside. The saline implants are filled with saline in the operating room, the silicone implants are pre-filled with a certain volume. The specifics of the different types of implants can be discussed in consultation.

Natural Looking Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone Breast Implants Augmentation

Size of Implant and Profile of Implant

Saline Breast Implant – Newport Beach

Every woman has a unique physical build and desired appearance. The Professional who would like a subtle increase in size. The Runway Model who must work within the limitations that the agency allows. The fitness model or elite athlete who wants to complete their curves.

The sizing for breast augmentation tends to be the area where we spend the most time for breast augmentation. In the mid-portion of the consultation, we spend time measuring the chest wall diameter and then the base diameter and cup measurements of the breast. This gives us a similar ground of breast augmentation size to have a discussion on where to go in terms of size.

Patients are asked to bring a sports bra to the consultation. The patient places silicone sizers inside the sports bra. The silicone sizers give us an idea of how the implants will look after the procedure.

The breast implants come in different profiles. Different profiles of implants are usually selected depending upon the volume of augmentation that the patient desires compared to the dimensions of her chest wall.

The Breast Augmentation Procedure

Breast augmentation surgery is a common outpatient procedure, that often has the patient back to being very functional in just a few days. However, to achieve the best possible results, it is important to follow post-operative protocols to ensure that healing is optimized.

Week 1: For the first week after surgery, patients are instructed to do only purposeful walking. Patients may walk to the bathroom, walk to eat dinner, walk to church, etc.

Week 2: During the second week, patients can walk as if they were shopping at the mall.

Week 3: Patients may ride the stationery bike for exercise. No heavy lifting or significant arm motion.

Week 4: Patients can return to the gym and may do light arm exercises such as biceps and triceps.

Week 6-8: After weeks 6 to 8, patients can return to unlimited physical activity.

Some soreness is normal and can often be a guide to limit the amount of post-operative activity. Dr. Brian Dickinson does his best to perform breast augmentation procedures with minimal bruising, down time, and attempts to ensure maximum comfort after your procedure. It is important for patients to follow the post-operative protocol to minimize post-operative complications.

Choosing Your Breast Augmentation Surgeon

Breast augmentation procedures comprise a category of surgeries ranging from augmentation, mastopexy or breast lift. Breast implants are mechanical devices that may change over time or fatigue, necessitating removal and replacement. Furthermore, the body may create an aggressive capsule around the implant known as a capsular contracture. It is important to have these changes corrected by a plastic and reconstructive surgeon to optimize the aesthetic outcome.

Common changes that may occur with breast implants or breast procedures include: lack of superior fullness, unnatural movement with chest muscle contraction, synmastia, capsular contracture, implant malposition, and expanded subpectoral pockets. When these changes occur, it is important to select a surgeon who is knowledgeable in the management of these problems.

Dr. Dickinson is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with additional training in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery of the breast. That specialized knowledge, technical skill, and pre-operative planning is ideal for both reconstructive and aesthetic breast related procedures.

Tuberous Breast Reconstruction

Tuberous Breast Deformity Breast Reconstruction

Capsular Contracture Breast Reconstruction

"I had my breast augmentation with Dr. D. He gave me exactly what I wanted. I love my breasts. He is the best. Thank you Dr. D!"
- CDJ , May 12, 2016
"Dr. D, is an amazing knowledgeable doctor. He answered all my questions and concerns. I am so happy with my breast augmentation, they’re perfect. Thank you Dr Dickinson for being there for me, listening to me and giving me exactly what I wanted"
- Kimberly Durant , April 23, 2016
"He is nice and genuine. I could tell he really cared about my outcome and my experience. I have always thrown up after surgery in the past with other doctors. He gave me medication for nausea before surgery so I would not get sick. It worked. I had my breast augmentation without throwing up. My result is awesome. I could not have asked for a smoother experience."
- Dr. D. is simply great! , April 4, 2016
"Dr. Dickinson is amazing!!!! He is super funny and really puts your mind at ease. I am three weeks post op breast augmentation. I am 122 pounds and got 425ccs and I love them!!! They look perfect and he was sooo amazing. I don’t have any scarring or bruising and very little pain. He is very caring and really cares about his patients. He is also very thorough with explaining the procedure. I will recommend him to everyone I know!!! He is the best."
- Chrissy , June 18, 2015