Before and After Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Breast Implants Minneapolis
Dr. Wire performs breast augmentation surgery using breast implants at his Chaska practice, for Twin Cities-area patients. For more information, we invite you to continue reading, as we provide answers to some common questions below. Then contact our Minneapolis-area office to learn whether breast implants are right for you.
How do I choose implants that are an ideal size for me?
Whether you desire a minor augmentation or significantly larger breasts, we offer you many opportunities to experience different sizes prior to selecting an implant.
In our office, our experienced staff will assist you in trying various sizes so that you may arrive at a decision that is best for you. We have silicone (gel) implant sizers that are identical to those used in the augmentation procedure. These may be placed within an oversized bra so that you may gain a sense of the look and feel of your surgical selection.
If you have any doubts about your choice after your initial sizing session, we would very much like for you to return for another appointment. We aim to offer you the upmost opportunities to consider your options, and some patients feel they need more than one session to make the best decision for them. In addition, we offer sizing kits that you may take home and use in privacy, at your convenience.
How are implants sized, in general?
Implants are sized in cc/ml (cubic centiliters or milliliters) and they range from 200cc–800cc in size. The most common implants are between 300cc and 400cc, which results in a bra cup that increases by one to two sizes. To offer some perspective, a 12-ounce can of soda is 355cc.
Are there complications associated with implants?
Generally, implants that are large will cause the breasts to appear less natural, and more like the implants. Similarly, smaller implants will result in breasts that appear more natural. Larger implants tend to stretch the breasts.
The fact that very large implants may appear more conspicuous is not necessarily a reason to select small implants, as many women desire breasts that appear augmented. However, larger implants can cause complications over time. The chances of a patient’s breasts rippling, stretching, drooping, and feeling firm to the touch increase when her implants are extremely large, and these conditions may require future surgeries.
How can I learn more about how I will look after breast augmentation?
After we work with you to select an implant size, you may spend time reviewing our vast library of before-and-after photographs. When you see photos of women who are similar to you, with different implant sizes, you can gain a better understanding of how your overall results will appear.
What is the cost of a breast augmentation, and is financing available?
At the conclusion of your consultation with Dr. Wire, you will receive a price quotation that encompasses all of the costs associated with either a subglandular or a subpectoral procedure.
We will work with you to finance your procedure in a way that is convenient. We accept financing through CareCredit® and CosmetiCare, as well as major credit cards.
Where does the surgery take place, and what can I expect?
A subglandular procedure can be performed in our office. It does not require general anesthesia, though you will be given oral sedatives or nitrous oxide to help you relax. After sedatives are administered, Dr. Wire injects a local anesthetic into the breast in order to numb the tissue. Your comfort is monitored by nursing staff throughout the procedure. As you are not put under general anesthesia for a subglandular augmentation, residual effects of anesthesia such as nausea and lethargy are obviated.
After the subglandular procedure is finished, you will be monitored in our office until you are comfortable and feel strong enough to return home. We insist that you arrange transportation home following the procedure, as you are not allowed to drive after taking oral sedatives.
The subpectoral procedure is performed using general anesthesia and requires the care of a board-certified anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist. Because this surgical process is more elaborate and invasive, Dr. Wire performs subpectoral augmentations at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee.
Candidates for subpectoral augmentation surgery will need to undergo a preoperative physical with their primary care physicians prior to surgery. This is routine, and necessary to ensure you are in optimal condition for surgery.
Subpectoral augmentations take about one hour to perform, and after surgery you will be brought out of anesthesia and taken to a post-surgical suite to rest until you are alert and strong enough to leave the facility. You will need a ride home due to the effects of general anesthesia.
After surgery, how long will it take to recover? Will it be painful?
The recovery period that follows a subglandular augmentation is relatively straightforward and painless. You will be prescribed an antibiotic and Vicodin®, and are advised to take Tylenol® at recommended intervals. The incisions made during the procedure will be sealed with absorbable sutures and covered with an occlusive plastic dressing that protects the area. This allows you to shower and bathe immediately, without having to worry that the bandages might deteriorate.
The recovery process that follows a subpectoral breast augmentation is usually more prolonged than that which follows a subglandular procedure. This is due to the fact that the implant is placed underneath the pectoralis muscle, which, during the course of surgery, has been stretched. Patients recovering from subpectoral augmentations liken the feeling to pulling a muscle while exercising. The pain is typically described as soreness; some women compare it to the full engorgement they may have experienced during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Typically, this pain subsides over the course of the initial days that follow the surgery. It is easily alleviated by icing the area and taking medications such as Vicodin® or Tylenol®. In addition, Dr. Wire recommends specific exercises early in the recovery process, to alleviate discomfort.
After either type of augmentation, patients are cautioned to avoid pain relievers that could cause complications such as bleeding. Aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil®, Motrin®, and other NSAIDS (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) thin the blood and this may put you at risk for a postoperative hematoma. In the rare instances when this occurs (1% of cases), the patient must undergo anesthesia again in order for the blood to be drained and the implant replaced.
During the week following the placement of breast implants at our Minneapolis offices, patients are advised to refrain from running, heavy lifting, or engaging in strenuous exercise. Any activities that could significantly raise your blood pressure or heart rate might cause a risk of hematoma, and are therefore discouraged. Light activities such as walking, typing at a computer, reading a book, shopping, or dining out are acceptable.
What follow-up care should I expect? How long will it be before my breasts appear normal?
The first postoperative appointment is scheduled within two to three days after surgery. This allows Dr. Wire to assess the results, answer any questions, and provide further information about the recovery process.
Patients who undergo a subglandular augmentation will notice the final results of the procedure more readily than those who have a subpectoral augmentation. This is because the implant settles into position relatively quickly after placement under the gland. Some bruising and swelling may be apparent, but this typically diminishes within two weeks.
Patients who have had a subpectoral augmentation may experience more swelling and bruising. This is due to the position of the implants under the muscle. As the tissue relaxes during the weeks that follow the procedure, the implants will “drop” to a more natural position and the tenderness of the breasts will subside. At this point, the surgical incisions will soften and diminish in appearance, and patients may resume all physical activities without risk of injury or damage to the implants.
There are a total of two to three appointments during the month that follows a breast augmentation, depending your needs and condition.
A final postoperative appointment is scheduled six months after either type of augmentation. By this time, you will have recovered and the results of your procedure will be evident.
If my breasts have inconsistencies in their appearance now, will an augmentation change that?
Individual characteristics such as asymmetries in nipple position or location, or dimensions of the fold under the breast, will not change after an augmentation. The procedure is intended solely to enlarge the cup size of the breasts.
