Dr. Jeffrey Hoefflin's breast augmentation is one of his most popular procedures he performs. Dr. Hoefflin, MD is a board certified plastic surgeon.
What is breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a surgery where either a silicone gel or saline implant can be placed through a variety of different incisions to create more beautiful and youthful appearing breasts. Breast enhancement can result is an improvement in your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Why do women seek breast augmentation?
While many women seek breast augmentation surgery to simply increase their breast size, others seek it to correct asymmetrical breasts, to improve the size and shape after an unsuccessful breast surgery, or to restore them to their original shape and appearance following breast cancer surgery or pregnancy. Dr. Hoefflin has extensive experience in each of these areas and has helped to restore the self-image of many women through this procedure.
Dr. Hoefflin's Caring Approach
Dr. Hoefflin strives to create a breast augmentation natural look that is both proportional to each patient’s body and symmetrical. During your consultation with Dr. Hoefflin, he will listen to your aesthetic goals and assist you in choosing between saline and silicone gel implants. He will review before and after breast augmentation photos with you of patients with similar goals and help you choose the breast size and shape that is right for you.
Dr. Hoefflin frequently performs other cosmetic breast procedures such as scarless breast reduction, traditional reduction, and breast lifts.
About Breast Augmentation Surgery
Dr. Hoefflin performs breast augmentation procedures in his state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center which conforms to the highest credentials. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, administered by one of our board-certified anesthesiologists.
Saline
Implants
An advantage of using a saline implant is that, if ruptured, the saline (salt solution) is absorbed by the body in most cases without complications. Additional benefits include the ability to subtly change the implant volume within the operating room to accommodate small differences in volume between the breasts. The disadvantage of saline is that they are more likely to demonstrate rippling in small-breasted or breast reconstructive patients after a mastectomy. For patients with little tissue to cover the implants, wrinkling or rippling of the implant may become visible.
Silicone
Implants
On November 17, 2006, the FDA approved silicone gel for primary augmentation procedures in women who are at least 22 years of age and healthy. The newer generation of silicone products is made with a thicker shell which reduces the spread of the silicone if rupture occurs. The advantage of silicone gel is a more natural feeling and appearing results after the augmentation. The disadvantage is a slightly larger incision must be performed to accommodate these types of implants. However, most breast augmentations in the United States today are performed using silicone implants which produce natural, beautiful, and youthful results.
Breast Implant Incision Sites
The breast implants are placed in the body through one of three common incision locations: around or along the bottom of the areola (periareolar), along the natural fold where the breast meets the chest wall (inframammary), or through the top area of the breast near the armpit (transaxillary).
Breast implants can be accomplished through several procedures. These may be placed:
- Through the arm pit (transaxillary)
- Lower part of the areolar (periareolar)
- Through the breast fold (inframammary)
What about Implant Placement?
A breast implant can be placed above or beneath the muscle and Dr. Hoefflin typically places these beneath the muscle (submuscular) whenever possible to allow for more tissue coverage. This can help reduce the incidence of visibility or rippling and provide a more natural and beautiful result.
Implant Location
Dr. Hoefflin performs breast augmentation surgery using the specialized “dual-plane” technique. Using this technique, he places part of the breast implant below the pectoral muscle and part of the implant above it. This gives a slight lift, provides long-lasting results, and offers a natural, youthful appearance.
What should I expect after surgery?
Dr. Hoefflin’s patients typically experience very little pain due to the anesthetics used during the procedure and the oral pain medications prescribed for post-operative comfort. Moderate swelling and bruising in the days after breast augmentation surgery is common. Most patients can return to their normal routine within a week after surgery. However, we encourage patients to wait two weeks post-surgery before resuming light exercise, and patients should wait several weeks longer to resume vigorous activity.
Read about implants exercisesTestimonials
Dr Hoefflin is the most Gentle Doctor I have ever known. He is informative and lets u know exactly how you will feel after your surgery, he calls you the next day to check on you and there are several post surgery visits.
excellent! very professional! I had liposuction and a transfer to another area of my body and I already feel great! I am so happy to refer my friends and family to Dr. Hoefflin without hesitation. I am very excited for the summer and very happy with my results.
Dr. Jeff Hoefllin is a fabulous plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, CA. He is very pleasant and goes the extra mile to confirm you are in the best health before your cosmetic surgery so that your recovery is quick. I am very happy with my results and would highly recommend Jeffrey Hoefflin, MD, FACS to anyone thinking of have any kind of breast augmentation surgery.
Love Love Love this man! Firstly, his office is gorgeous, what a pleasure to go to! Secondly, his staff are all so pleasant and sweet. His staff, they are professional, returning calls and accommodating with appts. I am thrilled with the out come of my procedure. I needed something fixed and he did just that. Dr. Hoefflin is so kind and patient and really cares about his work and it shows. I will be going back to him. It is a pleasure to work with him and his staff. I love my outcome!!
By far the best Doctor I have ever visited! Dr. Hoefflin is patient, understanding, professional and he really listens to any concerns/questions that you may have. I could not recommend him more highly for Botox or Breast Augmentation. I am extremely happy with the results of my surgery and then started seeing Dr. Hoefflin for injections. I have been referring him to all of my friends. The office and staff are extremely gracious, comfortable, and a more than friendly environment. Very comfortable and friendly environment..
Safety of Breast Implants
Many people are concerned about the safety of both silicone and saline breast implants. Dr. Hoefflin uses only FDA-approved breast implants, and numerous studies have shown both silicone and saline implants to be safe. We want you to be as informed about your procedure as possible. If you have questions about the safety of implants, Dr. Hoefflin would be happy to discuss concerns with you during your consultation.
To learn if you are a candidate for implant surgery, contact board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hoefflin and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Revision Breast Augmentation
One area of Dr. Hoefflin’s expertise is both primary and secondary (revisional) breast augmentation. As such, he performs augmentation surgery using all types of both saline and silicone breast implants. As important is the decision of incisional placement and pocket location of the implant, is the type of implant itself. The kind of breast implants that patients can choose from include a variety of shapes, sizes, and projections. The type selected should be based on your physical and soft-tissue characteristics, as well as your aesthetic goals.
Dr. Hoefflin's Breast Augmentation Faq's
Am I candidate for breast augmentation with breast implants?
Women have breast augmentation for a variety of personal reasons. Breast implants can increase the size of your breast, correct the breast volume that may have been lost after pregnancy or weight loss, correct an imbalance or asymmetry in breast size, restore better body proportions, or be performed for revision breast surgery or reconstructive purposes following breast cancer surgery.
Who should not have breast augmentation surgery?
Women who are not eligible for breast augmentation surgery are those who are presently pregnant, breastfeeding, have an active infection anywhere in the body, are under the age of 18, or have a malignant or pre-malignant breast cancer for which they have not yet received adequate treatment.
What should I expect during my initial consultation?
Your selection of a board-certified plastic surgeon is as important as your decision to undergo surgery itself. Your initial consultation with Dr. Hoefflin is an opportunity for you to discuss your desired aesthetic goals. It is helpful to bring a list of questions and concerns that can be specifically addressed during the consult. Commonly discussion topics include saline versus silicone implants, implant placement, incisions, and recovery after your procedure. Additionally, you may bring example before and after photographs of your desired results.
Why is important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon?
Your selection of a surgeon is as important as your decision to undergo cosmetic surgery itself. Many patients do not know that in most states, a licensed physician may perform plastic surgery without being board-certified in plastic surgery. This means someone not trained in Plastic Surgery could be performing your surgery.
The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Selecting a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery provides that your physician has completed the necessary and extensive training to perform plastic surgery and help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
What are breast implants made from?
Breast implants come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and profiles. They are also available with either a textured or smooth surface shell. Breast implants can either be filled with saline (salt water) or silicone gel, depending upon the patient’s tissue characteristics and desired aesthetic goals.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of saline implants?
Most breast augmentations over the last fifteen years have been performed with saline implants. One advantage of saline breast implants is that if ruptured, the saline (salt solution) is absorbed by the body without fear of complication. An additional benefit is the ability to subtly change the implant volume to accommodate for small differences between the breasts within the operating room. A disadvantage is that saline implants are more likely to demonstrate implant rippling in small-breasted patients.
What are silicone gel implants made from?
Silicone gel breast implants use the same silicone elastomer shell as saline breast implants, but use silicone gel instead of saline to fill the implants.
What are cohesive gel breast implants?
Cohesive breast implants were invented in the early 1990′s. These breast implants were designed to provide a long-lasting implant with a more attractive and predictable shape. These implants, also known as gummy bear implants, are more cohesive, meaning they are less liquid like and more solid than their predecessors.
What are the advantages of silicone breast implants?
Silicone gel implants tend to be softer and more natural feeling than saline implants. They are less prone to visible implant rippling or wrinkling. They are lighter than saline breast implants. The unique qualities of today’s silicone gel-filled breast implants help make silicone implants the implant of choice.
Am I candidate for silicone breast implants?
Prior to 2006, it was necessary for patients to enroll in a clinical study to receive breast silicone gel implants. The FDA then determined that silicone implants were safe and should be made available for general usage. Now, all women ages 22 and older can elect to undergo breast augmentation with silicone gel implants.
Are silicone implants safe?
In 2006, the FDA approved silicone gel implants for primary breast augmentation procedures in women who are at least 22 years of age and healthy. The newer generation of silicone breast implants are made with a thicker shell which reduces the spread of the silicone if rupture occurs. Multiple medical studies have demonstrated no connection between silicone implants and various cancers or connective tissue diseases.
Are breast implants now available in more natural-looking shapes?
Saline and silicone gel breast implants come in a variety of breast implant profiles (or projections)
- High profile implants provide patients with more superior fullness and greater projection by using a smaller diameter implant. These implants are ideal in women with a very narrow frame. They are frequently used in those who wish to avoid the lateral fullness or “rounded” appearance of moderate profile implants. An additional benefit of the high-profile breast augmentation is that the vertical height of the implant is made higher, which may reduce visible rippling.
- Moderate or ‘normal’ profile breast implants are the standard implant used in breast augmentation surgery. With a full and more rounded appearance, they can add a significant amount of dimension and volume to a woman’s breast.
- Low profile breast implants have less projection per measurement of base diameter than a moderate profile breast implant, and are typically used in wide framed patients or in breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
During your consultation with Dr. Hoefflin, the various options and techniques for both implant selection and placement for breast augmentation and breast enhancement will be discussed at length.
What is the preferred breast implant placement?
Dr. Hoefflin performs a “dual-plane” technique for his breast augmentations. In this specialized approach, a portion of the implant is placed beneath the pectoralis muscle (submuscular), and another portion placed above the muscle (subglandular). The result is a more natural and youthful appearance. This advanced technique avoids the rippling appearance of other surgical approaches. In rare exceptions where patients demonstrate excessive loose and sagging tissue, subglandular (above the muscle) placement may be the preferred approach.
What incisions are used in breast augmentation surgery?
Breast implants may be placed through one of four different incisions: the lower edge of the areola (periareolar), along the natural breast fold (inframammary), through the armpit (transaxillary), or through the belly button (transumbilical or scarless approach).
What is revision breast augmentation?
Per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 300,000 augmentations were performed in 2017. Inevitably, a substantial portion of women will have to undergo revision breast surgery, in which implants are replaced or problems from the earlier surgery corrected.
The most common indications for breast augmentation revision surgery are to change the implant size, placement of the implant, or to correct the breast shape or appearance due to implant rippling, capsular contraction or breast asymmetry. Implant rippling can often be visible as the result of saline implants placed in a subglandular position (above the muscle). Dr. Hoefflin may recommend changing to silicone implants in a submuscular (below the muscle) position.
Can a breast augmentation and breast lift be performed at the same time?
Yes, Dr. Hoefflin frequently performs breast lifts (mastopexy) and breast augmentations at the same time. Because of his expertise in breast surgery, Dr. Hoefflin performs all techniques in achieving beautiful breast lifts, including the periareolar (Benelli, donut), vertical, or keyhole (anchor, wise) pattern techniques. Dr. Hoefflin closes all incisions himself, and makes every effort to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible. Breast lifts are complex operations that should be performed by properly qualified and board-certified plastic surgeons.
Can I increase the size of my implants?
Dr. Hoefflin places an emphasis on natural and youthful attractive breasts. Changing your current breast implant size is one of the more common reasons for undergoing breast augmentation revision surgery.
Breast implants are offered in an assortment of sizes. At the lower volume range, many implants are produced in 25cc increments, i.e., 200cc, 225cc, 250cc, 275cc, etc. It is unlikely if you upsize your implants by 25cc’s, that you’ll see an appreciable difference. However, by increasing your current size by 50cc or 100cc’s will make the difference noticeable.
Can a woman breastfeed after breast augmentation?
Yes, if a woman is deemed capable of breastfeeding prior to her breast augmentation surgery, then the breast implants should not interfere with the breastfeeding process. However, up a substantial portion of small-breasted women are not able to breast-feed successfully before surgery. It is likely that breast implants will not have any effect on the breast-feeding process.
Does Dr. Hoefflin use drains with breast augmentations?
Drains are not routinely used on primary (or initial) breast augmentations. However, drains may be used in revision breast augmentations or breast reconstructions.
What types of anesthesia are used?
Dr. Hoefflin performs breast augmentation as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia, as administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. The procedure generally takes about one hour. All operations are performed in fully credentialed and state-of-the-art surgical facilities.
Should I expect pain after the procedure?
Our patients are surprisingly free of pain due to the tumescent local anesthesia that is used. Most patients describe the recovery process as a mild discomfort. Most patients tell us they feel much better than expected following their surgery and can return to work and social activities within several days following surgery. Light exercise can be resumed after several weeks and an unrestricted return to all activities within six weeks.
What is the recovery like after a breast augmentation?
Patients are discharged home with light dressings and a comfortable, form-fitting bra. Soft bra support (without underwires) is encouraged for 4 to 6 weeks. Meticulously placed self-absorbing sutures are placed. Slight to moderate bruising and swelling are common for several weeks. A self-massaging protocol is initiated after several weeks to maintain both breast and implant softness.
When can I wear an underwire bra?
Breast augmentation patients should wait 6 weeks after their surgery before wearing underwire bras. For the first several months after breast implant surgery, your body will be forming scar tissue around the implant. During this time, the pressure of the wires could cause the scar tissue to form in such a way that an indentation from the wires could become permanent.
How long should I wait to resume exercise after breast implant surgery?
Patients can return to light or non-strenuous workouts after several weeks, with a full return to all activities after four to six weeks, or when given an okay from our plastic surgeon.
What are the risks of breast augmentation surgery?
When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, the risk of serious problems after a breast augmentation are rare. Most complications are minor, temporary, and can be easily resolved. Complications may include infection, hematoma, capsular contraction, symmetry, symmastia, implant malposition, or the need for additional or revision breast surgery. You can reduce your risk of complications by closely following your surgeon’s instructions both before and after surgery.
What is capsular contraction?
The body’s normal healing response is to create a capsule around your breast implants. This capsule is composed of protein and collagen. In some patients, capsular contracture may occur in which the capsule tightens, and subsequently may cause pain and aesthetic deformity. Capsular contracture is more common following infection, hematoma, or seroma. It is also seen more frequently following subglandular (above the muscle) implant placement. Surgery may be necessary in cases where pain and firmness is severe.
What can I do to minimize bruising?
Aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, Advil, and virtually all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents thin the blood and can promote bruising. In addition, anything herbal, red wine, and homeopathic medications can do the same. To minimize bruising, it’s advisable to avoid these products for 10 days before a treatment.
Does Dr. Hoefflin offer financing?
Yes, we offer financing to make our plastic surgery procedures more affordable to our patients. To learn more about our financing programs, click here.
How can I get more information about a breast augmentation?
To learn if you are a candidate for breast augmentation surgery, contact our offices for a complimentary consultation.