Breast Augmentation is a surgical procedure to increase the size and/or alter the shape of a woman's breasts through the use of an artificial implant. This procedure, also called augmentation mammaplasty, can be tailored to meet your needs. We can increase your breast size to improve overall attractiveness. We also can improve your body symmetry if you have had reconstructive surgery or have one breast that is larger than the other.

Our Technique

This surgery normally takes 2 to 2 1/2 hours and is usually outpatient, meaning you will go home a couple of hours after the procedure. Most patients go under IV sedation or general anesthesia. The surgery begins with an incision, typically made either in the crease underneath the breast, the armpit, or the perimeter of the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). In order to achieve the most natural appearing breasts, Dr. Hunsicker’s preferred incision in the crease. However, she will work with you to choose the best incision site to meet your goals.

Through the incision, Dr. Hunsicker will create a pocket for your implant. This pocket is typically formed underneath the muscle in your chest. She always takes great care in creating this pocket as this is a critical element in achieving the overall look of your breasts. She will insert sizing implants to help refine both shape and size, going back to “re-work” the pocket as needed. Once she has achieved the desired shape and size, she will replace the sizing implant with a permanent implant. Dr. Hunsicker never requires you to select your implant prior to surgery. Based on your pre-operative measurements and desired goals, she always orders a range of implants to have available during the surgery. In this way she can use the sizing implants to find exactly which permanent implant is right for you. She will typically close your incision using a combination of internal sutures (that will dissolve on their own) and Dermabond (a surgical “super-glue”) on the skin surface. This combination helps to achieve minimal scaring. She will also insert very small catheters (tiny tubes) that are connected to an external pain pump that will deliver numbing medication into your breast pockets for the first few days. You will also have additional medication to aid with any additional discomfort.

You will likely experience some swelling and discomfort the first few days. This is greatly reduced by the pain pump and prescription pain medication, but you will likely still feel “pressure” until your tissue stretches to accommodate the implants. Your pain pump is removed in 3-4 days. During the first week or two after surgery, you may notice that your implants seem to be too high. This is caused by a spasm of your chest muscles (which is also the cause of the discomfort alleviated by the pain pump). As with all muscle spasms, these will subside and your implants will begin dropping into a more natural position. During the first two weeks after surgery you will wear an ace bandage to aid in both providing adequate support and helping the implants to drop properly. You also will not be able to drive for one week after surgery. You will have some lifting and physical activity restrictions for approximately 6 weeks, but most people can return to work in about 1 week.

Our Before & After Photos

Patient One

This is a 45 year old woman who is 5’7” and 138 lbs with 4 children. At the height of breast feeding she was a D-cup, but eventually went back to her previous size of 32B. She wanted to fill her breasts back out and hoped to be a full C cup. Her implants are 350 cc Mentor Smooth Round Moderate Profile. The right is filled to 360 cc and the left to 375 cc in an effort to correct some asymmetry. These after photos are only at 2 weeks following surgery, but show the implants dropping into a very natural shape. They will continue to drop a slight bit to give her even better final result.

Before	Before	Before
After - 2 weeks	After - 2 weeks	After - 2 weeks

Patient Two

This is a 46 year old woman who is 5’5” and 110 lbs who has 3 children (aged 16, 22, & 26). She complained of having “deflated” breasts since raising her children. She was a B-cup and wanted to be fuller and lifted into a C-cup though breast augmentation. She was afraid that she would need a lift as well as augmentation in order to achieve her desired look, but the scarring of a lift was unappealing to her. After her consultation with Dr. Hunsicker, she was relieved to know that she could accomplish her goals with just an augmentation. We used 300 cc Mentor Smooth Round Moderate Profile Saline implants, that were filled to 325 cc’s. She now has her full C cup and says they have definitely helped her with her artistic nude modeling!

Before	Before	Before
After - 2 months	After - 2 months	After - 2 months

Patient Three

This is a 5’4”, 152 lb, 31 year old woman who is very athletic and has not had children. She was a 34 B-cup and wished to be enlarged to a full C-cup or small D-cup. Her implants are 375 cc Mentor Smooth Round Moderate Profile Saline filled to 425 cc. Six months after her surgery she said she is much more confident with her appearance and “loves the results!” She is looking forward to another procedure with Dr. Hunsicker.

Before	Before	Before
After - 6 months	After - 6 months	After - 6 months

Patient Four

This 38 year old woman is 5’4” and weighed 110 lbs. She was originally an A cup but increased to a full C cup while she breast fed her child. After completion of breastfeeding she ended up a 36 AA-cup. She wanted a breast augmentation to restore her to a full B cup size. Mentor Smooth Round Moderate Profile Saline implants were used for her. In order to correct a slight asymmetry, Dr. Hunsicker used 350 cc implant filled to 375 cc’s on the right side and a 375 cc implant on her left side that was filled to 425 cc’s. At 8 months she is fully healed and a full B cup. She loves the results!

Before	Before	Before
After - 8 months	After - 8 months	After - 8 months

Patient Five

This is a 42 year old woman who 5’4” and 119 lbs. She complained of saggy, flat breasts after breast-feeding her two children. She was a 36 A-cup but did not fill the cup entirely and wished to have a round, firm appearance. Her implants are 250 cc Mentor Smooth Round Moderate Profile Saline implants with her right side filled to 270 cc’s and her left side filled to 275 cc’s to give her full C cups. During her 2 year appointment she told us, “They’re perfect! I absolutely love my breasts!”

Before	Before	Before
After - 2 years	After - 2 years	After - 2 years

As with any surgical procedure, complications from breast augmentation, although rare, do exist. The specific risks, as well as suitability, for any given individual cannot be determined until the time of consultation. While we hope this information is helpful, it can not substitute for a consultation. We invite you to contact us at 720-283-2500 or online to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hunsicker. Together, you can determine if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation as well as specific risks and complications that may occur.

For more detailed information please visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) ®