Breast Augmentation
EXCELLENCE IN ORANGE COUNTY BREAST AUGMENTATION
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Breast Augmentation Overview
Definition
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure performed to increase the size of the breasts, and in some cases, improve shape, asymmetry or a deformity such as tubular breasts.
Surgery Information
Anesthesia - General
Facility - Accredited outpatient facility
Recovery - 5-7 days
Cost - View Pricing
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Joseph T Cruise, MD, Breast Augmentation Specialist
Year after year, breast augmentation remains the number one cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States. Women have breast augmentation for many reasons, including to obtain better body proportion, enjoy better fitting clothes and bikinis, improve self-confidence, and feel more feminine and sexy. Women who want breast augmentation are looking for the best plastic surgery results to achieve their aesthetic goals, which is why they come to Orange County breast augmentation surgeon Joseph T. Cruise, M.D.
The Look You Want
During your consultation with Dr. Joseph T. Cruise at his Newport Beach plastic surgery office, he will use your personal information and desired goals to help determine the "Look You Want" to achieve with breast augmentation surgery. This aspect of Dr. Cruise's software program allows women to visualize the different results possible with surgery and gives him a clear picture of the "Look You Want." This feature bridges the gap between patient-surgeon communication and greatly reduces the need for revision surgery due to unclear expectations.
Elite Credentials
Dr. Cruise is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, which is limited to cosmetic surgeons specializing in aesthetic surgery. In addition, Dr. Cruise has joined the Orange County Society of Plastic Surgeons, an esteemed local group dedicated to safety, excellence, and integrity in cosmetic surgeries such as breast augmentation. He is one of the top doctors for breast augmentation in the Orange County area. Because of his credentials and experience, many patients also seek him out for breast augmentation revision after having surgery elsewhere and not being happy with their result.
Dr. Joseph Cruise realizes that an important aspect of any surgery is the anesthesia and that many women are sensitive and suffer unpleasant effects from it. In order to offer patients the most comfortable breast augmentation procedures possible, Dr. Cruise only works with Orange County board-certified anesthesiologists who are specialists in cosmetic surgery and provide gentle, outpatient anesthesia. Below you can learn more about Dr. Cruise's primary anesthesiologist, Dr. Cedric Choan.
Procedure Details
Below we have categorized the most important and popular breast augmentation topics into sections. Reading through this information will help you become further educated about the breast augmentation procedure details.
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
Who is Not a Good Candidate?
Unlike many other cosmetic procedures, most patients are good candidates for breast augmentation in Newport Beach, CA. There are very few conditions that would cause a patient to be an unsuitable candidate. The two primary reasons someone is unable to have breast augmentation surgery:
- Serious underlying medical issue
- Patient takes regularly a prescribed medication that is not allowed when having surgery and cannot be stopped
The Look I Have
While most patients are eligible for breast augmentation surgery, there are some women who may also need a breast lift to achieve their desired result. If you have experienced significant weight loss and/or gain, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or just naturally have sagging breasts, Dr. Cruise may recommend a breast lift along with breast augmentation. Measurements will be taken during your consultation to determine whether or not a breast implant alone will provide the lift you need or if a breast lift with augmentation is needed.
Additional Information
During your consultation with Dr. Cruise, not only will he review your health history, but he will also provide a physical exam which will include measurements of your breasts and chest wall. This evaluation will help determine the best procedure, implant type, and incision location for your treatment plan. Please visit our physical exam page for more information.
Additional information:
Implant Types and Options
Augmentation Videos: Silicone & Saline
Saline Breast Implants
Saline breast implants have a silicone shell and are filled with a sterile salt water solution. They are inserted deflated into the breasts, and then filled once they are in place. The fill amount can be customized within a specific volume range based on the size and shape of the implants.
Silicone Breast Implants
Silicone breast implants are pre-filled with silicone gel, which is a thick, sticky fluid that is very similar in feel to human breast tissue. Many women feel that silicone implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue. To learn more about silicone breast implants, read our answers to the most frequently asked questions about them.
Additional info about Silicone and Saline Implants
Implant Placement
Implants can be placed in three different ways:
- Subglandular - Implant is placed on top of the muscle and under the breast tissue (gland) only.
- Partial Muscle Coverage - This position is also called Dual Plane. Only part of the implant is covered by the muscle.
- Complete Muscle Coverage - The entire implant is covered by the muscle.
Partial vs. Complete Muscle Coverage
Partial Muscle Coverage
Inside view of complete muscle coverage
Joseph T Cruise, MDs's Complete Sub-Muscular Coverage
To provide the best, longest-lasting breast augmentation results for his patients, Dr. Cruise performs this surgery by inserting the breast implants under complete breast muscle coverage. This means instead of placing the implant under just the pectoralis major muscle, as most plastic surgeons do, Dr. Cruise places the implant under additional muscles as well.
This complete muscle coverage technique has several important purposes, especially for Newport Beach, CA breast augmentation patients who desire close cleavage. Over time, breast implants often shift to the sides as breast tissue weakens, but full muscle coverage allows for closer cleavage with a reduced risk of cleavage widening.
Dr. Cruise likes to reference this as the "bookend" technique. Full muscle coverage acts like book ends, supporting the breast implants so they don't move laterally into the armpit. These stronger muscles are less likely to allow the implants to shift, and they provide a thick buffer that effectively reduces or prevents the skin rippling effect that can occur with other types of breast augmentation.
Partial vs. Complete Muscle Coverage
Partial muscle coverage
50% of implant uncovered
Complete muscle coverage
Complete lateral coverage of implant
Partial muscle coverage
Partial muscle coverage
Complete muscle coverage
Partial muscle coverage
Complete muscle coverage
Better cleavage as muscle prevent implants
from sliding
Benefits of Breast Augmentation with Complete Sub-Muscular Coverage
Complete muscle coverage adds coverage and support over the outer parts of the breast implants. This has two benefits:
- It prevents the implant from sliding outward, especially when laying on the back.
- It acts as a "bookend" to push the implants toward the midline, providing better cleavage.
The lower an implant is placed during a breast augmentation procedure, the more the implants will separate. Placing an implant low has the advantage of lifting the nipple slightly. However, lowering the implant too much may cause "bottoming out" and sliding of the implant toward the armpit.
High implants create more upper breast fullness, the appearance of a longer, thinner abdomen, and a perkier look for the breasts overall.
Low implants create lower breast fullness, a more concave slope to the upper breast, and give more lift to the nipples. However, lower implants mean less upper breast fullness, less cleavage, and a shorter abdomen.
Cleavage and Implant Placement
Implants High/Partial muscle coverage
Implants High/Complete muscle coverage
Implants Low/Partial muscle coverage
Implants Low/Complete muscle coverage
How is upper breast shape/fullness affected by implant position?
Implant position has a significant impact on overall breast appearance. Placing an implant in a high position actually means it is placed in the normal location of breast tissue. The implant is placed at the level of the breast crease. However, the breast fold is not lowered significantly. This will create more upper breast fullness and better cleavage.
Placing implants in a low position means that the implants are somewhat below the breast tissue. Lowering the breast fold a little will create a concave shape to the upper breast as demonstrated below. In addition, it will cause the nipple to elevate slightly. This may be useful in the borderline cases where a formal breast lift is not desired.
Lowering the fold too much will create a heavy, maternal look with no upper breast fullness. In general, if the nipples or the breasts are sagging, the best way to achieve a sexy, perky look is to raise them up.
Upper Breast Shape/Fullness and Implant Placement
Implants placed lower
Notice the softer appearing upper breast and elevated/lifted nipples.
Implants placed higher
Notice the enhanced upper breast fullness and lower nipples
Incision Placement
There are several places where incisions can be placed when undergoing breast enlargement. In many patients' cases, incision options are determined by the preference and experience of Dr. Cruise. There can also be circumstances pertaining to your breasts or implant choice, which will also impact placement of the incision.
- Inframmamory fold: Within the fold at the bottom of the breast.
- Peri-areolar: Exactly at the margin of the areola where the lighter skin meets the darker skin.
- Axillary: Within the axila (armpit).
- Transumbilical (TUBA): Upper inside edge of the belly button.
- Breast Lift Incisions: Donut, Lollipop, or Anchor.
More information is available on our Breast Augmentation Incisions Page.
Does Breast Augmentation Leave Scars?
Most women prefer not have visible scars from breast augmentation since it can make them look “operated on.” As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Cruise makes great effort to minimize breast augmentation scarring for the most natural-looking results.
With silicone implants, Dr. Cruise uses a funnel insertion device, which eases the effects of the surgery and decreases the size of the incision and of any potential scar. Furthermore, he puts meticulous detail into closing breast augmentation incisions and tapes them after surgery to reduce tension so the scars are more likely to remain thin and flat.
For a saline implant, the incision can be very small and inconspicuous, as the implant is inserted prior to being filled with the saltwater solution, ensuring scars are as minimal as possible. This technique is sometimes referred to as minimally invasive breast augmentation or endoscopic breast augmentation.
Design Your Look
Joseph T Cruise, MD has designed the "Look You Want" interactive diagram below to help his patients visually show what they want their breasts to look like after breast augmentation surgery.
Click the images below in our breast augmentation size simulator to select the look you want in each category and complete the submission process. You will be contacted by a Cruise Plastic Surgery staff member who will review your selections. You can also click TLIW in PDF format to print for your own use.
Healing Progression
Recovery Timeline - Understanding what to expect during recovery, as well as how long it will take you to be fully healed, is key when deciding when to having your surgery.
Learn how breast implants drop into their final position over the course of your healing process.
Breast Massage Videos
Below are two instructional videos about post-operative breast massage. One is for asymmetrical breast healing and other other for general healing.
Before & After Photos
Dr. Cruise has an extensive gallery of breast augmentation procedure before and after photos. You can see for yourself examples of his "close cleavage" approach as well as various results showing upper fullness vs. lower fullness and conservative vs. dramatic breast size. Achieving "The Look You Want" is the ultimate goal and can be achieved with top breast augmentation surgeon Dr. Joseph T Cruise, MD.
Schedule a Consultation for Breast Augmentation in Newport Beach, CA
With your initial consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Cruise, you'll soon realize the beautiful results you can achieve together. Patients love Dr. Cruise's innovative technique for achieving a natural-looking shape and enhanced volume through breast augmentation. If you are looking for the best breast augmentation surgeon in CA, he is an exceptional choice.
If you're ready to take the next step, or simply learn more about this procedure and what it can do for your appearance and self confidence, contact us today! You can reach Cruise Plastic Surgery by calling (949) 446-1421 or filling out our online contact form.
FAQ
Can breast implants last 30 years?
Can you breast feed after breast augmentation
Do breast implants cause autoimmune disease?
How do I know if my breast implant is leaking?
Is getting a breast augmentation worth it?
What is the difference between a breast augmentation and breast implants?
What are the risk of Breast Implants?
Do breasts sag after breast augmentation?
Does getting breast implants make you gain weight?
How dangerous is breast augmentation surgery?
How do you know if you have capsular contracture?
How long are breast augmentation incisions sore?
how much does breast augmentation cost?
Is there an alternative to breast implants?
What is the most common breast implant size?
Will Cigna cover breast augmentation?
Breast implant warranty?
Understanding capsular contracture?
Can fat be transferred to breasts?
Are breast implants under warranty?
Can I move my arms after breast augmentation?
Do you have to replace breast implants every 10 years?
Does insurance cover breast implants?
How long do breast implants last?
What are cohesive breast implants?
Breast feeding after Breast Augmentation?
Are silicone implants safe?
What happens if Breast Implants are not replaced?
Can breast implants cause pain years later?
How painful is breast augmentation recovery?
Is breast enlargement possible without surgery?
What are gummy bear implant?
What are Natrelle breast implants?
What can go wrong with breast implants?
What is the average cost of a breast augmentation?
Whats the safest breast implant?
Risks and possible complications?
For a full list of Breast Augmentation FAQ's, Click Here.