Breast Augmentation
at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C.

Yes, although some additional care and attention may be necessary. Many factors, even natural deposits of calcium, may be mistaken for possible cancer where none exists and it is possible that breast implants may make the interpretation of mammographic images more difficult by obscuring underlying breast tissue or compressing overlying tissue. However, numerous advancements in imaging technology have helped to alleviate that concern. Breast augmentation patients should undergo a pre-operative mammogram and another one six months to 1 year after receiving breast implants in order to establish a baseline that allows doctors to better differentiate between the breast implant and new tissue growth. The FDA recommends that women undergo an MRI scan three years after receiving saline breast implants and every two years thereafter in order to detect any evidence of a rupture or leak. Women with breast implants should always inform mammography and MRI technicians about the presence and type of their implants so that the technician can use special techniques to minimize the possibility of rupture and to get the best possible views of the breast tissue.

Recent advances in plastic surgery technology have made it possible to achieve an increase in the size of the breasts through the use of a procedure called fat transfer. This involves removing a small amount of fat from one area of the patient’s own body, like the thighs or abdomen, using liposuction.  This fat can then be processed and purified into a liquid form and injected directly into other areas of the body, like the buttocks or breasts, increasing volume and projection. While not necessarily suitable for all patients, one or more fat transfer treatments can potentially be used to “soften” the breast implant edges at the transition zone, creating a more natural looking final result, or to add long-lasting volume without the need for artificial implants.