Is Breast Augmentation painful?

Most patients find breast augmentation surgery to be painless since it is performed under anesthesia. During immediate recovery, however, you will experience swelling, bruising, pain, and general discomfort but Dr. Yu will prescribe you pain medications to help manage this. They will also provide you with post-operative instructions to follow that will help ease your recovery and healing process to achieve the best results.

How many appointments will I need?

After your Breast Augmentation, Dr. Yu will have you return the following day and the day after your surgery so they can monitor your recovery and remove any sutures and bandages. You can expect another appointment in six to eight weeks, followed by another one three months post-surgery, then again six months later. You may also have some photos taken at one of your final check-ups for a comparison photo.

How long until I see results?

While your breast augmentation results could be immediately noticeable depending on the change in your breasts’ appearance, you will be swollen and bruised for a few weeks as you heal. In the following months of the procedure, your breasts will continue to go through changes, normally requiring about three to four months to show their new self in their full glory.

Can I combine Breast Augmentation with other procedures?

Yes, indeed! Many women in the Los Angeles and Pasadena area will combine their breast augmentation with a Breast Lift to improve sagging breasts and an overall perkier bust appearance, or another body contouring cosmetic procedure, such as a Brazilian Butt Lift or a Tummy Tuck . We recommend that you share any such intentions of combined procedures with Dr. Yu at your initial consultation so that they can offer you their expert advice on the most recommended pathway for your medical profile.

What are the risks associated with Breast Augmentation?

Since Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa is a firm believer in full disclosure, we choose to share the potential complications of every cosmetic breast enhancement procedure. For a Breast Augmentation, this can include: Anesthesia risks Bleeding Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) or other very rare cancers in the capsule around the breast, such as breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC) Capsular contracture Changes in nipple or breast sensation Fluid accumulation Hematoma Implant leakage or rupture Infection Persistent pain Poor scarring Possibility of revision surgery Wrinkling of the skin over the implant Wrong or faulty position of the implant Patient safety is incredibly important to our team, so if you experience any of the previously mentioned reactions or long-lasting side effects, please contact our office immediately so that we can help. If the side effects seem very serious, do not hesitate to call 911.

Breast Augmentation

In Los Angeles

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Introduction to Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation, being one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world, allows women the opportunity to achieve the bosom that they have always wanted. Whether it’s because of lost breast volume, genetics, or general dissatisfaction, the size of a woman’s breast can affect their self-esteem and confidence. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Arthur Yu at Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa in Arcadia offers Breast Augmentation in the Los Angeles and Pasadena area to patients looking for such alterations and breast rejuvenation. To learn more about this procedure, please continue reading the information below.

Breast Augmentation Results

Breast Augmentation B&A

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What is Breast Augmentation?

Breast Augmentation, also known as augmentation mammoplasty, is an FDA-approved surgical procedure that uses implants or naturally repurposed body fat to increase the size of a woman’s breasts, addressing issues such as asymmetry, dissatisfaction with size, contour, or other factors.

Breast implant surgery utilizes saline or silicone implants. The entry route could be from periareolar, infra-mammary, trans-axillary, or through the belly button (trans-umbilical). Even fancier, if a tummy tuck is done concomitantly, the breast implants could even be placed through the tummy tuck opening, thus avoiding any visible sign of an incision wound for the augmentation. It could still be a great choice for people who desire larger breasts without any available fat, or for people who just want to have one surgery done to gain more than two cup sizes for their breasts.

woman sitting in sunlight by window | Premier Cosmetic LA

For younger patients, our doctor emphasizes augmenting the cone part of the breasts; while for more mature people, he would try to clean up the breast tails in the axilla region to re-form the outer round contours of the breasts. Then the upper pole along with the cones are strategically filled up with the grafted fat to show the perky beauty again for the somewhat droopier breasts.

The most frequently performed incision point is the inframammary fold, where the entry avoids the mammary glands, which minimizes the exposure of the implants to the potentially contaminating mammary glands that could harbor annoying bacteria (less capsular contracture/breast hardening).

The periareolar approach seems to provide more direct access to the pocket for housing the implants, however, it does have to pass the potentially contaminating breast glands.

Trans-axillary approach hides the scars in the armpits and at times, they are almost invisible, but it is the dirtiest entry point, which also generates the highest rate of capsular contracture. Statistically, with all the entry points combined, capsular contracture and accompanying asymmetry remain as high as 12 to 19 percent, or even higher, nationwide. So essentially, breast implant surgery is, at present, still an imperfect surgery.

Indeed, with the teardrop-shaped breasts, we do see a surge in the number of better-looking breast implant surgery results. The possible complications are mostly listed on the relevant manufacturers’ websites, and the potential risks of the requirement for redo surgery after four years could still be as high as more than 35%.

Types of Breast Augmentations

There are various types of implants and techniques for Breast Augmentation, as listed below:

Silicone Implants

Silicone gel breast implants are smoother to the touch and have a more natural, body fat and tissue feel. The newer silicone gel filler is semi-solid, making the danger of breast implant rupture or leakage significantly lower than previously fabricated breast implants.

Saline Implants

Saline-filled implants are filled with a sterile saline solution, similar in makeup to the saltwater that’s in the human body. Unlike silicone implants, saline implants can either be pre-filled or filled to their ideal level once they are inserted empty into the breast pocket.

Revisional Breast Augmentation

We do many revisional breast surgeries, for those who had bad results from around the world. The failure could be due to mal-positioned implants, size disparity, capsular contracture, gross asymmetry, significant scarring, areolar depressions, and so forth. One breakthrough is the use of Alloderm, Vicryl mesh, or Strattice for capsular contracture, which is already showing signs of being the perfect solution for breast hardening. For issues such as breast implant rippling, implants being palpable, funnel chest, and lack of upper pole fullness, we can certainly use fat grafting to correct them nicely and easily.

Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation

Dr. Yu normally suggests to our patients to have their fat grafting for breast augmentation. His philosophy is that there is no waste material in the human body. If there is excess fat in your body, that fat could be liposuctioned out to create a better-shaped body, and at the same time, the harvested fat should be used for augmentation of the breasts or the buttocks.

Depending on the fat distribution in a particular person, fat could be harvested from the tummy, waist, back, thighs, or upper arms. There is essentially no difference in the survival rate for the fat from different sites. Generally, the fat survival rate in the breast could be as high as 60 to 70%, unless the fat is unhealthy. The only rate-limiting factor for fat grafting is that only 250 cc to 400 cc of fat could be grafted to each breast since breasts could only provide enough nutrition to sustain a certain amount of grafted fat. Please keep in mind that one cup size for the breast equals about 150 to 200 cc, depending on the size of the body frame. Breast fat grafting results not only depend on the amount of fat survived but also depend on how the new breasts are shaped.

By choosing the right entry points for grafting, the breast fat grafting by our doctor shows very little trauma and minimal calcification post-surgery. Due to the very high survival rate for our breast fat grafting, this procedure has been one of the most requested among our offerings.

Breast augmentation with either fat grafting or implants could also be combined with breast lift procedures if the breasts are too droopy. In cases of significant breast size discrepancy, breasts with weird shapes (such as constricted breasts or tuberous breasts), or breasts being distorted by either cancer surgeries or improperly performed breast implant removal, fat grafting is without a doubt the procedure of choice for restoring the shape of the breasts.

What are the Benefits of Breast Augmentation?

Patients who have received Breast Augmentation in Los Angeles and Arcadia have enjoyed the following benefits from their procedure:

Added volume to small breasts
Clothing fits better
Fuller breasts
Immediate and stunning results
Improve breast symmetry
Improved confidence and self-esteem
Provides lift after pregnancy and weight loss
Quick recovery
Restores breasts after a mastectomy

Who are the Best Candidates for Breast Augmentation?

If you are wondering if you are a good candidate for Breast Augmentation in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the surrounding Arcadia area, you should have at least some of these characteristics:

Bothered by the volume and shape of your breasts
Breasts are asymmetrical
Done with childbearing
Have realistic expectations
No underlying medical conditions
Not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
Want bigger breasts

Although there is no age limitation for breast surgery, it should only be considered after a patient’s breasts have fully developed and if your health allows it.

Breast Augmentation First Step

What’s The First Step?

If you’re interested in getting Los Angeles or Arcadia Breast Augmentation surgery, the first step is to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Arthur Yu at Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa.

When you visit the practice, it is important to disclose your medical history and any goals and expectations that you have with a breast augmentation. Dr. Yu will consider your frame and body proportions when determining your breast size because even though large breast implants are what many patients think of when it comes to breast augmentation, smaller breast implants can deliver excellent dramatic results as well. The two of you will also discuss your alternatives, the risks, and the limitations of fat transfer, saline, or silicone implants.

Finally, you will decide on the breast implant placement, your desired cup size, and implant type. You can also try implant sizers to arrive at the optimal size for you and see before and after photos of other patients.

Dr. Yu will compile all of the details to create your surgical plan. Our Patient Coordinator will then help you schedule your appointment and provide you with pre-surgery instructions to help make your procedure as successful as possible.

What to Expect on the Day of Breast Augmentation Surgery

The day you arrive for your Breast Augmentation surgery at Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa, our friendly staff will welcome you and Dr. Yu will go over your surgical plan in case of any last-minute questions and/or concerns.

Your breast augmentation procedure will vary depending on which type of breast implants you are receiving, but regardless of which one you are getting, we will start your procedure by administering anesthesia first to provide you with a more comfortable experience.

The time for the procedure will also vary depending on the technique being used. For instance, the fat transfer method will require more operative time depending on the extent of areas that are liposuctioned, as well as your desired breast size.

After you are sedated, Dr. Yu will make incisions hidden in your natural creases and folds to minimize visible scarring. Some incision placement options include:

In the breast crease (inframammary incision)
In the armpit (transaxillary incision)
Around the areola (periareolar incision)

Depending on your augmentation, there are a few options for where Dr. Yu can insert breast implants, most commonly under the pectoral muscle or directly behind the breast tissue, but over the pectoral muscle.

After the implant or fat graft is done, Dr. Yu will close the incisions using layered sutures in the breast tissue to provide natural breast tissue extra support and close the external breast skin incisions with sutures, skin adhesives, or surgical tape.

The operation should take about one to two hours depending on the techniques used.

Breast Augmentation Recovery

After your Breast Augmentation, you will be monitored in a recovery room until the effects of anesthesia wear off. For safety, we recommend that you have a family or friend drive you home as anesthesia effects can sometimes last longer. Before leaving the recovery facility, you will be provided with some post-operative instructions and temporary prescription pain medication to make your breast augmentation recovery more tolerable.

You will be able to gradually resume work and an exercise routine about one week after your breast augmentation, except for chest muscle exercises, which can usually be resumed around six weeks. We encourage you to not rush your recovery by using your pectoralis muscle prematurely because it can lead to potential complications such as displacement of the implant to the sides, fluid collection, or an increased risk of capsular contracture.

While Dr. Yu will do their best to ensure any breast augmentation scars are mostly hidden, there will be some scarring that will naturally fade over time.

Breast Augmentation Cost

How much does a Breast Augmentation cost in Arcadia, CA?

The cost of Breast Augmentation in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the surrounding Arcadia area will vary on numerous factors, including the size, shape, and type of breast implants, as well as the surgical techniques used. The best way to learn how much your procedure will be is to come in for your breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Yu so that you can arrive at a surgical plan which our Patient Coordinator can then use to arrive at a costing and pricing plan for you.

Why Choose Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa?

Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa is the practice you want to choose for your Breast Augmentation. It was established in 2006 by Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Arthur Yu who has amassed over 19 years of plastic surgery experience with successful procedures of generations of patients now under his belt. He is the inventor of ART TIPLYFT® and an award-winning surgeon with his most recent awards of Best Threads Treatment and Top 3 Best Surgery Body Shaping at the 2023 AMWC Monaco conference.

Dr. Yu completed his plastic surgery training at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and has learned from some of the world’s most admired and respected masters of plastic and cosmetic surgery. He completed his general surgery residency at Cornell University Brooklyn Hospital Center. He completed an additional fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is a top-ranked international organization. He is a proud member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

Breast Augmentation FAQ’S

Most patients find breast augmentation surgery to be painless since it is performed under anesthesia. During immediate recovery, however, you will experience swelling, bruising, pain, and general discomfort but Dr. Yu will prescribe you pain medications to help manage this. They will also provide you with post-operative instructions to follow that will help ease your recovery and healing process to achieve the best results.
After your Breast Augmentation, Dr. Yu will have you return the following day and the day after your surgery so they can monitor your recovery and remove any sutures and bandages.

You can expect another appointment in six to eight weeks, followed by another one three months post-surgery, then again six months later. You may also have some photos taken at one of your final check-ups for a comparison photo.
While your breast augmentation results could be immediately noticeable depending on the change in your breasts’ appearance, you will be swollen and bruised for a few weeks as you heal. In the following months of the procedure, your breasts will continue to go through changes, normally requiring about three to four months to show their new self in their full glory.
Yes, indeed! Many women in the Los Angeles and Pasadena area will combine their breast augmentation with a Breast Lift to improve sagging breasts and an overall perkier bust appearance, or another body contouring cosmetic procedure, such as a Brazilian Butt Lift or a Tummy Tuck. We recommend that you share any such intentions of combined procedures with Dr. Yu at your initial consultation so that they can offer you their expert advice on the most recommended pathway for your medical profile.
Since Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa is a firm believer in full disclosure, we choose to share the potential complications of every cosmetic breast enhancement procedure. For a Breast Augmentation, this can include:
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) or other very rare cancers in the capsule around the breast, such as breast implant-associated squamous cell carcinoma (BIA-SCC)
- Capsular contracture
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation
- Fluid accumulation
- Hematoma
- Implant leakage or rupture
- Infection
- Persistent pain
- Poor scarring
- Possibility of revision surgery
- Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
- Wrong or faulty position of the implant
Patient safety is incredibly important to our team, so if you experience any of the previously mentioned reactions or long-lasting side effects, please contact our office immediately so that we can help. If the side effects seem very serious, do not hesitate to call 911.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are interested in increasing your breast size in the Los Angeles, Pasadena, and surrounding Arcadia areas, please contact Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa! You can call us directly or use our website to fill out an appointment form and a member of our team will be in touch with you.