Considering Breast Implants? Here’s What to Expect from a Consultation
Published by Dr. Jay Lucas, MD, a board-certified surgeon with over 20 years of experience.
Key Takeaways:
- A breast implant consultation focuses on your goals, health, and unique breast anatomy.
- VECTRA 3D Imaging can help you visualize and compare potential implant results.
- Implant size and shape are selected based on your anatomy, goals, and desired outcome.
- Quality implants can last many years, but regular monitoring and follow-up are still important.
- Choosing a board-certified, experienced surgeon helps support safe, personalized breast augmentation.
So, you’re seriously pondering getting breast implants (also called breast augmentation surgery with implants). That’s exciting! Perhaps you’ve always been insecure about the size, shape, or position of your breasts. Or perhaps you used to like them, but time, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or some other factor has undermined your confidence in these parts of your body.
First, whatever your reason, know that you’re not alone. Plenty of East Tennessee women want to feel more confident about this aspect of their physique. That’s why “boob jobs” (to use the vernacular) have long been popular, from the larger, more obvious ones of the late 1990s and the early 2000s to today’s somewhat smaller, more natural-looking procedures.
Second, it’s normal to have lots of questions and to feel a bit nervous. Undergoing surgery of any kind is a big step, which is why it’s essential to make an informed decision.
So, to help answer your questions and put you at ease, let’s talk about what next steps might look like, plus cover some important FAQs about getting implants…
What to Expect During a Breast Implant Consultation at The Lucas Center
Our team’s first goal at your breast implant consultation will be to help you feel welcome and comfortable. Then, we want to learn about your goals and your health so we can best help you. (Truly listening is a big part of our patient-centered care!)
This means that Dr. Jay Lucas, physician-owner and board-certified plastic surgeon, will sit down with you for a frank and thorough discussion before evaluating your skin and physical appearance.
What Will the Surgeon Evaluate During Your Initial Visit?
To recommend the best, most customized treatment for you, Dr. Lucas will evaluate current factors like:
- Chest wall anatomy and any asymmetries
- Breast shape
- Breast volume
- The position of the nipple-areolar complex relative to the breast fold
- Adjacent structures, such as the tail of Spence (breast tissue extending toward the armpit), lateral bra rolls, and excess skin
- Skin quality and elasticity
- Your height and weight
From there, he’ll be able to suggest the best surgical plan and specific implants to accomplish your goals.
The Lucas Center also uses a state-of-the-art tool called VECTRA 3D Imaging so you can see digital images of your simulated results. You can look at current pictures of you side-by-side with projected results based on specific surgical plans and implants for simulated before-and-after pictures. We can also show you different simulations, so you can compare and ultimately choose what best aligns with your goals.
With the combination of Dr. Lucas’s expert advice and the VECTRA 3D Imaging technology, you can proceed with confidence toward the physique you want!
What Factors Determine the Right Implant Shape and Size for You?
Ultimately, Dr. Lucas will help you identify what shape and size implant will help achieve the results you want — plus whether adding on a breast lift (aka mastopexy) or the use of fat grafting would help.
To do this, Dr. Lucas assesses the factors listed above (chest wall anatomy, breast shape and volume, nipple position, skin quality, etc.), while also taking into account your goals and personal preferences.
Find out more here about what type of augmentation might be right for you.
Note: Dr. Lucas exclusively uses silicone implants (not saline), and there are many types within that category to customize your outcome.
Typical Cost of Breast Implants
The all-inclusive price for a basic breast augmentation with Dr. Lucas is estimated at $9,500, which includes Dr. Lucas’s surgical fee, anesthesia, facility fees, and surgical products. However, costs vary widely across different surgeons and different regions of the country. Even within The Lucas Center, breast surgery costs can vary pretty widely because there can be so many different procedures, techniques, and materials at play.
To help you get an idea of starting costs for particular procedures, we’ve put together a pricing chart showing the base costs for different breast surgeries. Beyond the estimated $9,500 for a simple breast augmentation, if you’re opting for a lift and/or exchanging or removing implants at the same time, that base price goes up.
And while most breast surgeries are typically considered elective and therefore not covered by health insurance plans, The Lucas Center is proud to partner with a couple of third-party lenders for financing.
How Long Do Breast Implants Last and When Should They Be Replaced?
Did you know it’s a myth that breast implants need frequent replacement?
On the contrary, most of the time, when a breast augmentation with high-quality implants is performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, the results should be long-lasting. Both saline and silicone implants are made with a durable outer shell, and manufacturers typically provide a warranty for failures within the first 10 years. In fact, though, many implants last much longer — often several decades.
3 Signs That Breast Implants Need Replacement or Revision
Still, for the occasional patient, implants may eventually need to be replaced. There are three main reasons we see this:
- A change of mind (especially when a patient comes to us from another surgeon)
- Rippling or capsular contracture
- Rupture or deflation
If you’re unhappy with your current breast implant sizing, shape, or position, we can help. Dr. Lucas has worked with plenty of patients who received implants elsewhere and came to him for breast revision surgery. We’re here to help you achieve a better outcome this time around!
On the other hand, if you’re experiencing discomfort, puckering, or a sudden change in the appearance or feel of your existing implants, please reach out to us or to your original surgeon. It’s important to make sure all is well and get things back to normal.
Did You Know?
In the long-term, most potential problems with implants that might arise would be readily apparent from the appearance or feel of the breasts. However, if silicone implants were to rupture, because the gel would seep out somewhat slowly, you might not know it was happening.
Because Dr. Lucas uses only smooth implants, and the risk of rupture in the first 10 years is very low, he generally recommends that his patients begin imaging to check for structural failure at 10 years, using ultrasound. He only has a patient undergo an MRI if a breast radiologist recommends one. Of course, yearly mammograms after age 40 are still recommended.
Want to go deeper into this topic? We’ve written more about each of these issues/signs here, and so has the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
How Often Do Local Surgeons Recommend Follow-Up Appointments?
Different plastic surgery practices and different surgeons in East Tennessee may have slightly different timelines. In general, you can expect to return to your surgeon several times in the first six months to a year after your implant surgery.
Here’s Dr. Lucas’s typical breast augmentation follow-up appointment timeline:
- Day 1
- Day 7
- 4-6 weeks
- 3 months
- 6 months
- 1 year
After one year, Dr. Lucas generally lets patients choose their follow-up timetable, though he is happy to see you yearly if you prefer.
These check-ins allow Dr. Lucas to ensure that you’re healing properly and to check for any issues with the implants. They’re also your chance to raise any questions or concerns as you recover and, eventually, enjoy your outcome for years to come!
Finding the Best Breast Implant Surgeons Near You
Once you’re ready to take the big, exciting step of getting breast implants, you want to work with the best. When it comes to your body and your health, you owe it to yourself to find a top plastic surgeon in your area.
Here are some things to help you find the best surgeon for you…
What Qualifications Should You Look for in a Breast Implant Surgeon?
Top of the list: the surgeon you work with should be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). That means they are held accountable to stay up-to-date with best practices and have gone through rigorous education and exams to prove their qualifications.
Beyond that, search their website or use Google to see how satisfied their former patients are. Top surgeons should have plenty of positive testimonials and reviews — not just generally, but also specifically for breast surgeries. And don’t forget to look at before-and-afters!
What Questions Should You Ask Your Breast Implant Surgeon?
Then, during your consult with a surgeon, be sure to ask any of these questions that haven’t already been answered by the practice website:
- How often do you perform breast augmentations with implants?
- How many years of experience do you have with this procedure?
- Will the surgery be performed at an accredited ambulatory facility?
- What kind of follow-up care will be provided?
- When can I get on your schedule?
For more, check out this helpful list of 10 things to ask before having plastic surgery.
East Tennessee’s Premier Plastic Surgeon for Breast Implants
During his two-plus decades performing plastic surgery in the greater Knoxville, Tennessee area, Dr. Lucas has performed countless successful breast augmentation procedures (with and without implants).
Just because it’s a popular surgery he frequently performs, however, does not mean you will be treated like “just another patient.” On the contrary, Dr. Lucas and The Lucas Center team are committed to patient-centered care with everyone who walks through our doors.
Your unique needs are at the center of what we do, and your breast surgery will be completely customized to your needs, anatomy, and desired outcomes.
Plus, we’re happy and ready to answer your questions all along the way. So, when you’re ready, give us a call at (865) 217-0572 or reach out online so we can help you feel confident in your feminine physique!