Breast Augmentation at Southern Surgical Arts

What is Breast Augmentation Surgery at Southern Surgical Arts?

Breast Augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to add volume to your breasts for a fuller, more youthful appearance.  We create volume by placing an implant behind your natural breast tissue or chest muscle.  These implants are either saline (salt water) or silicone gel; both types are FDA-approved devices. We offer implants in partnership with Mentor Corporation.

Breast augmentation is typically performed in an outpatient setting with IV sedation and local anesthesia.  The procedure typically takes no more than 45 minutes, and the incision is less than 1 inch long and hidden in the breast crease or along the areola border.  Recovery is usually no more than a few days, with return to normal activity in a week.  

What does breast augmentation cost in Chattanooga, North Georgia and North Alabama?

Breast augmentation at Southern Surgical Arts begins at $3,995.  Your quote will include the surgeon's fee, anesthesia costs, the facility fee for the operating room and all other supplies and implants when indicated.  The total price at Southern Surgical Arts also includes all routine follow-up visits.

Some surgery centers bundle the price of the procedure into one total fee like we do at Southern Surgical Arts.  Others may only quote you their surgeon's fee so that their prices seem less.   Ask questions to be sure that your different prices are indeed comparable.

Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

• Women
• Age 18 to 65
• Non-smokers
• Generally in good health
• Desire aesthetic enhancement of the breast      
• Desire augmentation or more fullness 
• The Goal of Breast Augmentation

After careful consideration of your desires and Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal’s observations, we will recommend the surgical and non-surgical treatment options that will help you obtain your goals. Our ultimate goal is your satisfaction and improved, natural appearance without any obvious signs of surgery.  Through meticulous attention to detail, all scars are well hidden and minimally invasive techniques are performed whenever possible to give you the best result with the least amount of down time.

More Information about Breast Implants

Breast enlargement, or augmentation mammoplasty, enhances the body contour of a woman who is unhappy with her breast size or shape. Breast augmentation can be used to correct volume loss after pregnancy or to help balance breast size asymmetries, as well as a reconstructive techniques following other breast surgery.

An implant (prosthesis) may be placed through an incision, under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle.  The incision can be made under the breast, around the nipple or in the armpit.  It generally takes one to two hours to complete the entire procedure.  A breast implant is usually composed of an outer silicone shell filled with saline (salt water) or silicone gel.  The outer surface may be smooth or textured and implants come in various shapes to meet your individual needs.

While breast augmentation will enlarge the breasts, it won’t alter basic defects in breast shape or form.  Major asymmetries may be improved but will not be completely corrected. But, a slight difference in the size or shape of the two breasts is considered normal and should not be a cause for concern.  If breast size or nipple position asymmetries are severe, then additional procedures to further improve symmetry may be necessary.  Having performed this procedure over a thousand times, we can say with confidence if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure and provide highly satisfactory results for you.

Saline vs Silicone: Which breast implant is best for me?

At Southern Surgical Arts, we give you the option for either saline or silicone gel implants. Both are FDA approved; gel implants are FDA approved for women over the age of 22.

But choosing the best breast implant type for you depends upon your desired results. There are differences between silicone gel breast implants and saline-filled breast implants, but one isn’t always better than the other.

Silicone Gel Breast Implants

If it is important that your breast implants feel natural, then you will want to consider a silicone gel implant like the MemoryGel.  MemoryGel breast implants feature a unique cohesive gel filling that is neither a liquid nor even a semi-liquid like gel implants of the past.  Instead, MemoryGel’s cohesive gel holds together in a uniform manner so it doesn’t leak even if the shell ruptures and it retains a natural give that resembles your own breast tissue.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline-filled breast implants are filled with sterile saltwater solution that is similar to the fluid that makes up most of the human body.  They have a firmer feel than gel.  With saline implants, the surgeon can adjust the volume of each breast during the procedure to compensate for asymmetries in size.  Since saline implants are inserted empty before they are filled, they can be placed through a slightly smaller incision.

Working with your surgeon, you now have more breast implant choices than ever.  Be sure to discuss your desires, expectations, preferences and express any concerns you may have with your surgeon so that together you can determine the best breast implant size and type for you.

If you are interested in more information about the differences between silicone and saline breast implants, visit www.loveyourlook.com.

Breast Augmentation Incision Points

There is more than one way to perform a breast augmentation procedure. To meet your preferences, Dr. Nease and Dr. Deal offer different incision points for the procedure.  A number of factors can influence where the incision point is located, including your anatomy, your desired outcome and the size and shape of the breast implants.  We will decide together in our consultation which incision point is best for you.

In general, we offer an inframammary breast augmentation (under breast crease incision), a transaxillary breast augmentation (armpit incision) and a peri-areola breast augmentation (edge of the nipple incision) and TUBA (transumbilical).

Inframmamary Breast Augmentation

An inframammary breast augmentation places the incision point under the breast crease; it’s our preferred type of breast augmentation. The inframammary incision is placed along the crease or fold of the breast, where the implant will then be placed behind your natural breast tissue or chest muscle.  The small incision then becomes well hidden with the natural curvature of the breast. An advantage of the inframammary incision is that it allows the surgeon to better see the breast pocket while improving the accuracy of the implant’s placement, leading to a low revision rate. Both saline and silicone implants can be used in any size for the inframammary breast augmentation.

Transaxillary Breast Augmentation

A transaxillary breast augmentation places the incision in the natural fold of the armpit. The breast implant is inserted through a channel from the armpit to the breast.  The incision is small and well hidden in the depth of the armpit and becomes barely noticeable because it blends in with the natural crease of the armpit.  A transaxillary breast augmentation is ideal if you want to avoid scars on the breast and avoids cutting through the breast tissue when placing the implant underneath the muscle.  It does require a long recovery time compared to an inframmatory breast augmentation and has a slightly higher revision rate.

Peri-Areola Breast Augmentation

A peri-areola breast augmentation places the incision on the edge of the nipple where the lighter breast tissue meets the darker breast tissue. Placing the incision on the edge of the nipple allows the scar to blend in better. This type of breast augmentation is not ideal for patients who have a small areola wanting large silicone implants due to the difficulty of placement. The peri-areola incision is commonly used only when a breast augmentation and nipple lift is combined.

TUBA (Transumbilical) Breast Augmentation

A small incision is made in the fold of skin, which overlies the belly button (navel), so the scar will not be visible.  The implant is placed through a channel up to the breast crease before being filled with saline.  This procedure leaves only a small scar in the belly button, which is easily hidden.

The average recovery time for return to normal daily activities after Transumbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA) is 2-7 days for implants placed over the muscle and is 4-7 days for implants placed under the muscle.  Total healing, as with all surgeries, will take six months.  You can expect to return to normal exercise in two to three weeks.

Breast Surgery Consultations

Enhancing your natural beauty begins with a complimentary consultation with either Dr. Nease or Dr. Deal. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit our contact us page or call 706-629-8622 or 423-266-3331.

Be sure to visit the Before and After Photo Gallery.

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