Approximately 300,000 women underwent breast augmentation surgery in 2023. It is the second most common cosmetic surgical procedure performed by plastic surgeons in the United States (liposuction is the most common). Dr. Kunkel sees women from Fort Worth, Southlake, Colleyville, Arlington, and throughout North Texas for breast augmentation. He also has patients who live as far away as Canada, New York, and California. Peer physicians have recognized Dr. Kunkel’s outstanding care by voting him a TopDoc in Fort Worth 22 times!
Give us a call at 817.335.5200 to learn more about the procedure or to determine whether you are a candidate for treatment!
Can I Combine Procedures With a Breast Augmentation?
Many women combine breast augmentation with other procedures. Liposuction and tummy tuck are popular choices. For women who undergo liposuction, some of the fat removed from other areas may be added around the edges of the breast implants. This is referred to as a “composite” breast augmentation, and it helps create subtle transitions between the chest tissues and breast implants.
Dr. Kunkel's Breast Enhancement Surgery Booklet
Dr. Kunkel has written a Breast Enhancement Surgery Booklet. It contains information about breast augmentation, breast lifts, and fat grafting, as well as before and after photographs of some of his patients who have undergone procedures by him. The booklet is in a PDF format and is easy to download and/or print. Take a look at it!
Breast Augmentation
Every year breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the U.S. It’s not surprising because if a woman has never been satisfied with the size or shape of her breasts, this procedure can change all of that. Breasts and body image have a direct correlation for many women. Whether you’ve never felt your breasts were proportional with the rest of your figure, whether you’ve felt there was some asymmetry between your breasts, or whether you’d simply like to have larger breasts — augmentation with Dr. Kunkel is a satisfying procedure.
There are many decisions to be made with augmentation, and Dr. Kunkel and our entire team will ensure you have the information you need to confidently make each one.
What is breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure where implants filled with either silicone or saline are implanted in the breasts to increase their fullness, size, and/or projection. The procedure has many variables from implant type and size to the location of the incisions. Recovery is not difficult, and the procedure can truly change a woman’s life.
Every year satisfaction rates with breast augmentation surgery and its results are among the highest in the world of aesthetic surgery.
Who is an ideal candidate for breast augmentation?
Body image can be so important to your self-confidence. If you’ve always thought your breasts were disproportionally small compared with the rest of your figure, this can make you self-conscious in a swimsuit or during intimate situations. Breasts that are asymmetrical can pose even more of an issue.
Whether breast augmentation is right for you is a completely personal decision. But it is a procedure that will change your life. It may be just the boost you need.
If you are considering breast augmentation, Dr. Kunkel stresses that the decision needs to be for you and you alone. This isn’t something to do for a spouse or partner. It needs to be something you want.
What is the difference between saline and silicone implants?
The outer shell of all implants is the same — a thin silicone elastomer. The surface of that shell may be smooth or textured. These shells are then filled with sterile saline (salt water) solution or silicone gel. Saline implants are filled once in place in the breast pocket; silicone gel implants are pre-filled by the manufacturer.
Saline
How firm a saline implant feels is directly related to the fill volume. Lower fill levels can result in visible wrinkling of the implants. As saline implants reach their maximum fill level wrinkling decreases, but the feel may then become firmer than actual breast tissue.
Saline implants require a smaller incision since they are inserted empty and then filled once in place. If a saline implant ruptures, the body simply absorbs the saline solution. The patient will still need to have surgery to remove the empty shell and place a new implant. The same is true if a silicone implant ruptures, but instead of the body absorbing the silicone it is simply removed when the ruptured shell is removed and then replaced.
Silicone
Modern silicone gel implants were approved for general use by the FDA in November 2006. Current implants are considered fourth generation models and have many improvements over earlier models. Today’s silicone gels are more cohesive than former gels. Cohesive refers to the degree to which the silicone stays together and within the shell if there is a leak in the implant. Most people think that the moderately cohesive and responsive nature of current silicone gel feels more like natural breast tissue. In studies, patients consistently select silicone implants as having the most natural feel and consistency. Silicone gel implants also are less likely to show wrinkling than saline breast implants.
An option you'll hear about with silicone implants is the "gummy bear" implant. “Gummy bear” is a commonly used term for form-stable or highly cohesive silicone gel implants. They are considered form-stable — like gummy bears — because they hold their shape even when the implant shell is broken. The gel inside is thicker than in older types of silicone implants. These implants add volume to the breasts while leaving them naturally soft to the touch
What is the breast augmentation procedure like?
Dr. Kunkel performs breast augmentation with the patient under general anesthesia. The procedure is an outpatient procedure and takes about an hour to complete.
Once the incision is made, a pocket is created for the implant. The implant you've chosen is placed in the pocket. If you opted for saline implants, they are placed empty in the pockets and filled once they are in place. Silicone implants are filled during the manufacturing process. If you've chosen silicone implants, the pre-filled implants are placed in the pockets. Once placed, Dr. Kunkel checks the symmetry and balance of the breasts. Once satisfied with the overall appearance, your incisions are closed.
What is recovery from augmentation surgery like?
Recovery from breast augmentation is not difficult for most people. It is common to hear that a patient has not required any narcotic pain medication. Most patients are up and around the evening of their surgery. They wear a support bra or wrap for two to four weeks after surgery. After that, a sports bra or soft stretchy bra is fine. Underwire bras need to be avoided for six weeks following surgery. Patients need to wait about three months before buying bras for the future.
There will be some swelling after surgery. A lot of this resolves within two weeks, but there can be some residual swelling for 6-8 weeks.
Most patients can return to work after one week.
How will I know what size implants I should have?
It can be difficult for a woman to know what size implants to choose. Dr. Kunkel believes it is always best to opt for implants that are proportional to the rest of your figure. In the U.S. currently, the most popular size for breast implants is between 350 and 400 cc's.
Some women are under the assumption that implants are sized like bras, but they are not. Instead, implants are sized by the amount of material put into the silicone shell. This is measured in cubic centimeters (cc's).
So that our patients can get an idea of what different sized implants and different projection characteristics would look like, Dr. Kunkel uses the Vectra 3D Imaging System. This system uses six cameras to take photos of the patient’s torso. The imaging software in the device then creates a three-dimensional image. This image can be rotated in all directions, allowing viewing from different angles. Dr. Kunkel simply inputs different implant sizes and projections, and the patient can see a close estimate of how her chest and overall torso will change.
Can I have breast implants added to a breast lift?
Dr. Kunkel often performs breast lifts with breast augmentation. Breast lifts remove excess, sagging skin and elevate the nipples. It is an easy extension of a breast lift procedure to add implants, as Dr. Kunkel can place them through the incisions he has already made for the breast lift.
Breast Augmentation Services
To learn about breast augmentation services offered by Dr. Kunkel, click on the links below:
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Call Dr. Kunkel For Your Breast Augmentation In Fort Worth!
You can reach Dr. Kelly R. Kunkel and schedule a one-on-one breast augmentation consultation by calling 817.335.5200 today or by filling out the form in our contact page. At our Fort Worth practice, Dr. Kunkel can explain the procedure and breakdown the various treatment options available to you!
