If you’ve always dreamed of larger, fuller breasts, consider a breast augmentation procedure to achieve your desired look. At Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery, our team of skilled surgeons including board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Troy Austin, performs breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures for residents of Augusta, Evans, Columbia County, and nearby areas in Georgia. We are also happy to provide our services to residents of Aiken and the neighboring communities in South Carolina.
Breast implants provide a variety of options for enhancing the size and shape of your breasts. At Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery, our team of skilled surgeons including board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Troy Austin, performs breast implants and other aesthetic procedures for residents of Augusta, Evans, Columbia County, and nearby areas in Georgia. We are also happy to provide our services to residents of Aiken and the neighboring communities in South Carolina.
Silicone and saline implants offer different benefits depending on a patient’s goals and anatomy. Silicone implants are filled with a cohesive gel that closely mimics natural breast tissue, providing a softer, more natural feel. They require a slightly larger incision for placement and, if ruptured, the gel typically remains in place, often requiring imaging for detection. Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater after placement, allowing for a smaller incision. They tend to feel firmer and may have a higher risk of visible rippling, particularly in thinner patients. If a saline implant ruptures, the body absorbs the fluid, making detection immediate due to noticeable deflation. Both options provide long-lasting results and can be customized for a patient’s desired outcome.
Implant projection determines how far the implant extends from the chest wall, influencing overall shape and profile. Low projection provides subtle enhancement with minimal forward volume. Moderate projection offers a balance between volume and natural appearance, while high projection creates a fuller, more dramatic look. Ultra-high projection provides maximum forward volume, often chosen by patients wanting significant upper-pole fullness.
Round implants provide uniform fullness and create more upper breast volume, with less concern about rotation affecting shape.
The placement of breast implants plays a key role in the final result. Subglandular placement, where the implant sits above the chest muscle but beneath the breast tissue, creates a more defined look with a shorter recovery time, though it may not be ideal for patients with minimal natural tissue. Submuscular placement, with the implant positioned beneath the pectoral muscle, offers a more natural transition at the upper breast and reduces the risk of visible rippling. Dual-plane placement combines both techniques, with the upper portion of the implant under the muscle while the lower part sits beneath the breast tissue, allowing for a natural slope with added implant coverage. The best placement option depends on factors like body type, lifestyle, and the desired aesthetic outcome.
Many women feel self-conscious because their breasts are too small, making it difficult or unattractive to wear certain garments. Breast augmentation surgery can provide the larger, fuller breasts you long for, improving your overall proportions. Breast augmentation can also alter the shape, texture, and volume of your breasts, providing a natural-looking enhancement that will rejuvenate your whole appearance.
Almost any healthy adult may be an excellent candidate for breast augmentation, but the procedure is most suited to those individuals who wish to achieve the following improvements:
Many of our patients choose also to undergo a breast lift in combination with breast augmentation, to prevent premature sagging caused by increased size and volume of the breasts.
Fat transfer breast augmentation, or fat transfer to the breasts, is a cosmetic surgical procedure in which fat is taken from one area of the body and strategically placed into the breasts for a natural-looking and natural-feeling breast enhancement. This procedure is popular with women who are interested in a more holistic approach to contouring their waistlines and augmenting their breasts at the same time. During your fat transfer breast augmentation, the fat from your harvesting site will be removed with gentle liposuction before being purified through a centrifuge. Once purified, the fat is then meticulously injected into the breasts for a natural boost in volume. Fat transfer breast augmentation provides more subtle results, augmenting the breasts one to two cup sizes, for more natural-looking results.
Local anesthesia is typically used to numb both breasts and the surrounding area before we administer general anesthesia to prevent any discomfort during the procedure. If you select saline implants, that are not pre-filled, a tiny incision will be made, and surgeon will use this to insert and fill each implant before closing the incision. If you select silicone implants, a slightly larger incision is used because silicone implants are already pre-filled. All incisions are hidden in areas under the arm, around the outline of the areola or nipple, or in the fold underneath the breast. Breast augmentation surgery may take one to three hours to perform, and most patients can return home comfortably after a few hours. Absorbent dressings and compressive bandages will be wrapped around your chest to protect sensitive tissue and help the body adjust to its new shape. After a few days, dressings will be removed, and you will be instructed to wear a compressive bra to help optimize the healing process over several weeks.
After your surgery, you will require someone to drive you home and provide basic home care for several days while you rest and recover. You may shower immediately after your surgery, but you may require assistance to avoid falling. We recommend a few days of complete rest and limited activity, after which you may gradually resume your normal routine over a period of four weeks. We advise that you wear the compressive bra at all times to keep the implants in place during this period. Some bruising and swelling of the breasts and surrounding tissue is normal and may last for several weeks, but we will prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort, and symptoms subside naturally in a few weeks. During this time, you are advised to sleep on your back with supportive pillows on each side to keep you from rolling over. You may engage in gentle sexual activity after one week, but the breasts may remain tender and sore for about four weeks. During that four-week recovery period, you must also avoid heavy lifting, bending, and strenuous exercise. Once all the swelling has subsided, the results of your augmentation surgery will become fully visible. Some patients may temporarily lose or gain sensitivity in the breasts following breast augmentation surgery. After several months, the surgical incisions begin to fade away and become virtually invisible.
Beautifill® uses advanced laser technology to remove unwanted fat from areas like the abdomen and thighs and transfer it to enhance volume in the face, breasts, buttocks, or hands. With over 95% fat cell viability, it offers natural, long-lasting results in one treatment. Recovery typically takes 3–7 days, with minimal discomfort. Ideal for those seeking to contour their body and restore volume, Beautifill® combines fat reduction and rejuvenation in one transformative procedure. Financing options are available. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Austin to learn more.
A “gummy bear” breast implant is a special type of silicone breast implant given its affectionate name for the firm texture the cohesive gel filling gives it. “Gummy bear” breast implants also have a signature teardrop shape to them, giving them a more natural-looking feel and appearance to them once implanted into the breasts.
The best way to choose your breast implant size is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Troy Austin and Dr. Matthew Isakson. During your consultation, Dr. Austin and Dr. Isakson will evaluate the size and shape of your natural breasts, take into account your expectations, and help you choose the best implants based on your budget, lifestyle and ultimate aesthetic goals.
Generally, breast augmentation is not painful. Following your breast augmentation surgery, you will feel some tenderness, swelling, and discomfort around your chest, however, this is normal and typically resolves on its own within seven to 10 days following your procedure.
Breast implants have a lifetime of about 10 to 20 years, depending on the type of implant you receive. After about ten years, we recommend coming in for an evaluation with one of our surgeons to discuss your options for a breast implant or breast implant exchange.
While traditional silicone breast implants have gotten a reputation for being more natural-looking and feeling compared to their saline-filled counterparts, the “gummy bear” breast implant has gained popularity for its natural look and feel over the past few years.
During your fat transfer breast augmentation, fat will be removed from one area of the body before it is purified and strategically injected into the breasts. The fat that is permanently transferred into your breasts has the potential to last a lifetime.
Yes, fat-transfer breast augmentation is very safe. Many of our patients choose to undergo fat transfer breast augmentation because it utilizes the body’s natural tissues to add volume to the breasts for the most natural-looking and natural-feeling results. Using the body’s natural tissues also eliminates the risk of complications that may arise with the use of breast implants.
The amount of fat needed for your fat transfer breast augmentation depends on how dramatic you desire your results to be. That being said, in order to significantly increase your breast size, Dr. Austin will need to harvest at least 1,000mL of fat from your body. This is because a large amount of the fat transferred to your breast may be naturally absorbed by the body during the healing process.
Yes, you can switch from traditional breast implants to fat grafting. It is important to keep in mind that fat transfer breast augmentation delivers more subtle and natural results than traditional breast augmentation with breast implants. Talk to Dr. Austin during your one-on-one consultation to see if fat transfer is right for you.
We recommend waiting about 10 to 14 days following your fat transfer breast augmentation to start exercising again. When you do start to exercise, remember to start slow and ease back into your routine. We recommend starting with light, low-impact activity such as walking or jogging for a week or two before incorporating any strenuous physical activity.
