You want to feel comfortable and confident in your body, but the sheer number of options, opinions, and headlines about breast implants can make the decision feel overwhelming. If you live in Bellevue or Kirkland and you’re considering breast augmentation, this guide will help you cut through the noise with clear, evidence‑informed information tailored to your goals and lifestyle.
What’s driving your curiosity about augmentation?
- Restoring volume after pregnancy or weight loss
- Improving balance and proportion
- Correcting asymmetry
- Enhancing shape in or out of clothing
What breast augmentation can and cannot do
Can do:- Add or restore volume
- Improve shape and upper‑pole fullness
- Balance asymmetry
- Boost confidence and improve clothing fit
- Permanently stop breasts from changing over time
- Replace the need for a lift if there is significant sagging (you may need a combined breast lift for the best result)
Who is a good candidate?
You may be a strong candidate if you:- Are in good general health and at a stable weight
- Do not smoke or can pause nicotine use for the pre‑op and healing period
- Have realistic goals and understand maintenance needs over time
- Are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Plan to become pregnant in the near term
- Have unmanaged medical conditions or active infections
- Have significant sagging that would be better addressed with (or in addition to) a breast lift
- Prefer a very small change in size and have ample donor fat (in which case fat transfer may be discussed)
Your options, explained
Implant fill material:
- Silicone gel implants: Popular for their natural look and feel.
- Saline implants: Filled with sterile saltwater after placement, allowing smaller incisions and easy volume adjustment.
Fat transfer breast augmentation:
- Use your own purified fat from areas like the abdomen or thighs to modestly enhance the breasts. Best for subtle increases and shaping; may require multiple sessions and a suitable amount of donor fat.
Implant placement and incisions:
Placement:- Submuscular (under the pectoral muscle): Often provides a more natural slope and can benefit patients with less natural tissue.
- Subglandular (above the muscle): Can be appropriate for patients with more existing breast tissue and certain aesthetic goals.
- Dual‑plane: A blend of both, commonly used for natural shaping in many anatomies.
- Inframammary (fold under the breast): Most common and versatile; well concealed in the natural crease.
- Periareolar (around the lower edge of the areola): Can blend well with the areolar border in selected cases.
- Transaxillary (armpit): No scar on the breast; less commonly used today.
Recovery and downtime for Bellevue and Kirkland lifestyles
- Most patients go home the same day. Many return to desk work within about a week, while more physical roles may require additional time.
- Light walking is encouraged early. Upper‑body workouts, heavy lifting, and high‑impact activity are typically phased in over 4–6 weeks, based on your surgeon’s protocol and your healing.
- Expect swelling to resolve gradually over several weeks, with final settling over a few months.
- Mammography with implants requires special technique views; always tell your technologist you have implants.
- Breastfeeding is often still possible after augmentation, though it cannot be guaranteed. Placement and incision choice may influence this.
Costs and financing
Your total investment reflects surgeon expertise, anesthesia, facility fees, and implant type. Because goals and anatomy are unique, your best next step is a personalized quote at consultation. Many patients use financing to make payments predictable and budget‑friendly.How to Choose the Right Surgeon in the Eastside
Choosing the right surgeon isn’t just about credentials, it’s also about trust and connection. Surgery is a personal journey, and you want to feel fully confident in the hands of the person guiding you through it. Here are the key things to look for when selecting a plastic surgeon on the Eastside:- Board certification in plastic surgery (American Board of Plastic Surgery)
- Experience with a wide range of implant types and techniques
- Before-and-after photos of patients with a similar body type and goals
- Comfort with your communication style and aesthetic preferences
- Accredited surgical facility and a detailed approach to safety
Questions to Bring to Your Doctor
- Which implant type, size, and projection fit my anatomy and goals?
- Where will the implant be placed, and which incision will you recommend?
- What will my recovery look like, and what support is provided?
- How do you handle revisions if needed, and what are typical timelines?
- What are my specific risks, and how do you mitigate them?
