Breast Implants in Albany NY

Also Serving Saratoga Springs and Schenectady New York

Breast augmentation is an ideal choice when you want to increase the size of your breasts, restore their shape after pregnancy, or balance out uneven cup sizes. Breast augmentation surgery in Albany, also called breast enhancement or breast enlargement surgery, is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures available today. For many women, it is an effective means of enhancing their sense of femininity and, thus, their confidence and self-esteem.

To get a better idea of what Albany patients can be accomplished with surgical breast enhancement, view our Breast Augmentation Patient Gallery.

Reasons to Seek Breast Augmentation

Women seek breast augmentation for many reasons, including:

• The desire to enhance small or asymmetrical breasts, which are often the result of a genetic predisposition
• The desire to address breast laxity or flat-looking breasts due to the natural aging process or major weight loss
• The desire to correct mildly drooping or sagging breasts after child bearing and breastfeeding

Your Consultation in Schenectady

Breast surgeon Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha and his caring staff strive to ensure that Albany patients feel comfortable throughout the entire plastic surgery proces. During consultation, at Dr. Kayastha’s Albany plastic surgery office, he listens attentively to your aesthetic concerns, surgical goals, and cosmetic desires to gain a thorough understanding of what you are looking to achieve with your breast augmentation procedure.

Dr. Kayastha also evaluates your unique anatomy — including your skin health, body fat content and existing breast tissue — so he can recommend appropriate treatment options (including breast implant size) that will yield natural-looking results that are in line with your aesthetic goals for surgery.

Aside from breast implant size, additional treatment options include the available types of breast implants, your incision pattern options and your implant placement options, all of which Dr. Kayastha explains during consultation. When making decisions about your treatment options, your individual body type and frame as well your cosmetic desires must be considered. You can also “try on” different implants using our sizing system to get an idea of which looks best on you. Most patients really like doing this and find it very helpful.

He then collaborates with you to create an aesthetic plan that enhances your natural beauty, so you look and feel like the best version of yourself. In some cases, Dr. Kayastha may need to recommend a breast lift in conjunction with your breast augmentation procedure, to provide optimal results.

Thanks to his extensive experience performing over a thousand breast augmentations for satisfied patients over the years, you can rest assured that Dr. Kayastha will be able to help you achieve your desired results.

Are You a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?

Ideal candidates for breast augmentation:

• Have breast size, shape, or symmetry issues that they would like to correct
• Would like to restore lost breast volume or firmness following pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Are in good overall physical health
• Are not currently breast feeding
• Has realistic goals for breast augmentation

It is important to discuss any future pregnancy plans with Dr. Kayastha before moving forward with your procedure.

Breast Implant Options

Should I choose silicone or saline implants?

Excellent results can be accomplished with either type of breast implant, but in general, silicone is now considered the “Cadillac” of implants. They are particularly advantageous in certain anatomical situations, particularly for women that are very thin and have very little of their own breast tissue. Saline implants tends to look or feel less “natural” than silicone ones, and in very thin women, one can sometimes feel the implant through the skin and feel the subtle ripples in the surface of the implant.

Silicone implants were scrutinized by the FDA a few years back and were found to be safe; therefore, there is no evidence of any significant safety issues with either implant. As a result of the temporary ban of silicone implants, some people still feel more comfortable with saline implants. Women under the age of 22 are limited to the use of saline implants, as dictated by the FDA.

Are silicone breast implants safe? 

You may be aware that a number of years ago questions were raised about the safety of silicone implants and they were removed from the market for a number of years. During this time, extensive studies were made of these implants and no evidence of any significant safety issue was revealed. The implants were, therefore, returned to the market and have been extensively used ever since. Their safety continues to be closely monitored and to date they continue to be regarded as safe and effective devices by the FDA. I suspect few medical devices have been scrutinized to the extent that breast implants have been; while no device can be regarded as 100% safe, I am comfortable in saying that the evidence suggests that these devices are as safe as anyone could ever provide.

Breast Implant Placement Options

There are two common breast implant placement options. Your implant can be placed behind your breast above the chest muscle (known as a subglandular placement) or behind the chest muscle (a submuscular placement).

Subglandular Placement vs. Submuscular Placement

Submuscular placement has some advantages since this placement option is slightly less likely to impede a mammogram. It is important to understand that all breast implants will impede a mammogram somewhat; however, this is largely overcome by experienced mammographers who get special views in women with breast implants.

Submuscular placement is also advantageous in women who are quite thin with relatively poor soft tissue coverage for the implants. Additionally, it is an ideal placement option for women who have very little natural breast tissue or who prefer saline implants. There is some evidence that capsular contracture, a relatively rare complication resulting in apparent “hardening” of the implants, occurs slightly less often in women who opt for submuscular placement.

Subglandular placement is advantageous in women who have a tendency toward a slightly droopy look, but are not having a breast lift in conjunction with their breast augmentation.

Dr. Kayastha’s Breast Implant Placement Preference

Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha generally prefers the submuscular placement option. He uses this option in approximately 75% of the breast augmentations he performs. Dr. Kayastha prefers submuscular placement because it provides more coverage for the implant, which will ultimately achieve more natural looking results. However, in patients with adequate soft tissue and breast tissue, subglandular placement is an equally viable option.

Breast Incision Options

There are three different incision options for your breast augmentation procedures. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. At your initial consultation, Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha will discuss each of these with you in great detail before recommending the ideal option to address your unique body type and aesthetic goals.

You can choose from the following breast augmentation incision options:

• In the breast fold (inframammary fold) – This is the most commonly used incision location because it provides the easiest and safest approach and provides Dr. Kayastha with the greatest control over the position of the breast implant. The incision will be made in the crease underneath the breasts, just above the region where the breast and rib cage connect. Dr. Kayastha is able to perform your surgery through an incision measuring a little more than one inch. If you choose to use silicone implants, a slightly larger incision will be required.
• Around the nipple (peri-areolar) – This incision is made between the skin surrounding your nipple (the areola) and the skin of your breast tissue. It often leaves a very thin scar that blends well with the areola. But if a thicker scar forms, it can be more visible. Loss of feeling in your nipple and interference with breast feeding are potential risks associated with this incision.
• In the armput (transaxillary) – This incision location can be used for submuscular breast implant placement. There are several caveats to be aware of with transaxillary incisions. If your scar thickens, raising your arm on the beach or in a low-cut gown will make it obvious that you have breast implants. This incision location also makes correct placement of your implant extremely tricky, potentially causing the implant to rest too high on the chest. Dr. Kayastha very rarely uses this approach.

Dr. Kayastha generally uses inframammary fold and peri-areolar incisions with most of his patients for the following reasons:

• They provide the most direct access to the surgical site
• They ensure the highest levels of safety
• The scars are hidden the best

Dr. Kayastha and his talented staff truly care about helping you achieve the most beautiful outcome possible from your breast augmentation procedure. He will work closely with you to devise an aesthetic plan that addresses all of your needs so that you can look and feel like the best version of yourself.

Post-Breast Augmentation

Following your breast augmentation procedure, Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha will provide you with detailed post-operative instructions. It is important to follow these instructions carefully to ensure proper healing and optimal results.

The First Few Weeks Following Surgery

You will need to keep your upper body “quiet” for a few weeks after surgery, especially if you opted for a submuscular breast implant placement. Vigorous exercise or work is restricted. You can gradually resume activities over the next month.

Dr. Kayastha will advise you to wear a sports bra for the first few days after surgery. Once you return to our Albany plastic surgery office for a follow-up visit, you will be instructed to switch to a bra that provides good support. You will need to continue wearing this supportive bra for several months.

You should be able to return to work about one week after your procedure. However, if your job involves any type of strenuous activity, Dr. Kayastha may advise you to wait a little longer before returning to work.

During the first few weeks of recovery, you may experience mild to moderate pain. Dr. Kayastha may prescribe pain medication to reduce your discomfort. Some mild bruising should also be expected. This should subside within 7-10 days. However, if you notice that one breast gets larger or very bruised after surgery, it may indicate a hematoma (bleeding) in our around the pocket. It is important to inform Dr. Kayastha immediately if this occurs.

Scarring and Nipple Sensation

Your scars might be firm and pink following your procedure. However, they will gradually fade over the next few months until they are substantially less noticeable. The location of your scars will vary based on your choice of incision location. Dr. Kayastha will generally recommend a breast augmentation incision option which will minimize the visibility of your scars.

Nipple sensation will vary. Usually, your nipple sensation is normal immediately after surgery, but your nipples may be very sensitive or numb at times. Numbness is not common, and only a very small percentage of patients experience permanent nipple numbness.

Breast Augmentation FAQs

What is the recovery from breast implant surgery and when can I return to work and sports?

I tell my patients that I’d like them to keep their upper body “quiet” for 3 weeks. So I prefer that any vigorous activity involving the upper body and pectoralis area is avoided for the first 3 weeks after surgery. Most people whose occupations are not particularly physical are able to return to work in just a few days.

While everyone is different, most people are fairly comfortable within a day or two and just a small amount of oral pain medication is usually needed postoperatively and not for very long. Breast augmentation patients are usually seen for the first postop visit 3-5 days after their surgery. If all is going well at that time, they are seen again in a week and then again 3 weeks after that. By the time of that 2nd visit, they are usually well healed, happy, and back to just about everything.

How will the feel and firmness of my breasts change?

Implants will add volume and firmness to your breasts, which may help them look less saggy; however, the extra weight of a large implant can increase the likelihood of sagging as the body ages and skin loses elasticity. Silicone gel implants usually provide the most natural look and feel, though Dr. Kayastha may achieve a similar consistency and feel in some patients by inserting saline implants behind the chest muscle.

What is the difference between breast augmentation and breast lift?

Breast lift focuses on restoring a youthful profile to the upper body by raising the breasts and tightening the skin to address sagging. By elevating the position of the breasts on the chest, the procedure can create the appearance of larger volume, even though a small amount of tissue is normally removed during the surgery. In addition, by improving symmetry and restoring a “perky” look by returning low or downward-pointing nipples to a natural appearance, breast lift creates a profile that is more youthful in its projection, shape and proportion.

Will I need to stay in a hospital?

Dr. Kayastha has performed hundreds of breast augmentation surgeries as an outpatient procedure, using general anesthesia. The entire process will normally take one to two hours.

Can breast augmentation be performed in conjunction with other procedures?

Yes, this is commonly done, especially as an element of a suite of surgical procedures known as mommy makeover. These procedures target the changes the body often undergoes as a result of pregnancy. Mommy makeover may also include liposuction, to shrink specific areas of stubborn fat; tummy tuck, to repair the abdominal wall and remove excess folds of skin; and breast lift, as described above.

What should I expect with swelling?

Pain, soreness and swelling are the natural result when an implant is inserted into a sensitive area of your body, especially if it has been placed beneath chest muscles. Swelling crests within 48 hours and is mostly resolved in two weeks, but won’t be completely gone for months. Because of swelling, your breasts will appear a bit elevated on your chest; it will take time for them to drop into their final position.

One of the best ways to manage swelling is to give your body time and space to recover fully and efficiently. Avoid physical stresses that tax the muscles, ligaments and skin that are attempting to heal. Walking, however, is recommended as a practical way to reduce your risk of developing a blood clot. Avoiding dehydration is also helpful, so drink plenty of fluids after surgery.

What are some of the risks of breast augmentation?

In the hands of an experienced surgeon, the likelihood of complications is minimal. Dr. Kayastha believes it is important for every patient to be fully aware of any risks or potential side effects, in order to make informed decisions. In general, possible adverse outcomes include:

• Capsular contracture, which develops when scar tissue forms around an implant. With this condition, patients notice a hardening of breast tissue. This type of scarring can also cause the breast to look different.
• Breasts that look asymmetrical. This can be caused by implant malposition, or may be the result of implants that were properly placed but have moved from their original location. The most common cause is preoperative asymmetry that often is not completely alleviated.
• Implants that rupture, or whose outlines are visible or have developed a “rippling” appearance.
• Bleeding (hematoma), infection, or unsatisfactory incision scars can occur after any surgery, including breast augmentation.

Schedule a Consultation in Schenectady

Contact us today to schedule your initial breast implant consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Sanjiv Kayastha. Patients can also have a look at our before and plastic surgery gallery gallery to help get an idea of what breast implants might look like.