1) HOW DOES DR. SLENKOVICH PERFORM A BREAST AUGMENTATION?
Breast augmentation surgery is performed at our on-site AAAASF-certified (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities) ambulatory surgery center. The procedure takes about an hour and is performed under IV sedation under the care of a Certified Nurse Anesthetist and surgical team consisting of the surgeon, an RN and a surgical technician. This type of anesthesia minimizes the risk of post-operative complications such as blood clots, nausea and vomiting.
Dr. Slenkovich places the implant under the muscle using an inframammary incision (in the crease under the breast). You can expect to be in the building for about 3 hours and your caregiver may wait in our comfortable waiting room. If a breast lift is recommended, the incision may be placed around the areola (darker area around the nipple). Saline or silicone gel implants may be used, as each has different characteristics. The incision may be 1 inch to 2.5 inches depending on the type and size of implant. We provide complimentary cosmetic consultations to patients requesting information about breast surgery. Our clinic is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and we typically perform surgeries on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
2) WHAT HAPPENS DURING A CONSULTATION?
A consultation typically lasts an hour. Here you will meet Dr. Slenkovich and our staff, receive information on the surgery, be examined by Dr. Slenkovich and try on breast implant sizers to help you decide which implant size you like best. You will then receive a price quote from our patient coordinator, Lyndsay, as well as information on financing and steps for booking surgery. You can even get a tour of our surgery center if you like. It can be helpful to bring your significant other, a friend or family member to the consultation for support. You are welcome to come back as many times as needed, free of charge, until we have answered all of your questions.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SILICONE GEL AND A SALINE IMPLANT?
Both implants are excellent choices these days. Technology has come far and manufacturers have created an excellent, natural-feeling breast implant. Saline implants have been around the longest. They are less expensive, can sometimes be felt or seen under the skin, and are more noticeable if they deflate. The silicone gel implant is made up of a cohesive gel which is similar to a gummy bear. It feels more natural, is more costly, and requires an MRI every few years to screen for potential silent leaks. Both implants are available in a variety of sizes and projections. Dr. Slenkovich will make a few suggestions after he examines you based on the base width of your current breast tissue. Ultimately, the decision is yours in choosing the best implant for you.
3) IS THERE ANY LAB WORK REQUIRED BEFORE SURGERY?
Generally, if you are healthy, labs are not required by Dr. Slenkovich. This will be determined at the consultation visit. However, any woman with a family history of breast cancer or who is over the age of 30 is required by Dr. Slenkovich to have a baseline mammogram prior to your pre-operative visit (generally 2 weeks before surgery). This provides an excellent screening tool for breast cancer. You will need to tell the mammographer in the future that you have breast implants so that certain views and techniques are used.
4) WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATIONS YOU SEE?
Breast implants are a man-made device and therefore can fail. Although many women have their implants for years and years, complications can still occur. The most common nuisances associated with a breast augmentation are discomfort, pain, swelling, bruising, temporary changes in sensation of the breast or nipple and asymmetry. Less often, but more concerning are hematoma (internal bleeding in the breast), infection and capsular contracture (scarring around the implant potentially causing firmness, pain and asymmetry). The latter complications could potentially lead to re-operation.
5) WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF A BREAST AUGMENTATION?
Our breast augmentation price quote is all-inclusive and will include the implants, surgeon’s fees, anesthesia fees, facility/supply fees, all your post-op medications, a peri-operative therapy appointment to decrease swelling, and all your pre-op and post-op visits (typically at 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months and annually). The manufacturer of the implants also provides an upgraded warranty for an additional charge in case of an implant rupture years down the road.
