Breast Augmentation FAQs

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries chosen by Florida women to enhance their bodies, whether on or off the sandy beaches along the Gulf Coast. The procedure can help you look curvier and sexier, while still bringing out the best in their natural beauty. Below are just a few of the most popular questions we get about this procedure.

Request a consultation at our practice to learn more about your breast augmentation options. Our Tampa cosmetic surgeons have advanced training in cosmetic techniques and aesthetic medicine, and have the skill and experience necessary to help you look your best, while at the same time ensuring a positive, comfortable experience.

Breast augmentation has ranked consistently in the top five cosmetic surgeries performed in the United States over the last several years. Breast augmentation can enhance breasts in women whose natural breasts are too small for their frame, whose breasts have changed in size or shape due to pregnancy, nursing or weight changes, or who are simply unhappy with the appearance of their breasts.

The best candidates for breast augmentation are women who want to improve the appearance of their breasts, yet who maintain realistic expectations about their procedure. The best results are seen in women who are in good health both mentally and physically. There are a few factors that should be taken into consideration before surgery, such as your typical level of physical activity, and whether or not you are planning on breastfeeding after your procedure. Dr. Castellano can sit down with you during a consultation to determine whether a breast augmentation will be right for you.

Everyone wants the best breast augmentation results that will look good and complement their natural features. Many cosmetic surgeons offer breast implants in the Tampa area, but not all of them can deliver the results you want. Dr. Castellano and his team have decades of aesthetic experience and hundreds of satisfied repeat patients. During your consultation, you can see more before and after images and find out how we are able to achieve beautiful results through breast enhancement.

Some women prefer a more natural, subtle look, while others want more dramatic results. It’s a good idea to bring some inspiration pictures to your consultation for a starting reference point. While tricks like trying on rice sizers can be helpful, the implants themselves will look much different than rice—and that’s a good thing. For this reason, I advise my patients not to get too attached to a specific implant volume or bra size as a goal for their surgery, and instead to bring in “inspiration pictures” that look similar to the look you hope for. From there, my expertise allows me to make an informed decision about the right volume, breast shape and profile that will work best for you. The process of choosing breast implants isn’t something you go through on your own. Instead, you’ll have my experienced guidance to help you make the right choice.

Dr. Castellano has extensive experience with both saline and silicone implants, and will work with you to make sure that you make the choice that will bring you closest to your appearance goals. The option of silicone versus saline comes down to the desired end results, the patient’s personal preference and any advice from your surgeon. There are benefits to both types of implant, and beautiful results can be achieved with either. Dr. Castellano will go over your options with you, and make sure you’re comfortable with your decision.

Both saline and silicone implants are encased in a very strong silicone elastomer shell that would take a great deal of force to rupture. Of course, some implants develop tiny leaks over time, but the failure rate overall is less than 1%. As for the connection between physical activities and implants in general, I feel it’s important to plan implant size relative to your lifestyle as well as your frame. For example, I might suggest that an avid jogger choose a slightly smaller breast implant so she’s more comfortable on the trail or treadmill.

While implants can restore lost breast volume, only a breast lift can raise them up higher and reduce sagging. If you are unhappy with the way your nipples or areolas appear, talk with your cosmetic surgeon about including a breast lift with your augmentation.

Breast implants alone shouldn’t impede your ability to breastfeed, although it’s important to remember that many women are unable to nurse even without implants. Choosing a periareolar incision placement slightly increases the risks of not being able to nurse, because it’s made so close to the milk ducts, but other incision placements can minimize the risk of nursing complications. In general, I recommend women wait until they’re done having children before proceeding with breast augmentation. The breasts undergo a lot of changes during pregnancy that could impact the results of your enhancement, and require revision surgery later on. Whenever possible, one surgery is always preferable to a surgery plus a touch-up.

The surgery itself will take about an hour. During the procedure, Dr. Castellano will make an incision that’s large enough to allow the implant insertion, yet is hidden below the natural curve of the breasts or around the areola for a minimal appearance after healing. Dr. Castellano will then place the implant either below the chest muscles (submuscular placement) or between the chest muscles and the natural breast tissue (subglandular placement). After the implant is set in place, the incisions will be closed with special stitches that minimize scarring, and you can begin your recovery.

It’s best to plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery, although some women feel up to returning to work sooner. Be sure to give your body the time it needs to rest and heal, and don’t push yourself. Some initial swelling and discomfort are normal, and can be relieved by sleeping in an elevated position, applying cold compresses and wearing a compression garment.

You’ll notice a change in your breasts immediately after surgery, although your final results won’t be visible until the swelling has dissipated and the implants have settled in place. This typically takes anywhere from six or eight weeks, depending on how your body responds to the surgery. It can be difficult to wait for your final breast augmentation results to develop, but your patience will pay off. When implants are placed under the chest muscle, these muscles can become very tense after surgery. This causes the implants to seem tight and sit higher on the chest than you’d probably like. Once the muscles relax, however, your implants will settle into a lower position on your chest and look much more natural.

Our skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeons go to great lengths to utilize the smallest incisions possible and place them as inconspicuously as possible as well. Keep in mind, too, that scars can take up to 18 months to fully mature and will gradually fade over time.

You may have heard that it is necessary to have breast implants removed and replaced after 10 years. This likely comes from the fact that manufacturers generally warranty their implants for 10 years. However, many women go well beyond the 10-year mark without any need for replacement. The most common reason for women to have implants removed is because they want to go bigger. The only other reasons to consider replacement are in the case of a rupture or if you are unhappy with the way your implants look or feel.

Absolutely. Many women combine breast augmentation with a breast lift for more comprehensive results. A breast lift reshapes your existing breast tissue into a more youthful appearance and placement. When combined with implants for additional volume, the result is a high, full breast. Liposuction is another procedure that is often included with breast augmentation. Liposuction in the breast area can offer additional fine-tuning with augmentation, while liposuction in the abdomen and love handles can slim down the waist to accentuate your new curves.

It helps to bring reference photos and talk through the look you want with your surgeon during your consultation. Dr. Castellano or Dr. Giglio can help you choose a size that complements your frame and creates a balanced, natural-looking result.

Implants restore volume but do not fully correct noticeable sagging. If the nipples sit low on the breast or skin is loose, pairing a breast lift with augmentation often creates a better, more lifted result.

The natural feel depends on implant type, size and placement. Silicone implants often feel softer and more tissue-like, and placing them under the muscle can help to create a natural transition at the upper breast.

It’s normal for implants to settle at slightly different rates during the healing process. Most asymmetry evens out over the first few months as the tissues relax. If you have concerns about asymmetry as your breast implants continue to settle over the coming months, let your surgeon know.

Breast implants don’t need to be replaced on a strict timeline, although they are not considered lifetime devices so will generally need to be replaced at some point in the future. For many women, breast implants last 10 to 20 years or more before needing to be replaced.

Many women are able to breastfeed after breast augmentation. However, the ability to do so depends on your natural anatomy and the surgical technique used. If this is important to you, make sure you let your surgeon know during your consultation so that surgical techniques can be tailored to this goal.

Yes. Saline and silicone differ in feel, incision size and how they look on different body types. The right choice depends on your goals, lifestyle and personal preferences. At your consultation, Dr. Castellano or Dr. Giglio will help you choose the best implant type for your goals and preferences.