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Breast Augmentation in Portland & Lake Oswego
People choose breast augmentation to enhance their breast size or shape, improve symmetry, restore volume lost due to weight changes or pregnancy, and increase overall self-confidence. The procedure can help individuals feel more balanced and achieve a feminine figure that aligns with their aesthetic goals.
What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of the breasts using implants. Dr. Elisa Burgess uses this procedure to create a more proportionate silhouette with natural-looking results. Some women choose to combine their breast augmentation with breast lift surgery for enhanced volume and lift.
At our Lake Oswego practice, we offer a range of implant brands, styles, and other approaches to tailor your surgery to your body and preferences.
What Are the Benefits of Breast Augmentation?
There are many reasons our breast augmentation patients choose Dr. Burgess for their procedure, including:
- Add greater volume and fullness to naturally small breasts
- Restore volume lost due to pregnancy, aging, or weight loss
- Improve symmetry between two uneven breasts
- Enhance clothing fit and body proportions
- Boost self-esteem and body confidence
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Who Is a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
The ideal recipient of a breast augmentation should be capable of weighing the benefits and risks of the procedure. They should also be making an autonomous decision—meaning the patient wishes to undergo the surgery by her own choice. The patient should be in good health and over the age of 18 years. If the patient is over the age of 30, they should have a healthy mammogram within one year of surgery. One should not be pregnant or nursing, and smoking is advised against.
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What Are My Breast Augmentation Options?
Saline vs Silicone Implants
Saline and silicone implants each offer unique advantages, and the choice depends on individual preferences and goals.
Saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution, allowing for a customizable volume and a slightly firmer feel. In the rare event of a rupture, the saline solution is safely absorbed by the body, and the implant deflates, making leaks immediately noticeable.
Silicone implants, often referred to as “gummy bear implants,” are filled with a cohesive silicone gel that mimics the feel of natural breast tissue, offering a softer and more natural appearance. Silicone breast implants maintain their shape even if a rupture occurs, so routine imaging, such as an MRI or ultrasound, is recommended to monitor their integrity over time.
Both types of implants are safe, FDA-approved options, with distinct qualities to help patients achieve the breast enhancement that best suits their aesthetic and lifestyle preferences.
Implant Brands
Choosing the right breast implant is an important part of your surgical journey. At Burgess Plastic Surgery, we offer four trusted brands— Natrelle® by Allergan, Mentor®, Sientra®, and Motiva®—each with unique features to suit different needs and aesthetic goals. Below, you’ll find an overview of each implant option to help you make an informed decision with your surgeon.
Natrelle®
Offers both saline and silicone implants, including the highly cohesive Natrelle INSPIRA® collection.
Mentor®
Provides MemoryGel®, MemoryGel® Xtra, MemoryShape®, and saline implants.
Sientra®
Specializes in silicone gel implants, known for their high-strength cohesive gel and exclusive use by board-certified plastic surgeons.
Motiva®
Offers Ergonomix® and Round implants, known for their softer feel and innovative designs.
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Breast Implant Placement
Dr. Burgess will help you decide the best implant placement according to your goals. There are three options:
Subglandular: The implant is placed below the mammary glands, above the pectoral muscle. This involves a shorter recovery, but may not be suitable for patients with very little natural tissue.
Submuscular: The implant is placed below the pectoral muscle. This placement offers more natural contours and reduces the risk of visible implant edges.
Dual Plane: The upper part of the implant is placed below the pectoral muscle, and the lower part of the implant is placed below the breast tissue. This placement gives the breasts a natural teardrop shape while still providing fullness in the upper breast.
Breast Implant Incision Locations
There are several approaches to breast implant incisions. The best choice for you depends on your aesthetic goals and body type, as well as your surgeon’s professional guidance.
Inframammary: Made in the crease of the breast, this tends to be the most popular incision due to greater access during surgery. As the incision heals and fades, the scar blends into the natural crease in the skin.
Periareolar: Incisions are placed along the lower edge of the areola. This incision placement results in minimal to invisible scarring and is suitable for small to medium-sized implants.
Transaxillary: Concealed in the armpit, these incisions are very discreet. This entry point may come with a greater risk of implant displacement and a longer recovery time.
“I love what I do. Surgery, like sculpture or acrylic painting, is so creative. When it all comes together, it’s amazing!”
~Dr. Elisa Burgess
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Internal Bra for Breast Augmentation
An internal bra provides added support within the breast for patients seeking extra lift, shape, or long-lasting structural integrity. Using bioresorbable mesh materials like DuraSorb or GalaFLEX, the internal bra acts as a scaffold that gradually dissolves as natural tissue grows and takes over support.
- DuraSorb: This bioresorbable, sterile monofilament mesh dissolves over a shorter period, offering initial support while allowing natural tissue to form in its place. It is FDA-approved for soft tissue support in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, so use in the breast is considered off-label.
- GalaFLEX: This bioresorbable, sterile monofilament knitted mesh dissolves more slowly, providing prolonged support as it integrates with the body’s tissue over time. Like DuraSorb, it is FDA-approved for soft tissue reinforcement in plastic and reconstructive surgery, so use in the breast is considered off-label.
These options can be especially beneficial for individuals with thin tissue, those undergoing revision procedures, or those looking for added lift or reconstruction without compromising natural movement.
How Is a Breast Augmentation Performed?
Initial Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Burgess will discuss your goals, review your medical history, evaluate your anatomy, and help you select implant type, size, and placement. She will then draw up a treatment plan and set a surgery date.
During the Procedure
Breast augmentation is typically performed under general anesthesia. The procedure usually lasts one to two hours, and most patients are able to return home on the same day.
What Is Breast Augmentation Recovery Like?
After your procedure, you will wake up in a recovery area with surgical dressings and a support bra. Mild soreness, swelling, and tightness are common. Dr. Burgess and her team will provide you with aftercare instructions and release you to a designated driver.
You can expect to sleep with your head elevated, avoid lifting your arms, and limit your activity for the first few weeks.
Many patients feel comfortable returning to work after one to two weeks. After a few weeks, you can return to light activity, but should avoid strenuous activity for four to six weeks.
When Will I See My Breast Augmentation Results?
Initial improvements are noticeable immediately but tend to be obscured by swelling and bruising. Full results will emerge over the next three to six months as swelling subsides and your breasts settle into their final position. Scars will fade significantly with time and proper scar care.
How Long Will My Breast Implants Last?
The longevity of your implants varies from person to person. Lifestyle, body changes, and personal health can impact their longevity.
High Resolution Ultrasound for Implant Integrity
After having breast augmentation surgery, we often recommend routine MRI screenings to check for implant integrity. Some silicone implant ruptures can go undiagnosed, which is why you may hear the term ‘silent rupture’. Ultrasound imaging is the most convenient way to ensure that your silicone implants are still intact. At Burgess Plastic Surgery, our nurses are trained to evaluate for implant integrity and rupture. We are proud to offer in-clinic HRUS to our breast implant patients.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in Portland?
Breast augmentation pricing varies significantly, depending on factors such as the type of implant used, the surgical technique used, anesthesia fees, facility fees, and other costs.
Our team will provide you with a detailed cost breakdown during your consultation. Financing is available.
Transformations That Speak Volumes
See What Our Patients Are Saying
I was really nervous about the whole process but the staff made me feel very comfortable with my procedure. She changed my life!
Dr. Burgess and her professional staff are top notch. From the initial consultation to the final results, I couldn’t be more pleased
Dr. Burgess performed Ultherapy around my mouth and lips and within 3 weeks I felt firmer and my lips appeared to be ‘lifted’ and more shapely. Now at 2 months, I am enjoying a more defined lip line. The procedure was less painful than I expected and took less than 30 minutes.
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Interested in Breast Augmentation in Lake Oswego?
If you’re considering a breast augmentation with implants, our team at Burgess Plastic Surgery can help you achieve beautiful, natural-looking results. Dr. Elisa Burgess is a board-certified plastic surgeon dedicated to providing exceptional results. Call us today at (503) 699-6464 or complete our online contact form to schedule your consultation and take the next step.
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