Breast Augmentation

• Breast implant surgery gives patients the opportunity to regain lost volume and customize their silhouette by enhancing the size, shape, positioning, or profile of their breast contours.
• With an array of modern saline and silicone implant options available, results can range from modest, elegant enhancement to a more voluptuous augmentation.
• The procedure typically involves an outpatient surgery performed under general anesthesia, during which the implant placement location and incision technique are pre-determined.
• Recovery from breast implant surgery generally takes one to two weeks, though patients can usually resume light activity and non-strenuous work after 4 to 7 days.

Named among the next generation’s guard of elite plastic surgeons in New York City, Dr. Ira Savetsky — deemed the “Quiet Luxury King” by the New York Post — is known for his natural-looking breast augmentation results.

Breast augmentation with implants is the foremost procedure to customize the volume, shape, symmetry, and profile of the breasts. Many factors can affect the breast contours over time, from pregnancy and breastfeeding to weight loss, genetics, or the inevitable aging process. Implants offer a dynamic and highly customizable solution to restore the youthful qualities of your breasts or to simply provide you with the enhancement you’ve always dreamed of. Dr. Ira Savetsky is an extensively published and fellowship-trained aesthetic plastic surgeon providing New York City patients with breast surgery of the highest quality. Modern techniques and advanced implant options enable him to achieve extremely natural and lasting results with the utmost consideration of your aesthetic goals.

• Breast Augmentation Benefits
• Breast Augmentation Candidates
• Breast Implant Options
• Breast Implant Placement
• Breast Augmentation Procedure
• Breast Augmentation Recovery
• Breast Augmentation Results
• Breast Augmentation Scars
• Breast Augmentation Cost
• Breast Augmentation FAQ

What Can Breast Augmentation Improve?

Breast augmentation is personalized to provide more youthful contours according to a patient’s goals. That said, the benefits of breast implants can be varied and extremely versatile. Depending on the type of implants chosen and your hopes for the final outcome, breast augmentation can:

• Add volume and enhance fullness in the upper breast poles
• Refine the breast shape to achieve rounder contours
• Correct a flat, stretched, or elongated look in the breasts
• Regain a more youthful look in the bust
• Attain a better fit in clothing
• Enhance cleavage

Breast implants have been known to offer stunning, natural-looking results and we welcome you to explore our before-and-after gallery to see what’s possible with breast augmentation. During your consultation, Dr. Savetsky will openly discuss the benefits, limitations, and potential risks of surgery so you can decide whether breast implants are the best option to achieve your goals.

Is Breast Augmentation Right for Me?

Breast implants can help correct a loss of volume, fullness, or shape in the bust, which all tend to create a stretched, pendulous, or elongated look. Breast augmentation has remained among the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries in the world for decades, lending to the effectiveness and enduring quality of the procedure. Generally speaking, breast implants can benefit patients who are dissatisfied with their breasts and:

• Healthy, with no unmanaged medical conditions that may disrupt the healing process
• A non-smoker, or willing to quit smoking before and after surgery
• Realistic about their expectations for the outcome
• Able to maintain a positive outlook on the potential results
• Well-informed about the facts of the procedure

Dr. Savetsky will not only review your medical history during your consultation, but he will also answer any questions or concerns you may have about breast augmentation. He will thoroughly explain the outcomes, benefits, risks, and limitations of the procedure to help you make your decision about whether or not to pursue surgery. If you also experience breast sag caused by stretched skin and tissue, Dr. Savetsky may recommend a breast lift in place of — or in addition to — breast implants.

Types of Breast Implants

With the many advances in breast augmentation over the years, Dr. Savetsky is able to provide his patients with the latest, most cutting-edge implant models available. There is a wide range of sizes, shapes, and types of breast implants to choose from, and Dr. Savetsky will be there to help you make the best decisions to obtain your ideal contours.

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants are highly favored for their ability to mimic the look and feel of natural breast tissue. Composed of silicone gel inside a silicone encasement, these implants can keep their shape in the rare event of rupture and produce a firmer feel when compared to saline devices. They can also reduce the risk of rippling, wherein the implant edges are seen or felt through the skin.

Saline Implants

Saline implants can be a great option to enhance the size and shape of your breasts, typically offering the benefit of shorter incisions when compared to silicone models. These implants are composed of saline solution inside of a silicone shell and are filled after insertion into the implant pocket. Saline implants also offer visible indications of a tear or a leak as the saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body.

Breast Implant Placement

Part of the breast augmentation process involves determining the best location for the implant pocket. There are two techniques for breast implant placement: submuscular (under the chest muscle) and subglandular (over the chest muscle). Both approaches have their pros and cons depending on your goals, implant size, and body frame:

• Under-the-Muscle (Submuscular): When placed under the pectoral (chest) muscles, patients generally have a greater degree of coverage for their implants. The risk of implant rippling is reduced, and individuals with smaller natural breasts can achieve more natural-looking results. However, the recovery period can be relatively longer when compared to placing an implant over the chest muscle.
• Over-the-Muscle (Subglandular): Subglandular placement can benefit individuals who have a larger amount of breast tissue coverage to support their implants. While the risk of implant distortion is lower with over-the-muscle placement — potentially making this approach more ideal for bodybuilders, weightlifters, etc. — the likelihood of rippling can be relatively higher, particularly with larger implants. Subglandular breast augmentation also typically allows less downtime when compared to under-the-muscle placement since the chest muscles are not penetrated.

After assessing your needs, Dr. Savetsky can recommend the most optimal choice for implant placement to achieve the results you desire. Both options can provide results that look natural and complementary to your body frame.

How is the Breast Augmentation Procedure Performed?

During breast augmentation, incisions are made in a predetermined location — either encircling the areolas, along the natural contour of the breast crease, or within the contours of the underarm. The underarm incision, known as the “transaxillary” technique, is only suitable for certain patients who are receiving saline implants. Dr. Savetsky will go over the best option for your unique procedure at the time of your consultation. He will also explain the pros and cons of under-the-muscle versus over-the-muscle placement for your breast implants, recommending the most optimal location for the implant pocket according to your needs. In most cases, placing the implant under the chest muscle tends to provide better coverage and reduces the risk of implant rippling, leading to more natural-looking augmentation.

The procedure utilizes general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours to perform. It’s usually completed on an outpatient basis, meaning patients are able to return home on the same day after a brief period of observation in our recovery rooms. The effects of the anesthesia will still be apparent, so individuals should arrange a ride to and from our surgical facility.

Periareolar Incision

Breast augmentation incisions are designed to be as discreet and undetectable as possible and the periareolar technique offers one of the most inconspicuous incision sites available. Placed along the outer perimeter of the areolas, the periareolar incision can typically accommodate both silicone and saline implants. While this technique may not be the best approach for placing larger-sized implants, scarring from periareolar breast augmentation is usually well-concealed along the natural change in pigmentation from the breast skin to the areolas.

Inframammary Incision

One of the most common breast augmentation techniques is the inframammary incision, which is placed along the natural contour of the breast crease. By placing the incision where the lower breast meets the chest wall, this procedure can accommodate a variety of breast implant sizes and profiles. Inframammary breast augmentation is also often recommended for women who are interested in breastfeeding after surgery, as the technique avoids the nipples and areolas.

Transaxillary Incision

The transaxillary incision is placed within a natural fold of the underarm or armpit. Due to its location, this approach is typically only appropriate for those who choose saline breast implants for their enhancement. During the procedure, the saline implant is positioned through the underarm and filled after insertion. This has the benefit of avoiding scarring on the breasts altogether.

What Can I Expect During Recovery From Breast Augmentation?

Downtime after breast augmentation usually lasts one week before patients feel well enough to resume their normal routines. In most cases, you can perform light daily activities after a few days as long as there is no strenuous activity or heavy lifting. Swelling, bruising, numbness, or a general feeling of weakness are expected as you recover from surgery. Everyone has a unique rate of healing, so the length of the recovery period varies from patient to patient. Dr. Savetsky will give you detailed aftercare instructions to ensure your recovery proceeds as smoothly as possible.

How Long Do Breast Augmentation Results Last?

While breast implants are not meant to be lifetime devices, the outcome of breast augmentation should last for decades and provide you with good results for the near and distant future. Key to ensuring your implants remain in good condition is staying vigilant to changes in the look and feel of your breasts. If you begin to notice tightness, hardness, or a distortion in your implants, this can be an indication of capsular contracture, rupture, or other complications. A secondary procedure known as breast revision can correct issues and generally improve the original result in the rare case of complication. Alternatively, breast revision can also be performed if you simply want a newer size or type of implant in the future. In order to maximize the longevity of your results, we recommend maintaining a healthy weight and living an active lifestyle to preserve your new contours.

Will I Have Visible Breast Augmentation Scars?

Yes, scarring is an inevitable outcome of surgery but all breast augmentation scars can be completely hidden underneath a bra or bikini. Scars from the periareolar and transaxillary incisions should blend in harmoniously with the natural folds and contours of the body, minimizing visibility. Dr. Savetsky will show you before-and-after photos and outline the potential shape and size of your scars during your consultation so you know what to expect from surgery. With good aftercare and medical-grade skincare products, scars can often become less noticeable and lighten over time. Avoiding smoking, sun exposure, and an unhealthy lifestyle during the recovery period can also help promote optimal healing, increasing the likelihood of your scars fading to some extent.

How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?

Breast augmentation is a highly personalized procedure, so the costs of surgery are similarly tailored to the needs and goals of each patient. Factors like your geographic location and the experience of your plastic surgeon will influence the total price, but your cost estimate will ultimately be determined by:

• The type of implants chosen
• The surgical technique utilized
• The extent of surgical work necessary to achieve your goals

Generally speaking, the cost of breast augmentation in New York City usually falls between $10,000 to $18,000, which includes fees for anesthesia, the operating facility, your surgeon, etc. Rest assured that our office will provide you with a personalized quote after your needs are assessed in a consultation. Plastic surgery financing options can help individuals receive the treatment they desire while still staying within their budget, and our practice accepts plans from CareCredit^® for qualified patients. Please don’t hesitate to call our office if you have any questions about the cost of breast implants.

Additional Breast Augmentation FAQs

How long does it take for breast implants to settle?

It can take 3 to 6 months for breast implants to fully settle, in some cases requiring up to a year to see the final outcome depending on factors such as implant placement (over or under the muscle), implant type, skin elasticity, anatomy, and adherence to post-operative instructions.

It’s important to remember that breast implants do not reach their final position immediately after surgery. In the early healing phase, it’s completely normal for implants to sit higher on the chest and feel firm or tight. This occurs because the chest muscles, surrounding tissues, and skin are responding to swelling and adjusting to the presence of your implants. For most patients, implant settling begins within the first 6 to 8 weeks after breast augmentation. During this time, swelling decreases, muscle tension softens, and the final breast contour begins to take shape. As healing progresses, the tissues gradually relax, allowing the implants to move into a more natural, lower position — a process commonly referred to as “drop and fluff.”

Do breast implants affect chest workouts or muscle strength?

No, breast implants do not permanently weaken chest muscles or reduce overall upper body strength; however, the impact on chest workouts depends largely on implant placement. When implants are placed under the pectoral muscle (submuscular or dual-plane placement), the muscle is temporarily affected during surgery and requires time to heal. With this approach, chest exercises are restricted during the recovery period to prevent strain, displacement, or discomfort.

For patients who engage in weightlifting, bodybuilding or high-intensity chest-focused training, an over-the-muscle (subglandular) approach is typically recommended and implant placement is carefully discussed during your consultation. Dr. Savetsky listens to your needs and tailors the implant size, profile, and placement according to your lifestyle to minimize interference with athletic performance.

Can breast implants add cleavage?

Breast implants can enhance cleavage, but the extent of cleavage depends on several anatomical and surgical factors rather than implant size alone. Cleavage is influenced by the natural distance between the breasts, chest wall shape, rib cage width, skin elasticity, and where the implants are positioned within the breast pocket. While implants can increase volume and fullness, they cannot completely override a patient’s natural anatomy.

That said, breast augmentation can significantly improve the appearance of cleavage by adding fullness to the upper poles of the breasts. Dr. Savetsky considers implant diameter, profile, and placement when designing cleavage-enhancing results. It’s also important for patients to understand that dramatic cleavage is often most visible when wearing supportive bras, swimwear, or push-up styles, while a natural, relaxed degree of cleavage is expected without garments.

Dr. Ira Savetky can work with you to identify your concerns and develop a treatment plan to make the curves you envision a reality. Contact Dr. Savetsky at our New York City office to schedule an initial consultation or to speak with a friendly member of our team.