Breast Augmentation

The ideal candidates for a breast augmentation procedure are healthy women who have realistic expectations of surgical outcomes. Your breasts will be more voluminous and shapely but they will also behave like natural breasts and respond to aging in a natural way. However they maintain their shape and projection longer than natural breasts. Future pregnancies or breastfeeding are not affected by breast implants, with most women being able to successfully breastfeed. However, it is important to keep in mind that pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the shape of your breasts.

Women today have more options than ever before in breast aesthetics. Saline and silicone gel implants, varying shapes, degrees of projection and size are all options to consider when choosing to undergo breast augmentation. During your consultation, Dr. Barr will carefully assess your body shape, tissue characteristics, concerns, expectations and personal desires for breast enhancement. Your options will be discussed and decisions will be made based on your individual characteristics and aesthetic goals.

The breast implant is placed in a pocket either directly behind the breast tissue (sub-mammary placement) or beneath the pectoral muscle of the chest (sub-muscular placement). Incisions can be placed in 1 of 3 locations: underneath the breast hidden in your breast crease, around the lower border of your areola, or in your underarm area.  Patient characteristics and goals will determine which placement best suits your aesthetic needs.

The volume of breast implants is measured in cubic centimeters (cc’s). The implants offered at Barr Plastic Surgery include a wide range of volumes, styles and projections. This ensures that you will be able to find an implant to suit your specific needs and taste. Many variables influence the size, projection and overall aesthetic outcome of breast augmentation surgery, so even identical implants placed in two different patients, will have different results. During your consultation, Dr. Barr will educate you about the attributes of each implant option and how these can be used to obtain your desired results.

Implant selection is a critical part of your breast augmentation consultation. Dr. Barr will show you how the type and volume of implant you choose will depend on your personal characteristics such as body type, shape and personal goals. At your consultation, you will be provided with a medical sizing bra and multiple styles, projections and volumes of implants. This is completed in one of two sizing rooms. Through this process, you will learn how each implant will address your aesthetic needs. Dr. Barr will provide important information during the sizing process. By the end of the consultation, you will have a thorough understanding of your choice of implant style, projection and volume. This use of actual implants has proven to be invaluable in helping patients understand the real changes that will occur with breast augmentation. This allows them to feel comfortable with their choice of implant and more excited to proceed with their breast augmentation with Dr. Barr.

When trying the trial implants, it is important to note that your breasts will look larger in the trial implant bra than how they will appear once the implants are placed inside the breast at the time of surgery. In addition, implants will appear smaller when placed beneath the muscle than when placed behind the breast tissue. All of these considerations will be explained in detail so that you can incorporate these factors into your ultimate choice of implant.

Breast implants have a finite lifespan. Many patients enjoy their implants for an extremely long time and appreciate the aesthetic changes, improved appearance and enhanced self confidence. They will only need to be replaced if there is an issue such as hardening of the implant pocket or loss of implant integrity. These issues are not common in Dr. Barr’s patients but can occur in any breast implant patient around 15 to 20 years. The procedure to replace the implant is similar to the original operation. If at any point you choose to have your breast implants removed but not replace them, your breasts will lose the volume provided by the implants and there will be laxity and sagging of the breast tissue.  These are similar to the changes that would have occurred naturally over the same time had you never chosen to have breast implants. 

Breast implants do not increase the risk of breast cancer. There is no medical data indicating that women with breast implants are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Patients with breast implants should continue with the same routine of self testing and appointments with their family physician as they did prior to their breast augmentation procedure.  

There is an extremely rare lymphoma of the breast known as BIA-ALCL that is associated with macro-textured breast implants (also known as Biocell implants) that has affected a relatively small number of breast implant patients in the world. Dr. Barr does not use Biocell implants and therefore has eliminated this risk for his many patients.

There is no medical data indicating that women with breast implants are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Patients with breast implants should continue with the same routine of self testing and appointments with their family physician as they did prior to their breast augmentation procedure. Specifically, women should have an annual mammogram and a bi-annual breast ultrasound beginning at the age of 50. The mammograms are done using the “Eklund technique” to optimally visualize the breast tissue in patients with breast implants. This should be the normal screening for all breast implant patients.

It is possible to schedule another surgery at the same time as your breast augmentation. Many moms discuss a mastopexy and/or an abdominoplasty procedure in conjunction with their breast augmentation. These are commonly done to reverse the changes of pregnancy, hormone changes and weight fluctuations that also affected the breasts.  Please advise us when booking your consultation if these are areas that you would like to discuss during your appointment with Dr. Barr. 

Your procedure will be performed within the state-of-the-art facilities of Barr Plastic Surgery, located within the Northern Ontario Surgical Centre.

The Northern Ontario Surgical Centre has been awarded accreditation by the CAAASF (Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities) for meeting the standards of a hospital in regards to monitoring, emergency and resuscitation equipment. With two levels and entrances that conceal the actual size of the facility, the centre itself spans 8000 square feet and incorporates fully equipped major and minor operating rooms, a monitored multi-bed recovery area, 10 laser and treatment rooms, spacious consultation areas, private offices to discuss financing options, elegant waiting areas and a private waiting room and secure rear entrance/exit for additional privacy when desired.

Your breast augmentation procedure will be performed according to the decisions made by yourself and Dr. Barr during the consultation process. You will be administered a light general anaesthetic by a board-certified anesthesiologist and once you are comfortably asleep, the surgery will begin. The implants you have selected during your sizing consultation will be inserted either above or below the muscle through one of three incision sites chosen by you and Dr. Barr during consult. The entire surgery lasts approximately an hour.  You will then be monitored in the recovery room for several hours after surgery until you are able to be discharged. Breast augmentation is performed as an outpatient procedure so you will not be required to stay overnight at Barr Plastic Surgery. Once you are discharged, you will need a friend or family member to drive you home and care for you for the next 24-48 hours.

A board-certified anesthesiologist will administer your anaesthetic, stay with you during the entire operation, and will be there as you wake up.

During office hours our Patient Coordinators and nursing staff are available to answer any questions or concerns following your breast implant surgery. After hours, Dr. Barr is available by pager.

You will be able to carry on with light activities on the same day as surgery. Most patients can return to work within a few days. Any temporary soreness, swelling or change in nipple sensation will disappear gradually. Dr. Barr has a specific post operative protocol to ensure that your breasts have great mobility, are soft, natural and great aesthetics. These will be taught in the recovery room and during the 1 week follow up visit.  

Patients start showering on the second day after surgery. During the first 6 weeks after surgery, we will have you support your breasts in the surgical bra provided for you.    

Patients need to avoid activities that increases their blood pressure for 2 weeks after surgery (no use of the gym) and they cannot do a chest work out or run until 4 weeks after surgery.   

Due to the swelling after surgery there will be some loss of feeling in your nipples and breasts. This altered sensation subsides as swelling decreases over the next few weeks. However, in some patients, this numbness may last upwards of a year but is rarely permanent.

Dr. Barr takes every precaution to ensure your scarring is as minimal as possible. Most breast implant patients’ incisions become undetectable by 6 to 12 months. Dr. Barr and the nursing staff will discuss ways to optimize the appearance of your incisions including sunscreen, massage, silicone gels / sheeting and time.