Serving Knoxville, Sevierville, Knox County & Nearby Areas of Tennessee
There's a reason why breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed every year. It can have a dramatic impact on your appearance, helping you achieve the boost in self-confidence that typically comes when you love the way you look. If you'd like to improve the size and shape of your breasts, then breast augmentation may be the ideal solution to address your unique needs and goals.
Dr. Dean Kleto has over 25 years of experience performing breast enlargement procedures for women in the Knoxville area. He will listen carefully to your aesthetic goals in order to create a customized treatment plan that will achieve your desired outcome.
You can learn more about your breast augmentation options and receive individualized treatment recommendations by speaking with Dr. Kleto in person. Please call 865.524.2442 today to schedule a consultation at our Knoxville plastic surgery office.
- Benefits of Breast Augmentation
- Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
- Correcting Breast Asymmetry
- Breast Augmentation Options
- Breast Implant Types
- Breast Augmentation Incision Options
- Breast Implant Placement
- Breast Implant Sizing
- Preparing for Breast Augmentation Surgery
- Breast Augmentation Recovery
- Breast Augmentation Risks
- Breast Augmentation Revision
- Contact our Knoxville Breast Surgeon
Benefits of Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation can help you achieve a more attractive breast appearance as well as a more proportionate and balanced figure. These are by far the greatest benefits you'll experience from breast enlargement, and the primary reasons why most women choose to undergo the procedure. However, these aren't the only benefits you'll receive.
You'll experience many aesthetic benefits from breast augmentation, including:
- Increase in breast size
- Improved breast shape
- Restoration of lost breast volume from pregnancy and breastfeeding, significant weight loss or the aging process
- Correction of breast asymmetry
- More attractive cleavage
- Improved breast projection
- Improved appearance in swimsuits, lingerie and clothing
Am I a Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
Every woman's reason for undergoing breast enhancement is somewhat unique. That being said, you're most likely a candidate for the procedure if there are one or more aspects of your breast appearance that you'd like to improve. Some of these goals may include:
- To increase the size of your breasts
- To improve the appearance of breasts that are unevenly sized or shaped
- To correct breast asymmetry
- To have closer cleavage
- To restore lost breast volume
While breast augmentation can address mild sagging issues, it isn't the right procedure to correct moderate to severe sagging. In these situations, you may achieve better results from a breast lift.
In addition to the aesthetic reasons for undergoing breast enhancement, you should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations for the outcome of your procedure. If you're a smoker, you should plan on quitting prior to your procedure and throughout the recovery period since smoking can adversely impact healing and final results.
Is it the Right Time in Your Life for Breast Augmentation?
There is no one "right time" to get breast implants. The right moment in your life will depend on a variety of factors.
If you're planning on becoming pregnant in the near future, you may want to wait until after you're done having children to undergo the procedure. Breast implants will not impact your ability to breastfeed safely, but the changes to your breasts that occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding can potentially have a negative impact on your results. If family plans aren't in your immediate future, then it's fine to consider getting breast implants now.
Similarly, if you are planning on trying to lose a significant amount of weight, you should delay your procedure until you've reached your target weight since massive weight loss can adversely impact on your results.
You also need to consider whether your current lifestyle allows you to take the time you need to rest and recover after breast enlargement surgery, and whether it is financially feasible for you at this time.
Correcting Breast Asymmetry
Most women have breasts that are somewhat asymmetrical. This is very natural. However, in some instances the difference in the appearance of each breast can be dramatic. If you experience self-consciousness due to significant breast asymmetry, then breast augmentation may be an ideal option to achieve a more balanced, symmetrical breast appearance.
Correcting breast asymmetry depends greatly on the individual. Each case is unique in presentation, so the approach to sculpting or restoring even, symmetrical breasts must be done on a case-by-case basis.
Breast augmentation is the most common surgery for correcting asymmetry, but breast reduction or a breast lift may be a better choice for some women.
Dr. Kleto may employ one or more of the following plastic surgery techniques to correct breast asymmetry:
- Placing an implant in the smaller breast only
- Breast augmentation with different sized implants
- Breast reduction from one breast or both breasts
- Surgical correction of breast shape
- Breast lift
- Nipple surgery to correct asymmetrical placement or size of the nipple or areola
Breast Augmentation Options
Achieving the beautiful, natural looking breast augmentation results you desire is dependent on several factors. One of the most important is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon. This will play a major role in the outcome of your procedure.
Equally important are the decisions you make regarding the different breast augmentation options available to you. There are several different ways to approach many aspects of your procedure, and the options you choose will significantly impact your final outcome.
During your consultation, Dr. Kleto will discuss the different options available to you and make individualized recommendations based on your unique needs and goals. Some of the aspects of your procedure that you will need to decide on include:
- Breast implant type
- Breast implant incision location
- Breast implant placement
- Breast implant size
For additional information, please read our Questions about Breast Augmentation page.
Breast Implant Types
There are three different types of breast implants to choose from:
- Saline breast implants
- Silicone breast implants
- “Gummy bear” breast implants
Saline implants are FDA-approved for women over the age of 18. They consist of a silicone shell that gets filled with a sterile saline solution. While saline implants do not look or feel as natural as silicone implants, they do offer the distinct advantage of reducing the size of your breast augmentation incisions. Another benefit of saline implants is that in the event of a rupture, the sterile saline solution will be safely absorbed by your body.
One disadvantage of saline implants is that they may be more prone to rippling depending on the volume of breast tissue covering the implant. Dr. Kleto has found submuscular breast implant placement can reduce the appearance of rippling, but he may still recommend silicone implants to guard against this aesthetic imperfection, especially if you have minimal natural breast tissue to cover the implant.
Silicone breast implants are FDA-approved for women over the age of 22. They consist of a silicone shell that contains a silicone gel material. Silicone implants come pre-filled to the exact specifications determined by you and Dr. Kleto.
Dr. Kleto prefers silicone implants for several reasons, including:
- Silicone implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue
- Silicone implants provide fuller cleavage
- Silicone implants will not ripple or wrinkle
- In the event of a rupture, silicone implants will maintain their form, unlike saline implants which deflate and create an uneven breast appearance
“Gummy bear” implants are the newest option to be approved by the FDA. They are also available for women over the age of 22 and consist of a silicone shell pre-filled with a form-stable cohesive silicone gel material. These implants provide the most natural look and feel of any option and have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Choosing the Right Breast Implant
During your consultation with Dr. Kleto, your breast implant options will be explained and illustrated. Dr. Kleto uses Axis Three technology to let you see the outcome of your breast augmentation and how the outcome will change with each breast implant option. The benefits of Axis Three include:
- Captures a 3D image of your body, letting you see a highly individualized prediction of your outcome.
- Allows you and Dr. Kleto input various breast implant options, and then you can view a computer screen that will show you how your breasts will look with each option.
- Allows you compare possible outcomes side-by-side on the screen, up to six images at a time.
Breast Augmentation Incision Options
There are 3 different incision locations that can be used with your breast augmentation procedure:
- Inframammary incision – Incision is made near the lower breast fold
- Periareolar incision – Incision is made around the lower border of the areola
- Transaxillary incision – Incision is made in the natural fold of the armpit
Dr. Kleto prefers inframammary incisions for a variety of reasons:
- Provides the greatest amount control when placing the breast implant
- Provides the best access to the breast pocket
- Scars will be easily concealed in the natural folds of your breasts
- Less interference with breastfeeding
- Greater preservation of nipple sensation
- If breast augmentation revision or implant replacement becomes necessary, inframammary incisions can be reopened, reducing future scarring and eliminating the need for additional incisions
Most importantly, Dr. Kleto has found that using the inframmary incision location allows him to achieve the most natural looking results possible.
Breast Implant Placement
There are 2 different breast implant placement options:
- Submuscular placement – Breast implants are placed underneath the chest muscle
- Subglandular placement – Breast implants are placed behind your breast tissue and over the chest muscle
Dr. Kleto prefers submuscular placement for a variety of reasons. This option hides the implants underneath the muscles in your chest and is ideal for all types of breast implants.
It is by far the best option for women with smaller breasts and insufficient tissue to cover an implant. Dr. Kleto has also found that submuscular placement is ideal for most women, regardless of their natural breast size prior to surgery.
Submuscular placement offers several other benefits, including:
- More natural looking and feeling results
- Reduced risk of capsular contracture (a painful condition in which scar tissue forms around the implant, making it appear hard and unnatural)
- Reduced risk of rippling
- Reduced visibility of implants
- Less interference with mammograms
- Less interference with future breastfeeding
Breast Implant Sizing
The size of your breast implant will have a dramatic impact on your results. Dr. Kleto will evaluate the following factors when recommending the ideal implant size for you:
- Your height, weight and chest dimensions
- Your desired cup size after surgery
- The amount of natural breast tissue you possess
- Your skin elasticity
- The extent to which you lead an active, athletic lifestyle
Breast implants are measured in cubic centimeters (cc’s), not cup sizes. This ensures a much more standardized unit of measurement than can be achieved by measuring in cup size, which varies from one bra manufacturer to another.
Implants range in size from 120 cc’s to 850 cc’s. In smaller bra sizes (32 and 34), it will take approximately 200 cc’s to achieve an increase of one cup size. For larger bra sizes (36 and above), it will take a slightly larger implant volume to achieve a comparable increase.
Keep in mind that bigger isn’t always better. In many instances, choosing a moderately sized implant will help you achieve more natural looking results that won’t interfere with an active lifestyle.
Preparing for Breast Augmentation Surgery
If you’re a smoker, one of the most important things you can do before breast augmentation surgery is to stop smoking at least six weeks prior to your procedure. Smoking can impede healing, as well as contribute to a host of serious medical problems.
In the weeks before your breast augmentation, you should arrange for a ride to and from your procedure. It is also advised to have a responsible adult be with you at home immediately after your surgery.
At two weeks before your breast augmentation, you should stop taking anti-inflammatory medications and drugs that can thin the blood, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Dr. Kleto will provide you with a complete list of medications to avoid.
During this time, you should also fill any prescription medications and prepare your home with items such as ice packs to help reduce swelling and discomfort. You may want to have extra pillows handy, as well as books or movies to distract you while you recover.
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Immediately following your breast surgery you will experience some swelling and discomfort. This will be dealt with through medications provided by Dr. Kleto. Swelling will begin to subside after a few days and will continue to improve over several weeks.
During this time, your incisions may continue to feel sore. It is important that you take any antibiotics Dr. Kleto has prescribed, and refrain from taking aspirin or ibuprofen until Dr. Kleto gives you the okay. These medications can increase bleeding.
Keep your suture area clean and dry at all times Dr. Kleto allows patients to take a shower on the second day after surgery. You may then replace the breast dressing with a sports bra. Do not use cream or lotions on your sutures. These can increase your risk of infection.
Returning to Your Normal Schedule
You should be able to return to work within 4-7 days. In the meantime, you will want to take it easy and avoid any strenuous exercise. Walking is a great form of mild exercise that you can practice the day after your surgery. Walking will also help reduce swelling and discomfort by increasing blood flow. Rigorous exercise and heavy lifting will need to wait for at least 3-4 weeks. Dr. Kleto will let you know when those activities can resume.
Full recovery can take a few months. During this time, it is important that you follow all of Dr. Kleto’s aftercare instructions, and bring any areas of concern to his attention right away. He will schedule appointments with you after one week, again at six weeks, and once a year thereafter.
However, he will be available to you should you need him at any time in between these visits.
Breast Augmentation Risks
While breast augmentation has an excellent safety record and a low risk of complications when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Kleto, it is still major surgery. As with all major surgical procedures, there is some degree of risk associated with it. It’s important to be aware of these potential risks prior to moving forward with your procedure.
Like any surgical procedure, breast augmentation may result in risks such as excessive bleeding, improper wound healing, and infection. Risks specific to breast augmentation include:
- Capsular contracture
- Asymmetrical results
- Breast implant rupture
- Breast implant rippling
- Interference with mammograms
- Interference with breastfeeding
- Reduced nipple sensitivity
Dr. Kleto works to reduce your risks of issues such as capsular contracture, bottoming out, and double bubble by using the submuscular breast implant placement technique. This placement will also reduce your risk of interference with future mammograms, breastfeeding, and rippling.
Breast Augmentation Revision
Your breast augmentation procedure should deliver beautiful, long lasting results, but it’s important to understand that your breast implants aren’t meant to last forever. As with all medical devices, breast implants will eventually wear out over time, requiring a revision procedure to replace them.
Some of the most common reasons why breast augmentation revision procedures are performed include:
- To correct unsatisfactory results, such as an asymmetrical or uneven breast appearance
- To change the size of your breast implants
- To change the style of your breast implant (many women with saline implants will eventually choose to upgrade to silicone or gummy bear implants)
- To replace a ruptured implant
- Breasts appear to sit too high, or the implant appears to sit on top of your natural breast
- To address complications such as rippling or capsular contracture
Dr. Kleto has more than 25 years of experience performing breast augmentation revision procedures, which are considerably more complicated than the initial breast surgery. He understands the different approaches to revision surgery that are required for the various issues listed above, and he can recommend the right treatment plan to achieve your desired results.
Contact Dr. Kleto For Breast Augmentation In Knoxville, TN!
Please contact Dr. Dean Kleto using the form on this page or call 865.524.2442 today to schedule your breast augmentation consultation. We serve patients in the Knoxville, Tennessee area.