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Dr. Megan Dreveskracht
Feb 18
Dr. Megan Dreveskracht
Aug 18, 2021
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BREAST AUGMENTATION
SEATTLE
Maybe it happened after breastfeeding, after the weight changed, or simply after enough years and enough gravity. However it happened, you've noticed your breasts don't sit where they used to — and wondering whether you're allowed to want that different is completely normal. As a female plastic surgeon and a mother, I built this procedure around that reality, not a brochure version of confidence.
WHAT IS A BREAST AUGMENTATION?
A Breast Augmentation places a breast implant beneath the breast tissue or chest muscle to add volume — one of the most commonly performed procedures in plastic surgery. Women come to this procedure for different reasons: restoring volume lost to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss, or creating better proportion between the chest and the rest of the body. There's no single "right" reason. What matters is that the result looks like it belongs on you.
A CLOSER LOOK
I handle augmentation consultations in two parts, because there's genuinely a lot to work through. The first visit covers your medical history, your goals, and a full physical exam — chest measurements, breast width, skin quality, and nipple position all factor into what I'll eventually recommend. You'll also have the chance to try on implant sizers in the office; I recommend a non-underwire, non-padded bra and a solid-colored fitted top so we can actually see what different sizes look like on you. The second visit, closer to your surgery date, is where we finalize implant type, size, and placement.
THE PROCEDURE:
A Breast Augmentation is a relatively short outpatient procedure — typically under an hour — performed in my AAAASF-accredited Ambulatory Surgery Center at the Nordstrom Medical Tower in downtown Seattle, under general anesthesia with our anesthesia team.
I place the incision at one of the locations described below, then create a pocket for the implant. Once the pocket is ready and I've checked both sides for symmetry, the implant is inserted through the incision using a funnel device — this keeps the implant from touching your skin on the way in and lets me use a smaller incision than I could otherwise.
After placement, I sit you up in the operating room to evaluate position and symmetry before closing anything permanently. Once I'm satisfied, the incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures placed entirely beneath the skin, taped, and you're placed in a soft, non-underwire bra before going home.
THE 4 DECISIONS BEHIND EVERY BREAST AUGMENTATION CONSULTATION
Every Breast Augmentation really comes down to four decisions, and I walk through all of them with you during your consultation: your incision, your implant pocket, your implant type, and your volume and size. Each one depends on your anatomy as much as your goals — working outside of what your anatomy can actually support is what leads to problems down the road, like bottoming out or a double bubble deformity. Here's how I think through each one.
INCISION CHOICE
Where your scar sits-- decided by your anatomy and your goals together.
Inframammary Fold
Hidden in the natural breast crease. About 3 cm long. Most common choice. Best surgical control, easily hidden.
Periareolar
Placed at the border of the areola, camouflaging its location. Has higher incidence of sensory changes to nipple and capsular contracture.
BREAST IMPLANT POCKETS
SUBFASCIAL
DUAL PLANE
SUBMUSCULAR
AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE?
The ideal candidate for a Breast Augmentation is healthy, at a stable weight, and has realistic expectations about what an implant can and can't do. This isn't a procedure meant to force a specific look — it's meant to enhance the proportions you already have.
Beyond the basics, your candidacy comes down to a few specifics I evaluate in person during your consultation:
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Whether you're seeking pure volume or also need position corrected, which determines if a Breast Lift should be added — and whether that's safe to do in the same surgery or better staged separately
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Your breast footprint and anatomy, which points toward a specific incision, pocket, and implant base width
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Your lifestyle and activity level, which factors into implant type and profile recommendations
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Whether you're planning future pregnancies, since this can affect long-term results and timing
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Coming prepared to your first visit with any "wish pics" that reflect your goals, and a non-underwire bra for implant sizer fittings, so we can make the most of your consultation time
One thing I tell every patient directly: breast implants are not lifetime devices. On average, they last 10 to 20 years before needing to be exchanged or removed, and that's worth factoring into your decision now, not discovering later.
BREAST AUGMENTATION RECOVERY
Most patients have some soreness and occasional muscle spasms in the first couple of days, which stronger pain medication can help manage if needed. You'll wait to shower until your 48 hours after your surgery, and swelling — most noticeable at the upper pole of the breast — is normal in the first couple of weeks. By three months, most implants have settled into their pocket and your breasts have reached their new baseline shape, size and feel.
You are not on bed rest at any point after your surgical procedure. It is very important that you get up and walk around, as we do not want patients to develop blood clots in their legs after surgery. Because of the swelling and pressure on the chest, you will likely hold your arms in a T-rex position for about the first week, after which the swelling will begin to subside and you will notice an improved range of motion. It is imperative that you follow restrictions of no lifting your arms above your head, no heavy lifting, and no getting your heart rate or blood pressure elevated to avoid the risk of bleeding--which would return us to the operating room-- or wound healing complications from your incision.
Recovery, week by week:
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Days 1–3: Soreness and possible muscle spasms; stronger pain medication available if needed.
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Week 1: Most patients take about a week off work.
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Weeks 1–4: No lifting over 10 lbs.
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Weeks 2–3: Swelling most noticeable at the upper pole, gradually improving.
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Week 4: restrictions of no arms above the head and no heavy lifting end. Exercise judiciously may begin.
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Month 3: Implants settled into their pocket; breasts reach their new baseline shape.
01
How Long Does a Breast Augmentation Surgery Take?
While every patient and every surgery is different, the average procedure length for a breast augmentation is 1 hour.
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How Long Will My Breast Implants Last?
This can vary depending on many factors, however, breast implants are not meant to be lifetime devices. On average, 10-20 years will be the maximum lifetime.
03
How Long Will I Need to Take Off Work After My Surgery?
Most patients will take approximately one week off from work after their Seattle Breast Augmentation surgery.
04
What is The Cost of A Breast Augmentation?
The cost of a Seattle Breast Augmentation can be variable depending on complexity, type of implant used, and additional plastic surgery procedures that may be performed simultaneously.
BREAST
AUGMENTATION
FAQ
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