Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation in Richmond, VA

Breast augmentation, or mammaplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to enhance the breasts’ size, shape, and volume. The procedure is a tremendous help to women who are displeased with the appearance of their naturally small breasts or those who have lost breast volume due to weight loss, pregnancy, or aging.

If you are self-conscious about the size, shape, or symmetry of your breasts, call Zinsser Plastic Surgery today at (804) 464-7615 to schedule a confidential consultation for a Richmond, VA, breast augmentation surgery with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Zinsser. Dr. Zinsser’s skill and patient-first approach make him one of the best breast augmentation surgeons in Richmond. We proudly serve patients from across Virginia, including Midlothian and Petersburg.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation

Achieving confidence in the appearance of your breasts involves more than just size; it includes shape, position, fullness, and balance. During your initial consultation, Dr. Zinsser will discuss all of your concerns and offer recommendations based on your unique anatomy and goals. He will take time to thoroughly explain all of your options and help you make an informed decision that meets your budget, lifestyle, and expected outcome.

Breast augmentation provides a number of aesthetic and practical benefits to patients, including:

  • Improved shape of the breast
  • More attractive cleavage
  • Restoration of diminished breast volume due to aging, weight loss, or pregnancy
  • Correction of breast asymmetry
  • Improved breast projection
  • Improved appearance in your clothes and bathing suit
  • Expanded wardrobe options

Ideal Candidates for Breast Augmentation Surgery

If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your breasts, breast augmentation surgery can provide a more youthful, balanced look. You may be a good candidate for breast augmentation if you:

The list above is meant to provide a general overview of candidacy considerations but is by no means intended to serve as a substitute for meeting personally with Dr. Zinsser. The best way to determine if breast enlargement or another breast surgery procedure is right for you is to visit Zinsser Plastic Surgery for an initial confidential consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon. During this friendly and informative one-on-one interaction, Dr. Zinsser will review your medical history, assess your physical condition and goals and determine your candidacy for the procedure.

World-Class Results

Over 25 years of Experience

Whether treating patients in their 20’s or 70’s, Dr. Zinsser believes the key to providing world-class results is an individualized approach to patient care.

Breast Augmentation Customized Just for You

Dr. Zinsser never takes a one-size-fits-all approach to any procedure or treatment. Instead, he listens to your goals, evaluates your frame and measurements, and helps you find a solution that is tailored specifically to your body and needs.

Your consultation is the first step in achieving an outcome that is balanced, beautiful, and uniquely you. During this important meeting with Dr. Zinsser, you will discuss all of your breast augmentation options, which include:

  • Breast implant size
  • Breast implant shape
  • Breast implant material
  • Breast implant placement
  • Incision location

Dr. Zinsser is committed to guiding his patients toward their ideal aesthetic solution with honesty and integrity. He will explain the core aspects of every breast augmentation option clearly and carefully, answer your questions, and address your concerns to help you make an informed decision.

Watch: How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
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In some cases, breast augmentation alone may not be able to achieve your desired outcome. For example, if your breasts sag significantly, a breast lift or breast reduction may be necessary to restore your youthful perkiness and provide the natural, lifted look that compliments your figure.

Types of Breast Implants

One of the first decisions you will make when planning your breast enlargement surgery is the type of breast implant placed in your procedure. Each option offers unique benefits, and Dr. Zinsser will work with you to determine which breast implant is best suited to match your goals, budget, and lifestyle.

Dr. Zinsser does not offer textured breast implants, which have been linked to breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare but dangerous form of cancer. If you currently have textured breast implants that were placed in a previous procedure and are concerned about BIA-ALCL, Dr. Zinsser is happy to discuss your breast revision and implant replacement options.

Depending on your individual needs and preferences, Dr. Zinsser may recommend:

Saline breast implants

FDA-approved for breast augmentation in women 18 years of age and older, saline breast implants consist of silicone shells filled with a safe saline solution.

Silicone breast implants

FDA-approved for breast augmentation in women 22 years of age and older, this type of breast implant is filled with a natural-feeling silicone gel.

Gummy bear implants

A type of silicone implant, a gummy bear implant is made of a cohesive gel that, like its namesake candy, will hold its shape, even when cut in half.

Breast Implant Sizing

The size of breast implant you choose should reflect both your lifestyle and aesthetic goals. When making this crucial decision, it is also essential to consider certain long-term factors, such as aging, comfort, and health. The size of your breast implants will affect your figure, your bra and clothing choices, and your self-image. Properly-placed breast implants that are balanced and proportionate to your height and body type are critical to achieving elegant and natural-looking results.

Some of the primary considerations involved in the sizing process include:

No matter what breast size you would like to achieve, it is essential to have realistic goals. Dr. Zinsser will discuss all of the factors involved in choosing your breast implant size. Additionally, you will be able to physically try on several real implant sizers to get an idea of how your results will look. While a helpful step, sizers only offer a “ballpark” estimate of your outcome; once an implant is placed beneath the muscle, it looks smaller. It’s usually a good idea to go up one size from the sizer you like. Dr. Zinsser will guide you through every step of the sizing process and help you find the breast implant size that is right for you.

Dr. Zinsser talking to a patient in Richmond, VA Zinsser Plastic Surgery

The Results You Desire
The Respect You Deserve

Zinsser Plastic Surgery provides a level of patient care that is unparalleled. We blend compassion, skill and the latest surgical techniques to create a signature experience that is unique in our field.

Dr. John Zinsser believes the keys to providing world-class results lie in a completely individualized approach to patient care. At Zinsser Plastic Surgery, you will be treated as the unique individual you are, and your treatment plan will be customized specifically for you. 

Incision Options for Breast Enlargement

Discreet, inconspicuous incision placement plays a significant role in ensuring your plastic surgery results are beautiful and natural-looking. Dr. Zinsser understands the importance of a well-concealed incision and offers the following options:

  • Inframammary incision: Along the fold beneath the breast
  • Peri-areolar incision: Around the areola

Whichever incision option is utilized, you will experience minimal visible scarring. Dr. Zinsser will explain your options and which choice is most appropriate for your procedure, based on your anatomy and type of preferred implant.

Breast Implant Placement Options

Breast implants are placed in a “pocket” that is surgically created. Implant placement makes a significant impact on the outcome of your breast augmentation. A variety of factors, including your anatomy, lifestyle, and desired look, are considered when determining which placement option is ideal for you. The two breast implant placement options are:

  • Submuscular – behind the muscle: For this option, the breast implant is placed behind the muscle wall. This method offers more implant support and a more subtle, natural look.
  • Subglandular – in front of the muscle: In this method, the breast implant is placed behind the breast tissue and in front of the muscle. This is the preferred option for some bodybuilders and delivers more dramatic results.

Dr. Zinsser will determine the appropriate placement for your breast implants based on your body size and type, existing breast tissue and desired results.

Breast Implant Removal & Breast Augmentation Revision

There are a number of reasons why you may want a revision of your breast augmentation. Perhaps your breast implants have shifted position or size, or you want to replace the type or volume of implant you chose years ago. Revision surgery often involves implant replacement and reshaping the breast tissue itself and may require a breast lift in order to fully achieve a youthful, natural look.

Whatever your reason for breast implant removal or breast augmentation revision, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Zinsser has the experience, knowledge, and skill to help you achieve your desired outcome. He will work closely with you to understand your goals and explain all of your treatment options.

Breast Augmentation Recovery

You will be taken to a recovery area immediately following your procedure, where we will closely monitor you while you regain awareness. To minimize swelling and support your new breasts as they heal, we will wrap your breasts in gauze dressings and a special support bra. Typically, about an hour after surgery, you will be released into the care of a friend or family member with Dr. Zinsser’s approval.

Before leaving for home, Dr. Zinsser will provide you with specific post-operative instructions and schedule a follow-up appointment. Follow your aftercare instructions carefully to ensure a quick and effective recuperation. Dr. Zinsser will routinely meet with you after surgery to monitor your recovery and make sure your healing is going as expected. You will have his personal cell phone number and are welcome to contact him or his office at any time with questions or concerns.

You should take it very easy the first few days after surgery and get as much rest as possible. Depending on the physical demands of your job, you should be able to return to work after the first week. Avoid strenuous exercise for four weeks after surgery. After a few months, your scars will begin to fade, and your swelling should be gone. Your results will continue to improve over the course of the remaining year.

Breast Augmentation Cost in Richmond, VA

Due to the personalized nature of the procedure, breast implant cost in Richmond will vary depending on the patient’s goals and the steps needed to achieve them. For this reason, we provide pricing information after you have been evaluated by and spoken with Dr. Zinsser. We will give you a quote for services after your initial consultation.

Schedule Richmond Breast Augmentation Consultation Today!

You deserve the beautiful breasts and balanced frame you desire. Whether performed as a stand-alone procedure or as part of a complete mommy makeover, breast augmentation can enlarge your breasts, improve your figure and boost your self-confidence.

Contact Zinsser Plastic Surgery today online or call (804) 464-7615 to schedule an initial breast augmentation consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Zinsser. Our friendly, state-of-the-art office welcomes patients from throughout Virginia, including Richmond, Midlothian, and Petersburg.

The Results You Desire...Today!

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Richmond, VA Breast Augmentation FAQs with Dr. Zinsser

Assessment and Sizing

When selecting a breast augmentation surgeon, make sure you can see examples of their work, and even ask about talking to a previous patient. In addition, you need to find a surgeon and a practice where you have a good feeling about how they are going to provide the surgical service, but also how they treat you AFTER the surgery.

In my practice, I primarily use the smooth, round, cohesive silicone-gel implants from Mentor. They are lighter ounce per ounce compared to saline implants, are soft and natural, and have a very low rupture rate. With the smooth surface implants, you don’t have the concerns of the BIA-ALCL issues that textured implants have.

Most patients want balance and volume that fits their body and lifestyle. Patients “size” themselves with implant sizers in the office with our nurse, and we use their native breast base diameter to help select the implant volume they choose and the implant that provides the most projection for their given base diameter.

Sizing is one of the difficult things when helping a patient before augmentation. Looking at pictures of previous augmentation, patients can give a woman a false expectation of a particular result that a specific implant volume implant will provide. We size patients with silicone sizers in a sports bra and a fitted T-shirt. However, sizing in the office setting makes THAT implant volume look larger than how it looks once we place it under the muscle. Because of that, it is my practice to SUGGEST that a woman go up one size, or about 25 cc, so that it will look closer to what the size looks like on the outside of her tissue.

During your consultation, we will assess whether combining breast augmentation with a breast lift is needed based on your history and specific anatomy at the examination. Sometimes based on the patient’s specific history, her anatomy, and her goals, she will need some skin tightening component (breast lift or mastopexy) as part of her procedure to give her the best cosmetic outcome based on the volume of implant that she selects.

I generally do NOT use these products for primary breast augmentation, as it is NOT needed. In patients that have problems with recurrent “bottoming-out”, where the implants keep falling lower on the chest, these products are helpful for providing internal support of the implants to keep them in an anatomic position. But for primary augmentation patients, it is not universally recommended to use them.

Yes, breast augmentation is performed under a general anesthesia, as it is not possible to anesthetize all the tissue that must be dissected or disrupted in placing an implant under the chest muscle.

This allows us to make the smallest incisions possible and insert a large implant through the small incision.

That is the name given to efforts in the operating room during breast augmentation to avoid having the implant come into contact with the patient’s skin. This is also one of the benefits of using the Keller Funnel when inserting the implant into the pocket, as it keeps it from touching the skin and tissue of the incision opening.

Be sure to upload pictures of yourself and any area that you would like to address with surgery, do your best to complete your medical history on the portal of the website, and have as many questions as possible so that we can discuss the procedures you are interested in, such as the post operative recovery issues, risks or complications. You will then meet our office manager who can answer questions regarding fees, scheduling and availability, and even accommodations for our out-of-town patients.

I prefer silicone implants, as they are softer, feel more natural, and are lighter ounce-per-ounce than saline implants.

Choosing Dr. Zinsser

Dr. Zinsser has been doing breast augmentation for almost 25 years and has hundreds of happy patients who have successfully undergone breast augmentation. In addition, with the attention to detail and dedication to customer service at Zinsser Plastic Surgery, our patient share with us how positive their experience was at having Dr. Zinsser perform their augmentation surgery.

My philosophy on breast augmentation is that it is a great procedure to help women who feel they have always been small from a breast standpoint and want improved balance and symmetry, and improved body image and confidence. For women who have had children, augmentation helps restore pre-pregnancy volume and tone.

When selecting a breast augmentation surgeon, make sure you can see examples of their work, and even ask about talking to a previous patient. In addition, you need to find a surgeon and a practice where you have a good feeling about how they are going to provide the surgical service, but also how they treat you AFTER the surgery.

Breast Augmentation Pre-Op

Good candidates are healthy women who want added volume for small breasts or to restore volume lost from pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It is helpful to look at before and after pictures of other women who have had augmentation, which helps give an idea of what her goals are.

Get all your prescriptions in advance and do things like shopping and house chores done before your surgery day so that you have a few weeks of just recovering.

Breast Augmentation Post-Op

Recovery varies from patient to patient, but most patients can return to an office-based or non-stressful job in 1-2 weeks and back to exercise in 4 weeks.

They can resume daily showers in 48 hours and drive a car within that first week as long as they are not on prescription pain medication.

It is advisable that patients have someone stay with them at least the first 24 hours after a general anesthetic.

For most augmentation patients, they can get back to non-physically demanding jobs within 7-10 days. For those who have very physically demanding jobs, they will need more time to get back to that activity to allow their bodies to heal after the surgery.

The cleavage, or area between your breasts, is determined by your anatomy and the base diameter of your breasts. In addition, there is a meridian line that runs through the middle of the breast that the nipple areolar complex should be on, and the breast (and the implant) should be based on this line so that things look natural. If the implants are placed “higher” on your chest, but are not based on your specific anatomy, then the nipples may look too low and the results will not look natural.

Anytime we perform surgery on a woman’s breast, there is a concern or chance of developing sensation issues with the breast, including the nipples. However, what I have experienced is most women deal with increased sensation for about a month, and then things go back to her normal degree of sensibility. The chances for decreased sensation are around 1 % overall.

We do NOT use drain tubes after breast augmentation surgery, with or without any skin tightening or lift/mastopexy surgery.

All the sutures placed with elective breast surgery are dissolvable and do NOT need to be removed.

There is always a scar after someone undergoes a surgical procedure, but for most patients who undergo augmentation, the scar is only about 3.0-4.0 cm in size, which is about 2 inches.

It is normal for your breast tissue to feel tight after augmentation, as we are placing a new device that has volume and takes up space. As the next 2-4 weeks go by, the tissues relax, the implant will settle down some, and your breasts will look and feel more normal. However, it is important that the patients do NOT do anything physically strenuous for the first 4 weeks after surgery to allow the tissues to heal so that they can get back to any specific activity they desire.

You will be placed in a surgical garment that includes an elastic strap connected to the bra in the back. It is designed to help keep the implants in the correct position as the patient heals. These will be used together for 2-4 weeks, and then the patient can wear whatever garment she desires.

Yes, mammograms still can occur, and having breast implants do prevent the detection of breast pathology. Remember that most implants are placed behind the chest muscle, and all the breast tissue is in front of the muscle.

Although there is a lot of information you can find on the internet about this topic, in my opinion, it is NOT correct that breast implants must be replaced every 5 or 10 years. It is true that implants are a medical device and are NOT intended to last forever, but I feel that if a patient is happy with the way her breasts and the implants look and feel, then I recommend women leave things alone.

Follow the instructions provided by your surgeon. Avoid using any bra or garment other than the one provided for your surgery for at least 4-6 weeks to prevent displacing your implants from the correct position.