Breast Augmentation Surgery (Mammoplasty)

The goal of breast augmentation surgery (mammoplasty) is to create more normal proportions in women with underdeveloped breasts or to recreate fullness in women who have lost breast volume because of pregnancy or weight loss.  

Why Choose Us for Breast Augmentation?

Plastic and reconstructive surgeons at Cooper University Health Care have decades of experience performing breast augmentation procedures. These experts carefully guide you through the entire mammoplasty process, from consultation through recovery. Some highlights of our services include:

  • Comprehensive consultation: Our surgeons meet with you to discuss the procedure in detail and learn what you would like to achieve with surgery. A consultation may address the following:
    • Your goals for breast size and function, including sensitivity, ability to breastfeed, and psychological needs
    • Size, shape, texture, and type of implant that will achieve the best cosmetic results
    • Where we will place the implant, either in front of or behind chest muscles
    • Whether a breast lift would help with symmetry and appearance
  • Surgery with minimal scarring: During breast augmentation, our highly skilled surgeons make an incision under the armpit, beneath the breast, or around the nipple to insert the implant. These precise incisions result in minimal scarring and excellent cosmetic outcomes.
  • Corrective surgery: Our doctors also offer corrective procedures to women who have previously undergone breast implant surgery but are unhappy with the results.

Breast Augmentation: What to Expect

Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure requiring general anesthesia. Surgeons make an incision in one of these locations:

  • The crease beneath the breasts, which allows for the most direct access to place the implant
  • The edge of the nipple, depending on the size and placement of the implant
  • High in the armpit, which is the most difficult surgical approach

Surgeons place breast implants underneath the breast tissue in one of two positions:

  • Behind the chest muscle: When doctors place the implant behind the chest muscle, scar tissue is less prominent and the breasts tend to remain softer. In addition, mammography is easier.  
  • In front of the chest muscle: This procedure is less invasive and may have a shorter recovery time. However, implants placed in front of the chest muscle have a higher chance of noticeable hardness. Mammography can be more difficult to perform with this approach.

Recovery From Breast Augmentation

For the first day or two you may experience discomfort that limits upper body and arm motion. Most patients can return to work within one week of surgery. You generally need to refrain from heavy upper body exercise for four to six weeks after surgery.

The incisions fade over time, but they will not disappear completely. You may also experience temporary increased or decreased nipple sensation. In some women, this change is permanent.  

While today’s implants are well-made, they don’t last forever. At some point, you will need to have another surgery to replace them.

Breast Cancer Screening After Augmentation

There is no evidence that having breast implants increases or decreases your risk of breast cancer. Because doctors place implants behind the breast tissue, mammoplasty does not affect physical breast examination.  

Patients with breast implants can still have mammograms to screen for breast cancer.  However, you will need a radiologist experienced in viewing mammograms of patients with breast implants.

In addition, implants may obscure a small amount of breast tissue, meaning that early-stage cancer could potentially be missed in patients with implants.  

Contact Us

To learn more about breast augmentation services available at Cooper or to schedule an appointment, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737).

Refer a Patient

If you are a doctor who wants to refer a patient Cooper, please call 800.8.COOPER (800.826.6737).