Breast Augmentation

Shapely breasts are a hallmark of classic female beauty. Dr. Khalifeh has been providing breast augmentation, Northern Virginia, and Bethesda Maryland since 2006. He is known for being one of the most accomplished breast augmentation surgeons practicing on the east coast.

What is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation, or “augmentation mammoplasty,” is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of your breasts. Breast augmentation can be accomplished by placing silicone or saline implants.

Featuring MENTOR Memory Gel implants

Breast implants are medical devices, approved by the FDA for breast augmentation. The types of implants include silicone and saline:

Silicone implants: Silicone implants most closely resemble natural breast tissue in softness, weight, and bounce. They are available in a wide array of sizes, widths, and levels of projection.
Saline implants: Saline implants are filled with saline solution, and as the implants are filled after insertion, saline implants require a shorter incision.
Gummy bear implants: These implants are filled with a more cohesive gel, allowing a teardrop-shaped implant to hold its shape.

These implants are manufactured by the following companies:

Mentor: A division of Johnson & Johnson. We use this brand for most cases.
Natrelle: Produced by Allergan, the makers of BOTOX
Sientra: A newcomer to breast implants, these implants have a 20-year guarantee.

Implant profile

Within each category (saline or silicone), there are several profile lines (high profile, intermediate profile, and low profile) and varying shapes (round or teardrop-shaped). If you hear the term “gummy bear” implants used to describe certain implants, it can be confusing. The gumminess refers to the “cohesiveness” of the gel. The more cohesive the gel, the more resilient (or “gummy”) the feel. The outer shell is silicone, produced in both smooth and textured versions.

There are subtle reasons why choosing one implant over another makes sense. These subtle reasons are best explored with an experienced breast cosmetic surgeon. The majority of breast implants are smooth, round, silicone gel implants of the intermediate or high-profile type. An informal survey of ten breast surgeons and the women treated at Dr. Khalifeh’s practice has led to an estimate that these implants are placed in about 90% of breast augmentations.

Before & After Breast Augmentation in Washington, DC

*Tummy Tuck Before and After Photo Disclaimer: there’s no guarantee of specific results and that the results can vary

Breast Augmentation Gallery

Why Have Breast Augmentation Surgery?

You may be considering breast augmentation due to the following:

A desire to increase the size of your breasts
To enhance your figure
To correct breast asymmetry
To restore volume loss in breasts after pregnancy or weight loss
To increase your confidence in your body image

The Keller Funnel™ For Less Invasive Implants

Part of a safe and successful breast augmentation is to ensure the implants do not touch your skin when they are being inserted, as this can result in complications. To avoid transferring bacteria from the skin, most surgeons create large incisions for a safe insertion of the implants—with a side effect: A long scar. In 2009, this all changed with the release of the revolutionary Keller Funnel, a device that enables the safe insertion of silicone implants through smaller incisions without contacting the skin. Dr. Khalifeh uses this innovative device in every possible scenario to provide superior results, and the least scarring possible.

Breast Augmentation Video

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Planning your Breast Augmentation Surgery

A crucial step in breast augmentation is deciding on how you want your breasts to look. You will be working with Dr. Khalifeh to decide on the perfect breast size, shape, and projection. Dr. Khalifeh will suggest a few sizes for you, and you can try the implants to see how they will look and feel to help decide.

You can review our photo gallery and see our previous results with each type of implant but remember that the appearance of the photos reflects several factors such as the patient’s height, weight, preexisting breast tissue, and rib cage width. Implants of the same size can look entirely different on two patients.

What to Expect With a Breast Augmentation

Depending on the extent of surgery needed to perform your breast augmentation, you will be scheduled at either our in-office surgery center or Sibley Memorial Hospital. Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and takes about an hour and a half to complete. Once the procedure is completed, you will rest until the anesthesia has fully worn off (generally about an hour) and then you will need to be driven home by a family member or friend. Our patients typically can return to work about 48 to 72 hours after the surgery. To make your surgery convenient, breast augmentations are often scheduled on a Thursday or Friday to accommodate work schedules.

How Breast Augmentation is Performed

There are several methods Dr. Khalifeh can use to perform your Northern Virginia breast augmentation procedure, and which method he uses depends on your vision for your figure, and the existing size and shape of your breasts. There are two types of incisions he can use:

Around the nipple

In the breast fold

The implant will then be inserted in one of two locations:

Below the muscle, also known as the “submuscular” position
Above the muscle, also known as the “subglandular” position

If your breasts are lower on the chest wall, then Dr. Khalifeh will either perform a dual plane surgery or a subglandular augmentation to adjust the breast tissue to provide a lifting effect.

Am I a Candidate For Breast Augmentation?

Most women who desire larger, enhanced or more symmetrical breasts are good candidates for breast augmentation, especially those who:

Are in generally good health
Don’t smoke or consume large quantities of alcohol
Are prepared to rest and recover after surgery

You are not a current candidate if:

You are pregnant or breastfeeding
You have breast cancer
You have an abnormal mammogram
You have a health condition that could make surgery unsafe

Recovery After a Breast Augmentation

As with all surgeries, getting breast implants causes the body to experience a certain degree of trauma. But recovery is neither long nor particularly difficult and many patients feel perfectly fine as little as one week after their operation. You’ll likely experience mild to moderate pain, swelling, and bruising: the pain is well-managed by pain medication, and ice compresses and rest will help reduce swelling and bruising. Throughout the healing period, relax and engage only in a light daily exercise, such as walking. This boosts blood circulation without risking complications from more strenuous exercises or from lifting your arms above your head, which you will avoid for 2 weeks. Patients should expect to return to work, such as a desk job, within 3 to 5 days.

Contact us

If you’re looking to receive a breast augmentation in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, or Bethesda, Maryland, then you are in the right place. Dr. Khalifeh is a leading cosmetic surgeon with double board-certification who is recognized by his peers and patients for his exceptional skills, artistry, and the comfort he provides. With over a decade of successful experience in breast augmentation, you can trust that your results will be beautiful and rewarding. If you wish to learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation for arguably the best breast augmentation.

FAQ

Where are the breast augmentation incisions and scars located?
Most procedures, both at DC Cosmetics and in other settings, are performed through the inframammary fold approach. For women going with a small implant, a periareolar (around the areola) approach is also an option. Finally, a transaxillary (through the armpit) approach can be used in cases where modification of the fold is not required.
What are the risks of breast augmentation?
Millions of breast augmentations have been performed safely, and the procedure is considered to be one of the safest forms of cosmetic surgery. However, as with any surgery, there are risks involved including infection, bleeding, and risks associated with anesthesia. In addition, more long-term risks involve implant rupture or deflation, and capsular contracture. Dr. Khalifeh ensures his patients are educated and informed about the procedure, recovery, and outcome. When under the care of our double board-certified plastic surgeon and board-certified anesthetist, surgical risks are minimized.
How much does breast augmentation cost?
The cost of your breast augmentation will depend on which implant you choose, as well as an evaluation of what procedures will be required to accomplish your goals. You can find a list of our breast implant sizes here.

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