Breast Augmentation

Breast implant surgery is performed in our West Annapolis Surgery Center under light anesthesia. Incisions are made following the procedure plan, a pocket in the breast is created, the implant is placed using a sterile insertion sleeve, and both the pocket and the incisions are closed.

The procedure usually takes 1 to 1-1/2 hours. It may take more time if implant placement is combined with another procedure, such as a breast lift or liposuction.

One of Dr. Duggal’s main focuses is on rapid recovery after surgery.  Our rapid recovery protocol involves several non-narcotic medications started the night before surgery.  This, combined with the use of long-acting numbing medications injected during the procedure, allows the majority of our patients to recover in 3-4 days without needing any narcotic pain medication. 

After your surgery, you will spend an hour or two in a recovery suite. Most patients then go home (with a friend or family member to drive them), though many of our out-of-town patients elect to stay overnight. You will have some swelling for the first few days and will experience some discomfort. We will provide you with a surgical bra to wear for the first few weeks. We recommend that you not drive for the first 3-4 days and until you have stopped taking prescription pain medication. You may resume moderate exercise after two weeks and more strenuous exercise after about 6 weeks. Most patients are able to return to office-type work in 4 to 5 days.

We will follow up with you in regularly scheduled appointments to make sure you are doing as well as we expect and are happy with your results.

If your breasts have lost volume and the nipples are lower than you would like, there is a chance you would be a better candidate for a breast lift, or that you might benefit from a breast lift with an implant.  For many women who have been pregnant and/or breastfed, the skin on the breasts has been stretched out and the position of the nipple on the breast is no longer ideal.  A breast lift with an implant restores the lost volume and reshapes the skin around an implant to achieve a perky and youthful breast. 

Immediately after a breast implant surgery, you will have a gauze dressing draped over the incisions, with your breasts wrapped in a compression garment or specially designed bra for support.  

Most women have mild swelling, bruising, and discomfort for a week or two after the operation. You’ll have prescription oral medication to manage pain.

You can resume their daily routine after a few days, except for heavy lifting and strenuous activities. Annapolis breast augmentation surgeon Dr. Claire Duggal will advise you on when to return to your workout regimen during your recovery.

There will be some visible scarring, but as the best breast augmentation surgeon in Annapolis, Dr. Duggal is an expert in keeping them concealed with strategic incisions. As a result, most scars will fade after a couple of years.

Since breast augmentation is such a highly personalized procedure, your cost may vary depending on your choice of implant material, use of your natural body fat, and many other variables. After interviewing you about your expectations and aesthetic goals, Dr. Duggal can give you a realistic cost estimate and review financing options with you.

A breast implant can hide abnormal tissue or lesions, making detecting cancerous breast tissue more difficult. Producing accurate, high-quality images requires tightly squeezing the breasts, which may cause a rupture or leak with your implants. Also, scarring around the implant may look like cancerous tissue, making your mammogram more challenging to interpret.

If you have implants and require a routine breast cancer screening, inform the technician when you schedule the procedure what type of implants are present and whether they are in front of or behind the chest muscle. You may need more views taken than during a routine screening. In some cases, MRI scans might be necessary to produce a clear image.

While we offer both silicone and saline implants, it is hard to say which choice will be best for you. Silicone implants are by far the most popular choice for patients today. Because of the viscosity of the silicone gel used in cohesive and highly cohesive silicone implants, they are said to provide patients with a more natural feel and shape. You may also have to monitor your breast implants with MRIs every so often, just to be safe.

Conversely, saline implants are stiffer than natural breast tissue and can slosh. They are less expensive than silicone implants. You will also notice a rupture immediately with saline implants, and your body will safely absorb the saline solution.

You will work with Dr. Duggal and his team to decide what breast implants option is right for you in your consultation.

Dr. Duggal will provide a list of guidelines of what you should expect before surgery. You need to make sure that you have a ride to and from the hospital on the day of surgery. We recommend picking out your comfortable, loose-fitting wardrobe for the first week before you have surgery, to make things easier. You should also make sure that you are staying healthy and avoiding blood-thinning drugs. We suggest that you begin taking care of any personal arrangements that you need to address a few weeks before surgery so that you will have plenty of time to focus on your recovery.

The first week after surgery will be the most uncomfortable. Since you will be sore, tired, and groggy following the surgery, we advocate that you lay low and have someone help you in the first few days. We will make sure that you have the right prescription medication to manage your pain and swelling. In general, you should be able to return to work after these first 5-7 days, as long as your job is not too strenuous.

For the first few weeks, you will likely feel some burning and sensitivity, which will subside over time. You can ease back into your regular workout routine at your own pace, though you should avoid heavy lifting for the first six weeks. Having the right recovery bra can make all the difference in the world.

I have a long discussion about your desired look. I measure your chest diameter and projection. Then, I’ll take into account what size breast you would like to achieve and use a hybrid model of measurements, experience, and artistic perceptual skills to pick the right type, style, and size for you.

Your cleavage will be based on your natural anatomical cleavage but can always be improved to help you achieve your goals. 

I try to avoid breast lifts and prefer a minimally invasive technique to lift the breast without external scars. If your breasts are significantly droopy, they will need a lift.  My method works best with mild to moderate droopiness.

Recovery is typically 5-7 days, and you can usually start exercising in 6 weeks.

You’ll usually be out of work for 5-7 days for most sedentary jobs and 2-4 weeks for most active jobs.

Most patients should not exercise for 6 weeks.

Bleeding and infection are the most significant immediate risks, but they are less than 1%.

During the consultation, I will discuss your desired look, take measurements, and examine your overall body and chest proportions. I will then have you try on different-sized breast implants.

Yes, there will be a scar, but it will be very small— usually 3cm-4 cm.

Yes. You will need an Eklund views procedure to do so. Radiology departments will usually ask you if you have breast implants, and they are prepared to do the views without much issue.

No, you will not as long as they are slow and controlled moves. Rapid, non-controlled, or strong movements may cause issues.

Yes, a spandex type sports bra for 6 weeks is required.

Yes, you should have someone with you for at least 24 hours after you return home.

Yes, breast implants are not lifetime devices.