11 Questions About Boob Jobs That We Answer Every Day

We talk a lot about boobs. We talk about them pretty much every single day and a lot of that time is spent answering questions in great detail.

When someone comes to see us in our Toronto plastic surgery clinic for a consultation, they usually have a lot of questions and we enjoy the process of answering them in full. But our boob-talks don’t end there. When someone at a dinner party finds out we’re plastic surgeons, they will often say something like, “What do you think? Should I get breast implants?”

Oh well. Occupational hazard, we guess.

Today we’re going to take some of the most frequently asked questions about boob jobs, and answer them in detail. Of course, we always prefer one-on-one interactions. But this blog will act as a good primer if you’re seriously considering breast augmentation.

1. What are Breast Implants Made of?

Today’s modern breast implant patients generally will choose between two different types of breast implants:

1. Silicone implants
2. Saline implants

The semi-solid silicone gel breast implants are sometimes referred to as “gummy bear” or cohesive gel implants. They have a non-textured outer shell, with silicone filling. On the other hand, saline implants are filled with sterile salt water (saline) solution.

2. Which Type of Breast Implant is Better?

Answering the previous question invariably leads us to answering this one.

The type of implant you get will depend on your goals and your unique situation. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions.

However, it is worth mentioning that most women today are looking for breast implants that look, feel, and move as naturally as possible. And if that’s your must-have list, our conversations will probably focus on silicone implants.

To us, the silicone implant really represents how far breast augmentation has come over the years. There is no longer any need to look or feel like you have fake boobs anymore.

You will find that they certainly look and feel more breast-like than saline breast implants. However, the way they move is truly what separates them. They don’t just stay in one static place and shape. They will maintain the traditional teardrop shape when you’re standing up vertically. But when you lay down horizontally, they will take on a more rounded shape to mimic the movement of natural breasts.

Silicone or Saline?

It’s also important to note that silicone implants don’t leak, rupture or ripple, unlike saline implants. They come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, whereas saline implants need to be replaced every 10 years. If your 10-year period is up, we would recommend you consider silicon implants so you don’t have to do this again in another 10 years. Many women go that route.

Why would someone choose saline implants? The techniques and technology have been around for longer than saline, so some women trust that more. Also, they can be filled after they have been implanted, which leads to a very small scar.

However, that being said, a skilled surgeon can ensure that your scar from silicone implants is barely noticeable and very subtle.

3. How is Breast Implant Surgery Performed?

That all depends on which type of implant you get.

In the case of saline implants, the actual implants will be inserted through the armpit or through the areola, then filled with the solution once they have been installed.

On the other hand, a cohesive gel gummy bear implant can also be placed through a trans-axillary incision if it’s on the smaller end of the spectrum. But moderate-to-large-sized silicone implants will see the best results from the under-the-breast, inframammary incision.

If you’ve never been down this road before, that could sound very complex and tough to visualize. This is why we prefer face-to-face (or video call during lockdown) meetings to go over everything in great detail.

4. Can I Work Out or Play Sports With Breast Implants?

Yes, you can! A lot of our patients lived very active and fitness-minded lifestyles prior to their surgeries, and it was very important that they could keep this life after the fact.

Many of our patients are able to comfortably play sports like tennis or golf, while also keeping up their weight training. A silicone implant’s durability also means you don’t have to give up your beloved ski weekends at Blue Mountain or your kayak trips in the Muskokas.

Old generations of saline implants weren’t as durable as today’s silicone models. They would have been more likely to rupture or break.

Of course, you can’t go back to the weight room or the spin class the next day. You will obviously want to give your body enough time to properly heal and adjust following your surgery. We will explore this more in the next section.

5. How Long Does it Take to Recover From Breast Surgery?

This is obviously an important thing to talk about prior to any plastic surgery. You always want to have clear expectations of what to expect.

Your post-op breast augmentation recovery process will depend on what type of surgery you get:

Breast Implants:

The first couple of days: This time is all about rest and recovery. Take it easy and follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon.

Week 1: The swelling and bruising will subside considerably. You can ease your way back into a non-strenuous job and light workouts.

Week 4: You can expect the swelling to have abated, while your implants will have settled into the pocket and you will be a lot closer to the look you want.

Week 6: After speaking with your surgeon, you can most likely resume more strenuous workouts and activities that use your pectoral muscles, wearing a supportive sports bra.

A Breast Lift

The first couple of days: You will return home from your surgery and take it easy, wearing a supportive bra and light dressing on your incision.

Week 1: You will want to take it easy and avoid bending, lifting, or anything too strenuous for the time being. Walking is a good way to stay active and keep your blood moving.

You may feel some slight discomfort in the area of your incision sites, but your surgeon will prescribe medication that will help you easily manage it.

Week 2: You can start to resume some light activities, within reason.

Weeks 2-3: You will probably be ready to have your sutures removed. At the same time, you can stop wearing your support bra. Ask your doctor if you’re ready to resume other activities.

Week 6: Most of our patients can start to resume higher impact activities.

A Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Day 1: Once again, you will take it easy and start wearing your compression support bra.

Day 3: Most of your early discomfort should be completely abated.

Week 1: Most of the swelling and bruising should have gone away

Week 2: You’re most likely ready to start wearing your compression garment

Week 6: You may be ready to resume more vigorous workouts and activities

Keep in mind that all of these timelines are rough estimates. You will always want to speak to your surgeon before moving forward with any new activities—no matter how fine you feel.

7. What is the Difference Between Breast Implants and a Breast Lift?

There can be a bit of confusion here. Someone using the term boob job could be referring to either of these surgeries.

There are many reasons to get a boob job. You might want to add size, or add firmness, or raise your silhouette’s profile. Or all of the above.

The goal of the breast lift is to help sagging or drooping breast tissue, while also removing unwanted skin to give you a more youthful profile.

This is a very popular procedure among women that are dealing with:

• Sagging or drooping
• Uneven breasts
• Nipples that point downwards
• Areolae that have stretched in size

Feel free to browse our breast lift before and after pictures to see what is possible.

If you’re looking to firm up your silhouette and add some size, you can definitely combine breast implants with a breast lift. That’s a very popular option.

8. Can I Combine Breast Implants/ a Breast Lift With Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?

Absolutely! A lot of our patients have opted to combine breast augmentation with a body contouring procedure like a tummy tuck or liposuction procedure. This can really give you the body you’ve been dreaming of.

If you’re looking to possibly add some hair or stretch mark removal treatments, you might consider the so-called Mommy Makeover.

The Mommy Makeover is a bespoke combination of procedures that target the areas that most moms wish they could trim. It’s fully customized to meet your specific needs, and could include:

• Breast implants
• A breast lift
• A breast lift with implants
• Liposuction
• Fat grafting to the buttock
• Laser removal of unwanted hair
• Stretch mark reduction
• Cellulite treatment

If you’re looking to address more than one area of your body, you should definitely speak to your surgeon about this procedure.

9. Can I Add Volume Without an Implant?

Yes! If you don’t want to go with an actual breast implant, you could consider a fat transfer breast augmentation.

This procedure is very much like the so-called Brazilian butt lift that you may have heard of. Basically, your surgeon will use leading-edge energy-assisted liposuction to remove fat cells from an area of your body that you wouldn’t mind trimming (often the stomach or lower back), then expertly transfer the cells to your breasts to add more volume.

This is a very popular option because it is very safe and effective. The slight trade-off is that your results won’t be quite as predictable as a conventional breast augmentation procedure. However, you can still do amazing things. You can add size or even out asymmetric breasts.

If you want a natural method, it’s hard to get more natural than using your body’s own fat cells!

10. How Do I Know You’re the Right Surgeon For Me?

Our clinic is proud to offer our clients access to one of the most respected names in Toronto breast implant surgery, Dr. Tom Bell.

Dr. Bell has been named Canada’s best plastic surgeon by W Magazine and has created some genuinely extraordinary outcomes throughout his 25-year career, performing over 5000 body contouring procedures.

As impressive as his resumes may be, our surgeons would rather be known for their results. We would love for you to look through their striking breast implant before and after pictures to see their incredible work. Or you could speak to one of our countless pleased patients to hear their stories.

We can also show you exactly how any given breast implant size and shape will look on your body by using our modern Vectra 3D breast imaging system. This ensures you choose the right breast augmentation procedure to meet your needs and you will know exactly what to expect from the size and projection.

11. When Can We Start?

We’re here to answer all of your questions. The typical journey starts with “Should I get breast implants” and ends with “When can we start.” We’re here for you at every step before, during, and after your surgery.

If you’re ready to see what’s possible, we’re ready to show it to you! You can start right now by clicking the blue Schedule a Consultation button at the top of the screen, or by calling 647-723-3739.