At Beachwood Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa and Westlake Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa, the practice of Dr. Steven Goldman, we are proud to offer breast augmentation procedures that minimize postoperative pain and expedite recovery for our patients. Meticulous planning, precise and gentle surgical technique, and immediate postoperative movement comprise the critical elements of Dr. Goldman’s rapid recovery technique.
Consultation.
To make certain your augmentation aligns with your goals for a particular feel and aesthetic, we discuss several important choices with you during a thorough consultation, including:
Implant size – the consultation process allows us to choose a specific, focused size range. This is better than focusing on a specific number. Clarifying your goals is a crucial part of sizing.
Implant material – saline (salt water) or silicone. We discuss the differences in look and feel for saline versus silicone, as well as reviewing important issues like leakage. Silcone tends to feel softer and more natural and have less rippling, but saline implants may look better in some patients who benefit from the more prominent roundness of saline implants. And saline implants are easier to follow long term for leaking. Also note that Dr. Goldman only uses gummy-bear implants if silicone is chosen. He prefers Sientra brand because they were the first brand to make gummy bear implants in the United States; they have the longest warranty (20 years), and focus on safety by only allowing board certified plastic surgeons to use their implants.
Pocket placement – subpectoral (under the muscle) is almost always better than subglandular (under the breast, over the muscle).
Incision site – inframammary (at the fold under the breast) is most common; periareolar (around the areola) may be used if a circular (periarolar) breast lift is planned.
Implant profile – moderate or moderate plus are most common; low profile is too flat; high profile may be used (this is a narrow, tall implant) but can look fake or ripple more in some patients.
Texture of the implant – smooth versus textured (rough). The majority of implants placed in the United States are smooth, because smooth implant will generally give a softer look and feel than textured. However, textured implants will tend to shift or settle less over the long term, and therefore may be preferable in patients with issues like loose tissues. However, textured implants have been associated with a rare type of cancer called ALCL (anaplastic large cell lymphoma), so this must be considered by any patient who might benefit esthetically from a textured implant. The breast implant brand Natrelle (owned by the same company that makes Botox) was taken off the market in 2019 because most of the ALCL cases involved Natrelle textured implants. Dr. Goldman uses Sientra’s silicone implants as noted above, in part because of this association.
Implant shape – round versus anatomic (tear-drop). Most implants used in the United States are round. They generally provide a natural result with good projection and fullness, however some patients will benefit from an anatomic implant, especially if there are specific issues with breast shape, like under-development of the lower aspect of the breast. Anatomic implants are always textured (otherwise they might rotate and the tear-drop shape would tilt), so the potential for ALCL is discussed, as it is for all textured implants.
- And more…
In addition to holding impressive credentials and having extensive experience, Dr. Goldman cares deeply for his patients and strives to provide the results they seek. To him, this isn’t just about getting a new look – it’s about increased confidence and a better overall quality of life. To find out more about our breast augmentations check out this page.
The Procedure
Dr. Goldman has perfected the rapid recovery technique for breast augmentation by focusing on three key elements:
- Precise and thorough pre-surgical planning, starting with a thorough consultation in which we clarify your goals and analyze your physical characteristics.
- Precise, gentle, and efficient surgical technique is utilized.
- Our patients are encouraged to engage in early motion immediately after surgery, including arm stretching exercises and walking. Some (not most) even go out to dinner or shopping the night of surgery or to work the next day.
Various terms are used to refer to rapid recovery techniques, including quick recovery, weekend augmentation, flash recovery breast augmentation, and pain-free augmentation. All these terms refer to the same basic techniques.
Why Rapid Recovery?
Without a doubt, the health and safety of our patients is the top priority. Dr. Goldman’s rapid recovery technique optimizes safety by minimizing postoperative narcotic use and by minimizing the risk of blood clots, pneumonia and other complications that result from inactivity. We also recognize how busy our patients are and want to offer an experience that demands as little time off work (usually less than a week) and off of exercise (two weeks) as possible.
Possible Complications
The risk of serious complication of surgery, like bleeding, infection, or anesthetic problems, is extremely low in Dr. Goldman’s practice. He is Board Certified in both Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Surgery, having completed two full residencies. The Beachwood Surgery Center, our private facility, is a state of the art center accredited by the AAAASF.
Breast augmentation patients should be aware that breast implants are not lifetime devices, more surgery over a patient’s lifetime is expected to address issues like leak or shifting of the implants. More detailed information about complications is available on our additional breast augmentation pages.
After Care
As with any surgical procedure, pain levels can vary considerably between patients even for the same procedure. For Dr. Goldman’s rapid recovery breast augmentation, most patients take narcotic pain medication intermittently for about 3 days; many patients only use Tylenol. Almost all patients go back to work in less than a week; many in 3-4 days. These patients still have pain, but it is manageable. Even with the rapid recovery technique, some patient will occasionally feel very uncomfortable for about three days. Patients can start working out again 2 weeks after surgery. Very few of our patients have postoperative bruising.
Contact Dr. Goldman
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. An educated, informed patient is the best patient. You can call (216) 514-8899 or email us at info@drgoldman.com. Virtual consults are a great way to start, whether you’re from the Cleveland area or out of town. We look forward to hearing from you!