What it’s like to get a breast augmentation in Charlotte

Veronica Ellis is a 25-year-old Charlottean who has had two breast augmentations within the past few years to attain her ultimate goals.

The background: Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that enhances the breasts’ size and shape. At Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery, it’s one of the most requested procedures and is performed every week.

Ellis had her first breast augmentation at Criswell & Criswell when she was 23. Then, at 25, she had a second one in order to reach her desired cup size.

To get the inside scoop on breast augmentation in Charlotte, we spoke with Ellis and her surgeons, Drs. Bryan and Kara Criswell of Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery. Here’s what you need to know.

How does the process work?

The first step is doing your research to find a surgeon. Drs. Bryan & Kara Criswell recommend only working with surgeons who are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

• These surgeons only perform their surgeries in accredited facilities and hospitals, where there are strict regulations to maximize patient safety.

Ellis says she asked a lot of friends and neighbors for their recommendations. “Criswell & Criswell came up nine times out of ten, so I set up my consultation!”

During the initial consultation, the surgeon will discuss a patient’s aesthetic goals at length and perform a breast exam and take measurements. Preference, anatomy, breast measurements, and desired size all impact the type, size, and profile of implant that is selected.

• Patients can “try on” a range of implants using silicone sizers that are placed into a sizing bra to get a realistic view of the implants on their frame and then personally choose the size they want to be.

The actual surgery is an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour and a half, meaning you’ll go home that same day. Criswell & Criswell has a dedicated plastic surgery center that’s fully AAAASF-accredited.

What’s the recovery like?

At first, patients wear a surgical compression bra and will have a full range of motion but be restricted in lifting anything heavy. Most patients are able to resume low-impact exercise after two weeks, and all exercise and high-impact activity by six weeks.

As with any surgery, everybody will react differently and no two recoveries are exactly the same. Ellis even noticed a difference between her first and second procedures.

“The second time was so much easier. My body had been through it before,” says Ellis. She says she felt “totally fine” after about three days.

Are the results permanent?

The added volume from breast augmentation is permanent, but life changes (such as weight change or pregnancy), aging and gravity can affect the appearance of augmented breasts.

• “Patients who have breast augmentation surgery should understand that most likely they will elect to undergo another procedure on their breasts in the future,” says Drs. Bryan & Kara Criswell.

“While most patients who request a breast augmentation are good candidates for the procedure, some require additional procedures to achieve their aesthetic goals,” says Drs. Bryan & Kara Criswell. “Depending on individual patient anatomy and goals, staging procedures may be necessary for safety in order to reach the patient’s desired outcome. With breast augmentation, sometimes if a patient wants to be a certain size, a second procedure may be necessary to reach the final size the patient desires.”

Ellis had two procedures in order to reach her desired size. “I’m really happy – they’re perfect and look proportionate,” she says. “I recommend [Criswell & Criswell] to everyone.”

How much does it cost?

Basically, it depends.

Beware of discount breast augmentation, warns Dr. Criswell. “There is a reason a practice discounts their prices, and it’s not always a good thing.”

The cost of breast augmentation is variable — patient anatomy, implant choice, length of surgery, and location where surgery is performed all may affect the total cost of the procedure. Criswell & Criswell does offer financing options to help patients pay for procedures.

Anything else to keep in mind?

“You are altering your body and each person will react differently,” says Ellis. She says she encourages her friends who are considering the procedure and couldn’t be happier with her own results.

Want to learn more? Schedule a consultation with the pros at Criswell & Criswell.

This content was created in partnership with Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery.