Hello, and welcome to
my
practice! I'm Dr. Stefan Mark
Szczerba (pronounced
Sher-ba).
I am a board
certified
Chicago plastic
surgeon with fellowship
training in cosmetic plastic surgery. This level of
training represents 9 years of training after medical school and is matched by only by a handful of plastic surgeons in the Chicagoland area. I have three offices in the
Chicago
area where we offer
both cosmetic and
plastic
surgery treatments
as well
as aesthetician
services
and non-invasive
procedures such as
Botox,
dermal fillers
and skin
resurfacing
treatments.
You can find everything
you
need for your
personal image
transformation
at one
of my conveniently
located offices in
and
around
Chicago.
I look
forward to
meeting
with you to
discuss your
makeover
desires.
10400 W. Higgins Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
(847) 853-9900
1786 Moon Lake Boulevard, #205
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
(847) 885-1200
900 N. Kingsbury Street, Suite 130-N
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 286-1642
3226 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 348-1800
BREAST AUGMENTATION (Breast Implants)
See before and after photos of this procedure.
INTRODUCTION TO BREAST AUGMENTATION (Breast Implants)
Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery procedure that enhances the appearance and size of the breasts with a breast implant.
There are a number of decisions to make when considering breast augmentation:
- the type of implant
- the position of the implant (on top of or under the muscle)
- the incision you prefer
- Whether a breast lift is needed in combination with a breast augmentation
Two types of implants are available as of this writing: silicone filled and saline (salt water) filled. Another implant, called the Gummy Bear implant is soon to be released. When it is available, we will share that information with our website visitors.
Dr. Stefan Mark Szczerba is familiar with all the options with breast augmentation and is comfortable guiding you through the decision-making process. He has extensive, advanced training in breast augmentation, which is the most popular operation he performs, often performing two to five breast augmentations per week. He will work with you to carefully to select the proper type, size and position of your implants to match your height and weight, while giving you a safe, yet fabulous, result.
GOOD CANDIDATES FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION
A breast augmentation procedure can be performed on healthy adult women who are 18 or older. Dr. Szczerba has set this age limit because women under the age of 18 are still developing, which can affect the ultimate outcome. Breast shape does change as you get older and with childbearing and breastfeeding, so during your consultation, Dr. Szczerba will make very specific measurements and evaluations to see if you need a breast lift combined with your breast augmentation using a procedure called Augmentation Mastopexy.
If you are 35 or older and have a family history of breast cancer, or if you are 40 or older with no family history, Dr. Szczerba requires that you schedule a mammogram before your procedure. This mammogram will provide you with an “original mapping” of your breasts as they appeared before surgery. Naturally, if any abnormalities are found on the mammogram, these must be addressed before your procedure is scheduled.
Although any healthy woman who desires larger breasts is a good candidate for this procedure, a careful review of your goals and an exam by Dr. Szczerba is essential in planning your surgery. Special situations such as the need for a breast lift at the time of breast augmentation; a constricted breast deformity (also known as tuberous breast deformity) or nipple inversion can be reviewed at the time of the exam. For those patients planning to have children and would like the option of breast feeding, it is recommended that you discuss this with Dr. Szczerba at your consultation, as adjustments can be made at the time of your operation to help minimize the possibility of disrupting the breast tissue.
TYPES OF BREAST IMPLANTS
As you may know, in November of 2006, silicone implants were again approved by the FDA, giving you two choices for implants: silicone and saline. Based upon your needs and goals, Dr. Szczerba will help you select the implant most likely to achieve your individual goals. There are various sizes, shapes and textures to consider.
Because saline implants are filled with salt water after they are inserted, a smaller incision can be placed compared to the incision needed for silicone implants. A very popular insertion point for saline implants is through a well hidden incision in the armpit; the scar heals amazingly well there. Dr. Szczerba also can place saline implants through an incision under the breast, in a fold called the IMF (inframammary fold) or through another site often used—under the areola. In review, saline implants can be placed reliably through an incision in the armpit area, in the fold under the breast (IMF) or through an incision under the areola, called the periareolar incision.
Silicone gel breast implants are already pre-filled with silicone when they are inserted, which eliminates the possibility of inserting silicone gel implants under the armpit, except for the very smallest implants. Gel breast implants are inserted through an incision around the areola or underneath the breast, in the crease known as the inframammary fold (IMF). The areola has to have a certain size to accommodate the periareolar incision. The silicone implant will conform to your breast and will feel and look quite natural. In review, gel implants are most reliably placed through an incision in the fold under the breast called the IMF but in certain patients can also be placed through an incision under the areola or through the armpit area.
Dr. Szczerba is equally comfortable inserting either silicone gel implants or saline implants; however, the silicone gel implant is known to have a more natural feel. If you have a reasonable amount of breast tissue to cover the implant, you will feel comfortable in either gel or saline breast implants.
The companies that make breast implants generally say that the implants last 8-12 years. If a saline implant ruptures, the saline is safely absorbed by the body and the implant simply deflates. Although silicone gel implants have the same shell as saline implants, the gel implants will not leak even if the implant is ruptured.
HOW BREAST AUGMENTATION IS PERFORMED
Dr. Szczerba performs the breast augmentation procedure under general anesthesia or under sedation in an accredited surgical suite in Chicago, Rosemont or Hoffman Estates. General anesthesia is recommended to allow your surgery to progress quickly and comfortably. Basically, once the general anesthesia is administered, an incision is made in the area you and Dr. Szczerba confirmed as the insertion point during your consultation, and a pocket created for the breast implant, which is then inserted and the incision is closed. The procedure is then repeated on the other breast.
The implant can be placed either above or beneath the muscle. After discussing the various benefits of placing the implant above or below the muscle, Dr. Szczerba will expertly place your breast implant into the position you decided with him.
You will spend time in the recovery area following your procedure, and will need to have someone drive you home.
RECOVERY FROM BREAST AUGMENTATION
The night of your surgery, you will receive a phone call from Dr. Szczerba to be sure you arrived home safely and are doing well. You will see us in the office within 48 hours to follow up on the status of your recovery. After your procedure, you will be guided as to what type of support you need to ensure your implant heals into the best position. If Dr. Szczerba used an under-arm incision to insert your implant, he will send you home with a breast band instead of a bra to keep your implant in proper position. Most patients feel comfortable enough to go out to dinner the night of surgery and return to work within 1-2 days depending on the type of work that you do. Although you will see immediate results, you will be fully healed at 6 weeks from surgery. During that 6-week healing time, your breasts will be slightly larger due to swelling which is typically resolved at 6 weeks.
After your surgery, you can gently stretch out your muscles by raising your arms over your head. Daily implant massage is also recommended to keep the implant pocket loose. However, strenuous exercise that uses your chest muscles, as well as heavy lifting, is avoided for about 6-8 weeks.
We have a very standardized follow-up schedule to see you after breast implant surgery. The visits are more frequent during the healing process and then every year to confirm that your implants are still functioning as they should. If the implants need to be replaced, it’s generally a simple procedure to do so.
