The ABCC's Of Boob Jobs

Everything you wanted to ask but never did

Melisssa Doft, MD is a leading plastic surgeon based in New York City. Vogue called her “feminine, modern, well-informed and sensitive to the needs of her patients.” She embodies the new generation of plastic surgeons. Below please find her guide on understanding the basics of breast augmentation.

The ABCC's Of Boob Jobs

-by Dr. Melissa Doft of Doft Plastic Surgery

People throw around the phrase "boob job" very casually these days, it is still the most performed plastic surgery procedure in the United States. But even though it seems like everybody and their mother is trading up, the reality is that getting breast implants is still a serious surgery and not to be taken lightly.

Navigating and researching the decisions that need to be made can be overwhelming. A good breast augmentation is one that looks completely natural and does not raise eyebrows. Once you've decided on a doctor, there are still a whole host of questions about breast implants that need to be answered. Whether you want to add some volume after pregnancy, give them a little lift to combat gravity, or because you feel like you've never had enough, here are the four key decisions you need to make about breast implants:

(1) Where to insert them?

(2) Where to make the incision site?

(3) Should you use silicone or saline implants?

(4) How big should they be? Here's what I tell my patients.

Placement Plane: Deciding where to place your implants.

Breast implants can be placed above or below the chest (pectoralis) muscle. There are excellent reasons to choose each option. The implant is often placed above the muscle and under the breast gland when the patient has ptosis, or sagging of the breast. Because the pectoralis muscle does not need to be stretched when you place the implant above it, it is also the less painful option.