Breast augmentation is a highly popular plastic surgery procedure in Santa Barbara and throughout the world. With the largest selection of breast implants available in Santa Barbara, our breast enhancement facility allows a highly individualized approach to breast augmentation surgery.
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The purpose of such a wide selection of breast implants is to allow each patient to choose the right fit for her. There is no right or wrong, no “best” breast implant. But for every woman, there is a “best” option for her. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of implant, and more information about each implant can be found on their individual page.
The “pocket” or “placement” of the breast implant refers to the position that the implant is placed in relative to the breast tissue and the muscle. The pocket has a lot to do with the shape of the breast after surgery, and Dr. Lowenstein’s refinement of the “Dual Plane” pocket allows him to create the natural, tear drop shape that he is known for. While breast implants have classically been placed in front of the muscle or behind the muscle, each of these positions has disadvantages of appearance or feel. By combining the best aspects of each of these “older” styles of breast implant pockets and adding nuance techniques to address different breast types, Dr. Lowenstein’s dual plane approach allows optimal shaping and feel to your breast augmentation result.
Several different types of incisions have been used for breast implant surgery. Dr. Lowenstein’s preference is to use an incision below the breast in the natural crease, called the infra-mammary fold, or IMF. This incision carries the lowest rates of breast implant hardening (capsular contracture) and the highest rates of symmetry, allowing both the right and left breasts to appear as close to each other in shape and size as possible. Other incisions such as those in the belly button or armpit are very far from the area requiring the most detailed surgical work. These incisions tend to create difficulty in optimizing a natural breast outcome. The incision next to the nipple can be used, but this incision has a higher risk of problematic scarring, can often be seen in a standing or sitting position, and can cause the nipple itself to become deformed. The infra-mammary incision preferred by Dr. Lowenstein allows for precise implant placement and because it is in the fold under the breast, it is well camouflaged and more difficult to detect.
