HYBRID BREAST
AUGMENTATION

Naples Plastic Surgery uses a Vectra 3D breast augmentation simulator to show patients the potential aesthetic outcomes of all cosmetic breast augmentation procedures. Vectra 3D lets patients visualize how their breasts might look from all angles and helps the patient and surgeon fine-tune the desired aesthetic outcome.

More than 300,000 North American women seek out breast augmentation and related cosmetic beast surgery procedures annually. As with any surgery, the best candidates are those who maintain a healthy lifestyle, don’t smoke, and are reasonably within range of their ideal weight.

Hybrid breast augmentation is a good option for nearly all patients who would qualify for traditional breast implants, but it’s particularly ideal for thin patients with minimal breast tissue, as implants alone in such patients are more prone to complications. The technique is also more suitable for those with asymmetrical breasts, those with a congenital chest wall deformity, or a breast condition that cannot be corrected by an implant alone.

Hybrid breast augmentation can reduce the appearance of some sagging of the breasts, but significant sagging usually requires a breast lift for proper correction. Your need for a possible breast lift in conjunction with hybrid breast augmentation will be assessed during your initial consultation with your surgeon.

While both saline and silicone implants are perceived to have an excellent safety profile, silicone implants are lauded for providing a more natural feel that closely approximates breast tissue, with less chance of rippling.

Hybrid breast augmentation works best with silicone implants as it is easier to manipulate them in conjunction with the injected fat to achieve the perfect contours desired. Saline implants can also be used for hybrid breast augmentation. At Naples Plastic Surgery, we offer the Ideal Implant, which is the newest and best option for saline devices. The Ideal Implant is a saline implant with multiple shells that gives a more natural-appearing result and less rippling. The choice of which implant to use will ultimately be determined during your initial consultation with your surgeon.  

Yes, provided you are a good candidate for the procedure. In such cases, removal of the original implants becomes one of the first steps of the procedure. This may require more extensive surgery, such as a breast lift or internal mesh scaffold (Galaflex), depending on the patient.

The estimated amount of autologous fat needed for the surgery varies by patients depending upon aesthetic goals. Because up to 30% of the fat can be reabsorbed by the body, your surgeon typically injects more fat than required to achieve the desired results, but such excess fat will decrease in the ensuing weeks.  

Hybrid breast augmentation does not usually impact a woman’s ability to breastfeed, and breast implant materials, such as saline or silicone, cannot be passed onto the baby through breast milk.

Most of our Naples-area patients can resume mobility within a day or two of the procedure, and any discomfort can be addressed by over-the-counter and/or prescription pain medications. This means that you can shower and tend to other personal hygiene regimens almost immediately. Patients are usually able to return to work within a week, though any movements requiring lifting, pushing, or stretching of the arms should be carried out with care. Whether work-related or as a resumption of exercise routines, movements should be made with care and modified if they lead to discomfort.

After two weeks of recovery, most moderate exercises and movements that affect the upper body are unlikely to impact the incision or breast implant placement, but strenuous exercise should be avoided. Most patients can resume a full, rigorous exercise regimen five to six weeks after the surgery. Sexual activities can be resumed as soon as the desire returns, but the breast should be treated gently during the recovery period.

Similar to standard breast augmentation, resultant scars are typically short in length and well-disguised within the creases beneath the breasts. Longer incisions going up to the nipple may be apparent in those who opt for combination enhancement procedures, such as the breast lift.