Breast Augmentation, Answered by the Surgeon

What breast augmentation actually is

Breast augmentation adds size and shape to the breasts with implants. An implant is a soft shell filled with salt water or silicone gel. The implant sits behind the breast tissue or behind the chest muscle. You and your surgeon choose the size and placement together at your visit.

This is not a one-size procedure. Implant volume, profile, and pocket position are sized to your frame. The goal is a result that looks like it belongs to your body. That conversation happens in person, with measurements, and with your input at every step.

Breast augmentation is performed by the surgeons of the Tulsa Surgical Arts program, with two operating rooms in Oklahoma City and surgery available in OKC or Tulsa — your choice of city. Consultations are virtual or in person.

What happens in the operating room

You receive anesthesia — medicine that makes you sleep. The surgeon makes a short incision, most often in the fold under the breast. A pocket is created behind the breast tissue or behind the chest muscle. The implant is placed into that pocket and checked for position. The incision is closed in layers with dissolving stitches.

Surgery takes about an hour. You go home the same day. Our facility is an AAAHC-accredited surgery center in Oklahoma City, with two operating rooms. Your driver checks in with you, stays reachable by phone the entire day, and receives your discharge instructions in person. A responsible adult stays with you for the first twenty-four hours.

Recovery, honestly

The first few days bring chest tightness and soreness — patients describe it like a hard workout. Walk the same day. Sleep on your back. By one week, most people with desk jobs return to work. No lifting over the limit your surgeon sets during that stretch.

By two weeks, soreness fades and light lower-body exercise is usually fine. At six weeks, full exercise resumes, including chest workouts. Implants soften and settle over months. The final shape is not the shape you see in the first week — patience matters here.

If you live in a nearby community like Edmond, about seven miles from the practice, follow-up visits are a short drive. We are at 12400 Saint Andrew's Drive in Oklahoma City. Free on-site parking, and you can pull directly to the entrance on surgery day.

The honest risk list

Every surgery has risks. A firm scar shell can form around the implant — called capsular contracture — which can change the shape and cause discomfort. An implant can leak or break over time; broken implants are replaced or removed. Nipple sensation can change. Breastfeeding may be affected for some women. A very rare cancer of the scar tissue around certain implants has been reported. Some patients report body-wide symptoms they link to implants. Removing implants is always an option.

Other risks include bleeding that may require a return to the operating room, infection, scars that stay raised or wide, numb skin near the incisions, blood clots, problems from anesthesia, uneven results, and the possible need for another surgery. We review every one of these risks with you in person before you decide anything.

In any emergency — chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, sudden confusion, one leg swelling more than the other, or bleeding that does not slow with gentle pressure — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. For non-emergency concerns, call us at 405-751-0042, day or night.

Implants do not last forever

This is a point we raise early because it shapes expectations. Implants do not last a lifetime. Plan on more surgery someday — whether for replacement, removal, or revision. That reality is part of the decision, and we want you to weigh it before your first procedure, not after.

At your consultation, we discuss implant longevity, what follow-up imaging may look like over the years, and what options exist if you change your mind. The consultation is where your questions belong. Bring every one of them.

Your next step

If you are considering breast augmentation, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with a qualified surgeon. You can book online, call 405-751-0042, or request a virtual visit. We will talk through your anatomy, your goals, the implant options, and every risk — so you can make a decision that is fully yours.

Individual results vary. This article is general education, not medical advice.