Breast Augmentation in Honolulu Hawaii | Breast Implant Surgery Oahu

Breast Augmentation

Many women choose to undergo breast augmentation in order to reshape and enhance their feminine contours. The goal of breast augmentation is to restore natural breast volume and shape. At Athena Clinic in Honolulu, Hawaii, we can help you achieve those goals.

Women choose breast implants for many reasons such as:

A lack of breast tissue development
Alterations in body shape after pregnancy or weight loss
Asymmetry of their breasts
Breast cancer surgery reconstruction

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular procedures that our surgeons perform at Athena Clinic. Our patients report benefits such as increased confidence, positive impact on self image, and ability to fit better into their clothing.

Breast Augmentation by Dr. Peterson. View more Breast Augmentation before and after photos.

Options for Breast Enhancement in Oahu HI

There are several different FDA approved implant types and incision techniques for you to choose from. During your consultation, Dr. Peterson or Dr. Murariu will help you to find the right breast implant type, incision, and placement based on your unique figure and goals.

Saline Implants by Dr. Peterson. View more saline before and after photos.

Why choose Dr. Peterson or Dr. Murariu?

At Athena Clinic, we feel that every patient deserves the highest level of personal attention and care. This mantra is instilled in each member of our staff. The personal, private and relaxed atmosphere of the office reflects our surgeons’ personalities. Their thoroughness and attention to detail are also evident in their approach and in their surgical results.

Dr. Peterson and Dr. Murariu have a world-class medical education with decades of surgical experience using both silicone and saline implants. Take a look at our photo gallery to see actual results of their work.

During a consult we’ll explore all of your choices. You will have a full understanding of breast augmentation, and together we will design the procedure that will fulfill your goals.

Silicone Implants by Dr. Peterson. View more Silicone before and after photos.

Pre-Op

A pre-op counseling appointment will take place 1-2 weeks before your scheduled surgery. At this appointment, we will go over in detail:

Your surgical plan
Medical History
Have any necessary lab work performed
Post-op care and expectations
Medications
Answer any remaining questions you have

The Surgery

Breast augmentation is performed under IV sedation in our Joint Commision certified operating room located in our clinic. Your surgeon will make your incision in one of three locations: in the armpit, within the breast inframammary fold, or around the edge of the areola.

After making the incision, your surgeon will insert the breast implants either above or beneath the muscle. The incision is then closed usually with dissolvable sutures.

When the procedure is complete, any necessary surgical dressings and/or support bra are placed.

The procedure takes about 1 hour and you will be able to go home after a short period in our recovery room.

Recovery

Most women can return to work within a few days to a week after surgery, depending on the type of activity that is required at your job. Swelling is normal and will gradually subside over a week or two. You will need to refrain from heavy lifting for 2 weeks and any strenuous activity for 4-6 weeks. This ensures a quick recovery and reduces the risk of complications.

*Recovery time and experiences may vary

View Breast Augmentation Photo Gallery
View Breast Augmentation (Saline) Photo Gallery
View Breast Augmentation (Silicone) Photo Gallery

Download this information on breast augmentation as a PDF.

So Many Decisions – How to choose

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you generally place the implants above or below the muscle, and why?
A: We generally place saline implants under the muscle to avoid rippling, and generally place silicone gel implants in front of the muscle. Placement under the muscle compresses and hides the upper portion of the implant, giving a more natural look, avoiding the round “coconut” look and helping to hide rippling of the implant. The muscle also compresses the implant and presses it away from the breastbone, so it is more difficult to get cleavage this way. When the implant is under the muscle, it is held down, so it is less able to fill out a breast that is sagging. If the implant is under the muscle, the breast can continue to sag down over the front of the muscle; if the implant is in front of the muscle then the scar tissue around the implant helps to suspend the breast and keep it from sagging.

Q: What type and style of implants do you recommend at your practice & why? Smooth or Textured? Round or Anatomical? High Profile or Standard Profile? Other? Saline? Silicone?
A: Because women have differing body types and different preferences, we use all of the different types. This is determined in consultation with Dr Peterson and your patient counselor.

Q: With respect to implants, what is the “warranty policy” for the implants you use?
A: Mentor Implant warranty policy and information

Q: Would you “over-inflate” my implants? If so, by how much? What are the benefits of this, and what are potential problems associated with over-filling?
A: We generally fill the implants to volumes within the manufacturer’s recommended fill range. As an example, one size has a recommended range from 300 to 330 cc, but is designated as a “300 cc implant”. Thus, filling to 330 cc, the top of this range is not actually “overfilling”, but exceeding 330 cc would be. Overfilling causes the implants to feel more stiff (imagine blowing up a balloon a bit more) and does not really decrease the amount of rippling.

Q: Where would you make my incision, and how much of a scar should I expect to remain visible over time?
A: Possible incision locations include periareolar (around the nipple), inframammary (in the fold beneath the breast), transaxillary (in the hollow of the armpit), and transumbilical (through the belly button). *NOTE – The transumbilical approach may void the replacement policy of some implant manufacturers.

Q: What is the risk for decrease or absence of nipple sensation after surgery?
A: The biggest risk factor for loss of sensation is having a large implant. The nerve that goes to the nipple comes from the side of the chest, between the ribs. It usually runs through breast tissue, and is not under stretch. When the implant is placed, the nerve has to go over and around the implant – the larger the implant the greater the “detour” and the greater the stretch on the nerve. Just as the nerve to your fingers can “go to sleep” when you bend your elbow, the nerve to the breast can “go to sleep” as it goes over the implant. Most times, it will actually grow longer and start working again, but sometimes the stretch is just too much, and the nipple area remains permanently numb. The best way to avoid this is to choose a smaller size implant. The location of the incision does not seem to make much difference, although the incision by the nipple may.

Q: Can having breast augmentation affect my ability to breast-feed in the future? Is breast-feeding safe for women who have breast implants?
A: Read the CDC’s Recommendations Here

Q: What are additional considerations regarding mammograms and breast cancer detection for women with breast implants?
A: Click to view

Q: Do you recommend I massage my implants post-operatively? Do you have a diagram of these?
A: Yes we recommend massage after post operatively 1 week after surgery. Click to view diagram

Q: When can I resume normal activities? What about exercise?
A: We encourage you to begin gentle short walks by the end of the first few days after surgery. A serious complication of any surgery is the development of blood clots in the legs as a result of inactivity. The risk of this is reduced by early movement. After two weeks you can begin more vigorous activity but you should not do any heavy lifting or vigorous jogging for at least a month. Sometimes there are exceptions to these rules. So if you have any special needs please ask your patient counselor.

Q: How long does the procedure itself take?
A: The procedure takes between 1.5-2 hours to perform.

Q: Is that an all-inclusive price for everything? (It should include everything except medications, which will be your responsibility)
A: Yes this in an all inclusive price for implants, surgeon, medications, pre-op and post-op visits. The only outside charge is for anesthesia and that is payable in cash on the day to them. We can estimate this cost for you in consultation.

Q: How long before having surgery would I have to schedule with you?
A: This really varies on the time of year but usually we can schedule your surgery within one month of consultation.

Q: Are there any special instructions I should follow before and/or immediately after the surgery?
A: Please follow the guidelines given to you by your patient counselor or nurse at the time of your appointments.

You may also be interested in the following procedures breast lift, breast reduction or liposuction.