Life-Changing Breast Augmentation in Atlanta and Alpharetta, GA
Breast augmentation is a great cosmetic surgery option for women who desire more breast volume, improved breast shape, or more symmetry.
Many patients undergo breast augmentation using breast implants (a breast implant device) as part of a customized breast augmentation procedure. In select cases, fat transfer breast augmentation (also called autologous fat grafting or fat graft) may be discussed for subtle enhancement. Breast augmentation surgery—also called augmentation mammoplasty or augmentation surgery—can support confidence and self-image in everyday life, whether you’re at the gym, at work, by the pool, or in a cocktail dress.
If you’re ready to look better in your clothes and enjoy bikini season with newfound confidence, visit Dr. Amy Alderman for breast augmentation services in the Buckhead area of Atlanta and Alpharetta, GA. If you’re considering a “boob job,” our plastic surgeon team focuses on safety, education, and a natural appearance.
What Can Breast Augmentation Do for You?
Breast implant surgery is a common outpatient procedure and is often a relatively straightforward breast augmentation recovery compared to many other surgical procedures when patients follow instructions closely. Clothing takes on a whole new meaning. You no longer have to figure out how to engineer a bra to fill your blouse, and the highly visible, awkward gap between your upper breast and bra is gone. You can wear camisole tops and sundresses without awkward strapless bras or heavy padding that always seems to migrate south. An afternoon at the pool no longer requires heavily padded bikini tops that often feel like flotation devices. You can finally wear that cute bathing suit top that shows your natural contour. Many breast augmentation patients also report feeling more comfortable with augmented breasts in fitted tops and swimwear.
Breast augmentation can help:
Volume and Curves—Some Atlanta women are born with naturally small or flat breasts that don’t provide the curves and physique they desire. Breast implants especially add breast volume to the top portion of the breasts, making augmentation the perfect solution to adding volume and curves to your silhouette, making patients feel more voluptuous and feminine.
Symmetry—All women have some degree of asymmetry, which for many women can make the task of shopping for bras, tops, or bathing suits a bigger challenge. A breast augmentation procedure can allow you to have more evenly matched breasts that fit well into your clothing.
Restore Breast Appearance After Pregnancy—Pregnancy, breastfeeding and even weight loss can take a significant toll on the appearance of the breasts. Breast augmentation can restore volume, and a breast lift (with or without breast implants) may be recommended to address sagging and refine breast shape.
Increased Self-Confidence—For Atlanta women who are unhappy with the current appearance of their breasts, they can feel like they’re lacking in femininity and reduce their self-confidence. A breast augmentation with Dr. Alderman can provide a real confidence booster, making women feel more comfortable in their bodies. Many breast augmentation patients feel more confident after their cosmetic surgery experience.
Dr. Alderman’s patients often tell her that they wish they had done the procedure sooner.
Request a Consultation
If you’re in the Atlanta or Alpharetta, GA areas and have any questions about a Breast Augmentation or wish to schedule a consultation on a Breast Augmentation with Dr. Alderman, please contact our office.
Request a ConsultationSuperior Quality Breast Augmentation with Dr. Alderman
Dr. Alderman has always made breast surgery the primary focus of her practice. At the University of Michigan, her focus was on breast reconstruction for women with breast cancer. She transitioned from reconstructive breast surgery to cosmetic surgery and aesthetic breast surgery when she moved to Atlanta, which was motivated by her need to have better work-life balance and spend more time with her children. The same dedication to excellence that she had for her reconstruction patients has been transferred to her cosmetic breast patients. She strives to deliver the most advanced techniques in the safest manner possible. And, most importantly, she spends a lot of time listening to her patients so that she can fully understand their desired results.
Dr. Alderman is nationally recognized in plastic and reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery. She has performed “live” breast surgery at the prestigious Atlanta Breast Symposium, taught on breast augmentation at national meetings, and published extensively. Her work has been highlighted in The Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and shared with the FDA to support the benefits of breast augmentation for women who desire the procedure. We use FDA approved implant options when appropriate and review risks, benefits, and alternatives for every breast augmentation surgery consultation. There is no doubt that this is a significant passion for her.
In her research, Dr. Alderman found that breast augmentation had a larger impact on a patient’s quality of life than carpal tunnel surgery or hip replacement. The results of the study were highlighted in The Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and have been provided to the FDA to support the benefits of breast augmentation for women who desire the procedure.
Breast Implants and Quality of Life – Discover Newfound Self-Confidence
Dr. Alderman is so excited about the research she did a few years ago that looked at changes in women’s quality of life before and after breast augmentation. The results were unbelievable! In her study, she found that breast augmentation had a larger impact on a patient’s quality of life than carpal tunnel surgery or hip replacement. The results of the study were highlighted in The Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and have been provided to the FDA to support the benefits of breast augmentation for women who desire the procedure.
Patient education is highly important to Dr. Alderman. She counsels patients in all stages of life, ranging from the younger patient in her 20s who is about to enter the workforce; to the mom of three kids who has lost all volume after breastfeeding; or the mature woman in her 50s who has always wanted the procedure but family demands required her to put her desires on the backburner. Patients report that the recovery was not as bad as they had heard and that they absolutely love the newfound confidence they feel with and without clothing. Dr. Alderman loves the six-week postoperative visit when she can tell patients to go have fun bra shopping; the smile on their face is priceless.
How Do I Choose the Size and Shape of My Implants?
Dr. Alderman spends a significant amount of time educating patients about their options—incision, implant placement (above or below the muscle), and final breast size. Many patients want a very natural appearance, while others want a fuller look.
Dr. Alderman will take measurements of your breast width, chest width, and shoulder width. Implants look most natural if they are close to the same width as your natural breasts. Projection is another consideration—how far the breast projects outward from the chest wall. Your breast anatomy, including breast tissue and glandular breast tissue thickness (soft tissue coverage) influences which breast implants and which breast implant surgery approach may look and feel most natural.
Breast Implant Options in Atlanta & Alpharetta
There are different breast implants, and each has advantages and disadvantages:
Saline breast implants (saline implants) are FDA approved for women at least 18. They are typically available as round breast implants (round implants). They may feel less natural for patients with limited breast tissue to cover the implant.
The shell is filled with sterile saline solution after it has been inserted into the breast pocket, which can allow a smaller incision. This implant insertion approach can be helpful for some breast augmentation surgery plans.
Rupture is usually noticeable quickly.
Silicone implants (including silicone gel implants and silicone gel breast implant options) are FDA approved for women at least 22. They often feel more natural, especially when there is limited breast tissue or thinner coverage. Options may include round breast implants or shaped implants.
Silicone gel formulations can include cohesive silicone gel, designed to hold shape. Some patients ask about viscous silicone gel; the feel and performance depend on the specific implant design.
Because rupture can be harder to detect, follow-up and breast imaging may be discussed.
These are a form of cohesive silicone gel implants (a type of silicone gel implant) designed to hold shape and feel firmer to the touch.
Note: Dr. Alderman does not use textured breast implants.
How Long Do Implants Last?
Dr. Alderman emphasizes that implants are not lifetime devices. Patients often consider implant replacement around 10–15 years after breast implant surgery. Over time, breast implant patients may experience capsular contracture (tight scar tissue around the breast implant device) or implant rupture (including breast implant rupture). These issues may lead to revision surgery, implant removal, or an implant exchange.
What Type of Breast Augmentation Procedure is Best?
Breast augmentation surgery techniques vary based on incision location and whether the implant is placed in front of or behind the chest muscles—specifically the pectoralis major muscle (pectoral muscle). Your plastic surgeon will recommend the best breast implant surgery plan based on breast anatomy, breast tissue, and goals for breast size and breast shape.
Inframammary incisions are made horizontally under the crease (inframammary fold) of the breast, so the scars are minor and largely hidden.
Incisions are made around the dark skin of the areolas that surround the nipples. Because this skin is darker, the scars are less noticeable.
Implants are placed in front of the chest muscle. This may be considered when breast tissue and soft tissue coverage are adequate.
Implants are placed behind the chest muscle. Placement under the pectoralis major muscle can help improve coverage for thinner breast tissue.
Implant Surgery with a Keller Funnel – Safe, Minimally Invasive Treatment
A funnel can facilitate insertion of a silicone breast implant (silicone gel) into the breast pocket with a smaller incision and reduced skin contact. This can support a cleaner implant insertion pathway during breast implant surgery.
What Happens During Breast Implant Treatment?
Breast augmentation surgery is usually performed using general anesthesia, but hospitalization is not required. Most augmentations take about 1 hour.
After the incisions are made, a pocket is created inside the breast, and the implant is placed within the pocket (either in front of or behind the chest muscle). Dr. Alderman will shape your breasts and move the nipples, if necessary, to give you a beautiful result. If a breast lift is part of your plan, breast lift steps may be performed alongside augmentation surgery to address sagging breasts and refine breast shape.
The incisions are then sutured with dissolvable stitches and dressed. After some time in recovery, you can go home, but someone must drive you, as you will be groggy for a period of time.
What Can I Expect During Recovery from Breast Augmentation?
Most women can return to work within 3 days, as long as their job is not physically strenuous. Most resume exercise and lifting in about a month.
Breast augmentation recovery depends on implant type, placement relative to chest muscles, and whether additional surgical procedures—such as a breast lift—are performed.
You will feel more comfortable sleeping on your back for the first few nights, and you will wear a surgical bra for a few weeks.
You can continue to have mammograms after receiving implants, and you should be able to breastfeed if you become pregnant. Most implants last 10-20 years.
Do you want to increase the size of your breasts? Call us today to schedule a consultation to find out more about breast augmentation in Atlanta or Alpharetta, GA with Dr. Alderman.
Breast Augmentation FAQs
Breast implants vary by fill, shell texture, and shape. Fill is either saline (saline implants) or medical-grade silicone (silicone implants, including silicone gel implants). Shells may be smooth or rough (textured). Shapes may include round implants or shaped implants. Dr. Alderman will measure your breast anatomy and evaluate breast tissue/soft tissue coverage to guide implant choice.
If you’re considering fat transfer breast augmentation, we can discuss fat transfer, fat grafting, and autologous fat grafting to add subtle breast volume using your own fat tissue.
Incisions are small, and scar care is provided. Some patients also form internal scar tissue (capsule); excessive scar tissue can contribute to capsular contracture.
Breast augmentation will not limit your ability to breast feed. Surgery does not injure the mechanism of milk production because the breast gland and milk ducts extending to the nipple are left intact.
Rupture can occur over time. Saline rupture is typically obvious. Breast implant rupture involving silicone may be less obvious; silicone breast implant ruptures can be “silent.” Breast imaging may be used to evaluate implant rupture if symptoms arise.
Absolutely! Breast implants do not limit your ability to have a mammogram. Dr. Alderman recommends waiting 6 months after breast surgery before having your mammogram. Your radiologist will perform 2 extra views so that the breast tissue can be adequately visualized. Breast imaging may include mammography and ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging may be discussed in certain situations to evaluate implant rupture. Just let the radiology center know you have implants.
Breast implants generally last 10-15 years, after which they will need to be replaced. There are different technologies available to evaluate the integrity of the breast implant shell, such as ultrasound, mammogram and MRI. Although MRI is the most accurate way to visualize the breast implant, it is also the most expensive test. Therefore, most physicians in the US do not recommend routine monitoring of the implants with MRI and try less expensive modalities first. Dr. Alderman always offers her patients complimentary annual exams for her patients with breast implants and highly encourages her patients to start thinking about an implant. exchange about 10 years after breast implant surgery
Breast implants do not cause breast cancer and, in fact, are used in breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Breast implants also do not impair the detection of breast cancer, especially if the implant is placed under the muscle, which allows better visualization of the breast with mammograms.
There is a very rare form of lymphoma, known as breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (anaplastic large cell lymphoma) and is linked more often to textured breast implants so Dr. Alderman does not use textured breast implants.
The result of breast implant surgery greatly depends on the patient’s amount of natural breast tissue. A patient who has very thin skin with little breast tissue will look more natural with a silicone gel breast implant. The silicone implants are softer and ripple less. Women who have more soft tissue coverage can do well with a saline implant because the overlying tissue is thicker and provides more coverage over the implant. Dr. Alderman will evaluate your specific anatomy and discuss which implant option is best for your particular anatomy and aesthetic goals.
Nipple sensation is rarely diminished with breast implant surgery. The majority of the nerves that supply nipple sensation are located on the outer side of your breast. During surgery, the dissection is limited in this area in order to protect the nerves. More commonly, nipple sensation is increased after surgery, similar to the feeling of breast feeding after pregnancy. This increased sensation normalizes after a month or two.
No. Drains are not used with routine breast augmentation.
All of your sutures are dissolvable, and therefore, will not need to be removed. The sutures stay in place under your skin for several months to provide support while your body heals.
Most patients require about 1 week off of work. If your job is mostly desk work, you should be able to return after 4-5 days. Jobs that are physically more demanding may require some initial limitations while you are healing.
You can start doing light cardiovascular work at 3 weeks after surgery and return to full activity at 6 weeks.
Your breasts will feel tight and swollen after surgery because the tissue over the implant is being stretched. This feeling will lessen over the first couple of weeks. Dr. Alderman does advise her patients to limit arm motion for the first couple of weeks in order to avoid tearing any internal sutures or chest muscle.
You will wear a bra that is provided to you by Dr. Alderman that is designed to provide support during the initial healing phase. This bra is to be worn day and night. At 6 weeks, patients are allowed to wear any type of bra they prefer, including underwire bras.
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia in order to optimize your experience. Dr. Joiner, a board-certified anesthesiologist, has years of experience with outpatient aesthetic surgery and provides the safest, most advanced anesthesia techniques available.
Anytime a patient has general anesthesia, Dr. Alderman wants an adult to be with the patient the night after surgery. That person can help you have ice packs for your breasts and make sure you have food to take with your pain medication.
Breast implants last on average 10-15 years and will need to be replaced at that time. Some breast implant patients may later consider revision surgery for implant rupture, capsular contracture, cosmetic preference changes, or implant removal. If implants removed are part of a plan, options may include implant replacement, implant removal, and/or breast lift with or without fat transfer to restore breast shape and breast volume.
Some patients also ask about breast implant illness; if you have symptoms you’re concerned about, discuss them with your plastic surgeon so you can review evaluation and implant removal options when appropriate.
View Gallery
Be sure to view our Before and After Photo Gallery of Breast Augmentation procedures to see real patient results at North Atlanta Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Alderman’s National Efforts on this Topic:
Subject Matter Expert for the FDA’s ALCL Implant PROFILE Study
Subject Matter Expert for American Society of Plastic Surgery initiative for U.S. National Breast Implant Registry
Surgical Editor, Cochrane Breast Cancer Group
American Society of Plastic Surgery Representative on the Plastic Surgery Foundation’s National Breast Implant Registry
American Society of Plastic Surgery Breast Subcommittee
American Society of Plastic Surgery Patient Safety Committee
American Society of Plastic Surgery & Plastic Surgery Education Foundation Breast Surgery Task Force
Vice Chairperson, ASPS Education Aesthetic Council
1. Alderman, A., Hall-Findlay, B. Breast Augmentation: Overview and Pearls for Practice. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Diego, Oct 2013.
2. Alderman, A., Hall-Findlay, B. Breast Augmentation: Overview & Pearls for Practice. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Chicago, Oct 2014.
3. Alderman, A., Hall-Findlay, B. Breast Augmentation: Analysis & Outcomes. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Chicago, Oct 2014.
4. Alderman, A., Gutowski, K, Schwartz, M. Breast Augmentation: Analysis, Execution, and Outcomes. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, Sept 2016.
5. Alderman, A. Live surgery telecast: Breast Augmentation. SESPRS 2017 Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium, January 20-22, 2017 Atlanta, GA
The Future of Breast Augmentation: The Breast-Q in Aesthetic Breast Surgery. 2012 Atlanta Breast Symposium, Atlanta, GA
Management of Early and Late Periprosthetic Fluid Collections. Challenging Complications in Plastic Surgery Symposium: Successful Management Strategies. Washington, DC, July 2012.
Augmentation Mastopexy Panel. Challenging Complications in Plastic Surgery Symposium: Successful Management Strategies. Washington, DC, July 2012.
Managing the Unfavorable Scar: When to Perform Surgical Revision. Challenging Complications in Plastic Surgery Symposium: Successful Management Strategies. Washington, DC, July 2012.
Periprosthetic Redness/Infection: Strategies for Treatment. Challenging Complications in Plastic Surgery Symposium: Successful Management Strategies. Washington, DC, July 2012.
Improving Outcomes and Reoperations in Breast Augmentation Surgeries: Minimizing Infection and Capsular Contracture. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Oct 2012.
American Society of Plastic Surgery Presidents Panel: The PIP Crisis and International Perspectives on Implants and Registries: ASPS/PSF Vision for the National Breast Implant Registry. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Oct 2012.
Reconstruction Bowl: Academic vs. Private Practice. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Oct 2012.
American Society of Plastic Surgery/Plastic Surgery Education Foundation’s Vision for a National Breast Implant Registry. Georgia Society of Plastic Surgery Annual Meeting, Dec 2012, Atlanta, GA.
VTE Prevention in Cosmetic Surgery. Georgia Society of Plastic Surgery Annual Meeting, Aug 2013, Brasstown Resort, GA.
Patient Safety: Prevention of VTE in Cosmetic Surgery. QMP Aesthetic Surgery Symposium, Nov 2013, Chicago, IL
Prevention and Management of Capsular Contracture in Breast Augmentation. QMP Aesthetic Surgery Symposium, Nov 2013, Chicago, IL
Management of the Late Periprosthetic Fluid Collection. ASPS Management of Complications in Plastic Surgery Symposium. March 28-29, 2014, Chicago, IL
Management of Complications in Augmentation Mastopexy Panel: panel participant. ASPS Management of Complications in Plastic Surgery Symposium. March 28-29, 2014, Chicago, IL
DVT Prophylaxis in the Breast Patient. ASPS Management of Complications in Plastic Surgery Symposium. March 28-29, 2014,Chicago, IL
Moderator: Fat Grafting to the Breast. ASPS Management of Complications In Plastic Surgery Symposium. March 28-29, 2014, Chicago, IL
Webinar: ASPS Dueling Perspectives in Breast Surgery: “Subglandular Augmentation: The Good Often Outweighs the Bad”. May 13, 2014.
Optimizing Outcomes in Breast Augmentation. Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons, Greenbrier, West VA, June 6 – 8, 2014.
Alderman, A. Preoperative Evaluation for Aesthetic Breast Surgery. Georgia Society of Plastic Surgeons, Callaway Gardens, GA, Aug 2, 2014.
Aesthetic Breast Surgery: Preoperative Analysis and Markings: How I Do It. ASPS Dueling Perspectives in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Symposium, Washington, DC, June 20-22, 2014.
VTE Prophylaxis in Breast Surgery. SESPRS 2015 Atlanta Breast Symposium, Atlanta, GA Jan 23-25, 2015.
Management of Late Breast Seromas. SESPRS 2015 Atlanta Breast Symposium, Atlanta, GA Jan 23-25, 2015.
Subpectoral Device Placement: Minimizing Complications. Aesthetica 2015, Las Vegas April 30-May 2, 2015.
Patient Safety and DVT Prophylaxis with Breast Surgery. Aesthetica 2015, Las Vegas April 30-May 2, 2015.
The Complex Scar: New Strategies to Improve Appearance. Aesthetica, June 2016, Washington, DC.
Tips and Tricks: Where to set your fold with form-stable implants. Aesthetica, June 2016, Washington, DC.
To texture or not to texture: deconstructing what we know about implant surface characteristics. Atlanta Breast Symposium, Jan 2018.
Strategies for setting appropriate NAC position with cosmetic breast surgery. Atlanta Breast Symposium, Jan 2018.
VTE and breast surgery: current recommendations for chemoprophylaxis. Atlanta Breast Symposium, Jan 2018.
Alderman, AK, Kerrigan, CL, Lemaine, V, Pusic, AL, Vidal, DC. Evidence-Based Medicine &Health Services Research in Plastic Surgery. In Plastic Surgery 1st Edition
Alderman, AK, Chung, KC. Outcomes for Surgical Guidance in Plastic Surgery: Measuring Outcomes in Aesthetic Surgery. Clinics in of Plastic Surgery, 2013:297-304.
Alderman, AK, Kerrigan, CL, Lemaine, V, Pusic, AL, Vidal, DC. Evidence-Based Medicine &Health Services Research in Plastic Surgery. In Plastic Surgery 4th Edition
Pannucci, C, Alderman, AK. Venous Thromboembolism and the Aesthetic Surgery Patient. Essentials of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Alderman, AK, Collins, ED, Streu, R, Grotting, JC, Sulkin, AL, Neligan, P, Haeck, PC, Gutowski, KA. Benchmarking outcomes in plastic surgery: national complication rates for abdominoplasty and breast augmentation. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2009;124:2127-33.
Alderman, AK. Discussion: A Multi-Institutional Perspective of Complication Rates for Elective Non-Reconstructive Breast Surgery: An Analysis of NSQIP Data from 2006 to 2010, Aesthetic Surgery Journal: 33(3): 387-388, 2013.
Alderman, AK, Bauer, JB, Fardo, DF, Abrahamse, PA, Pusic, AL. Understanding the Impact of Breast Augmentation on Quality of Life: Prospective Analysis Using the BREAST-Q. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, April 2014.
Alderman, AK, Pusic, AP, Murphy, DK. Prospective Analysis of Primary Breast Augmentation on Body Image Using the BREAST-Q: Results from a Nationwide Study. Plastic and Reconstrustive Surgery, 137:954e, 2016.