Breast Augmentation in Houston, TX with Dr. Courtney
Dr. Courtney’s precise surgical and artistic skills have helped countless women achieve the refined contours they desire. Some women prefer fuller breasts, while others wish to reduce asymmetries. Ultimately, our typical patient is looking to create a balanced figure that makes a stunning first impression.
Whatever your reasons and goals are for your surgical outcome, Dr. Courtney will make sure he understands your expectations when developing your surgical plan. Dr. Courtney learned early that every patient has different goals and by listening closely to those goals, he ensures the ideal outcome.
Our plastic surgery practice is one of the largest and most well respected in the country. With our state-of-the-art facilities and award-winning staff, you can rest assured your breast augmentation by Dr. Courtney will be an individualized experience from your initial consultation to your final post-op follow-up.
What Will My Consultation Be Like?
Before coming to your consultation with Dr. Courtney, we encourage you to bring images of others who have the breast size and shape you’d like to emulate. Using selfie filters on your own photos typically isn’t as helpful as photos of real people.
After reviewing your medical history, conducting a physical exam to note your body’s natural architecture, and discussing your aesthetic goals in depth, Dr. Courtney will share his thoughts and recommendations for your breast augmentation procedure. With careful consideration of your preferences, he will create a surgical plan that is customized to your body, concerns, and goals.
Using Vectra XT 3D Imaging technology, Dr. Courtney can simulate the addition or removal of volume from your breasts. This device superimposes images over your current form, changing implant size and shape, so you can determine what choices will render the natural and flattering results. This step gives our patients great peace of mind about the surgery and its outcome. Vectra XT 3D Imaging technology is available at only a few plastic surgery practices in the Houston area.
Every consultation is a personalized experience, and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions. The goal of the consultation is for Dr. Courtney to fully understand your aesthetic concerns and desired outcomes.
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to take the next step or want to learn more about a certain procedure, schedule your consultation today. Dr. Courtney and his team are excited to meet you!
Take the Next Step
If you’re ready to take the next step or want to learn more about a certain procedure, schedule your consultation today. Dr. Courtney and his team are excited to meet you!
How Is Breast Augmentation Surgery Performed?
You will undergo surgery in our AAAHC-certified ambulatory surgery center (ASC) rather than a hospital. Our surgery center delivers more comfort, convenience, and safety than any hospital operating room. In fact, studies show that the infection rate in a certified ambulatory surgery center is half that of hospitals. More, patients spend 26% less time in an ASC than in hospital recovery rooms.[1] With a fraction of the number of patients and staff than pass through a hospital, bacterial and viral presence remains at a minimum.
During breast augmentation surgery, an implant is inserted either under the soft tissue or under the muscle to enhance breast shape and size. The surgical incisions can be placed in one of several different locations that allow Dr. Courtney to create the pocket for the implants. Incisions are commonly made in the following areas:
- Under the crease of the breasts (inframammary)
- Around a portion of the areola (peri-areolar)
- In the natural folds of the armpits (trans-axillary)
Several factors are considered when choosing incision placement. These include the type and size of the breast implants. Whether you will undergo an accompanying breast lift procedure also figures into the incision placement decision. Dr. Courtney carefully examines your body architecture to make expert recommendations about incision placement. Of course, the goal is to leave your skin as smooth and beautiful as possible after surgery.
Placement of Breast Implants
In general, breast implants can be placed sub-muscularly, under the pectoral muscle, or sub-glandular, which is under the glands and fatty tissue of the breasts. They can also be placed on top of the pectoral muscle, a choice termed pre-pectoral breast implant placement.
Placement of the implant will be determined by your body’s natural figure and proportions, as well as the size and shape of the implant. Each choice has its advantages. You and Dr. Courtney will work together to determine how these details figure into your personal aesthetic goals and overall health.
Types of Breast Implants
The FDA has approved breast implants made of two materials: silicone and saline.
Saline implants consist of a silicone shell filled with saltwater. The saline shell can fit into a smaller incision than the incision created for a silicone implant. With the shell in place, Dr. Courtney can fill it from the outside with the saltwater. Dr. Courtney adjusts the amount of liquid in each implant to ensure there are no asymmetries.
Saline-filled implants can have less of a natural feel and move less naturally than silicone implants. Saline implants can also ripple, leading to unnatural lines over the skin surface.
Still, saline implants have several advantages. First, they are the only implant the FDA approves for patients 18 to 21. Should a saline implant rupture, it will be immediately noticeable as the implant will deflate and it can be treated right away. When a silicone breast implant ruptures, the cohesive silicone gel may remain in place for a significant period or only leak in part. These silicone “silent leaks” may remain undetected. A broken silicone implant is detected by swelling in the area caused by the body covering the silicone with scar tissue. This swelling may cause some pain. The shape of the breast can change as well. In rare cases, the silicone can create silicone granulomas in the arm, armpit or chest area.
Despite these consequences, silicone breast implants have not been shown to cause any serious systemic disease like cancer or lupus. In 2006 the FDA reviewed all research involving leaked silicone’s impact on the body and found no connection between silicone gel implants and systemic diseases. Silicone implants are approved for all women over 21.
Silicone implants consist of a silicone shell containing a viscous silicone gel. This gel feels very natural to the touch and retains a more natural shape as well. As mentioned above, silicone implants almost never ripple.
Patients can select which level of silicone gel viscosity and projection (shape) they prefer. One popular option for gel viscosity is “form-stable,” commonly referred to as “gummy bear.” This gel viscosity has a firmer texture and achieves the most augmented look available. It also retains its fullness over the life of the implant better than saline implants or the less viscous gel options. In the rare event that the “gummy bear” implant is damaged and ruptured, it will hold its shape. Some consider the “gummy bear” implant’s teardrop shape to be more natural than the round shape available with the standard silicone breast implant.
Rounded implants containing the less cohesive gel can provide more fullness to the top portion of the breasts, while anatomical or “teardrop-shaped” implants provide more fullness in the middle and bottom of the breasts. For women with significant asymmetry or those who are undergoing a revision or reconstruction breast surgery, it is common to use implants of different sizes in each breast.
During your consultation with Dr. Courtney, you can expect to review these implant shape options and silicone gel variances in detail. You’ll have the opportunity to test different-sized implants as well.
Breast Revision Surgery
Women seek revision breast surgery due to unsatisfactory outcomes of a previous surgery or changes in breasts that occur naturally over the years. Potential candidates for this procedure may also have had an implant rupture or want another procedure to further enhance the shape and size of their breasts. Dr. Courtney prides himself on truly listening and strives to ensure he understands the success factors for each and every one of his patients, especially for revision surgeries. These patients paid good money only to be disappointed with the results. Dr. Courtney works hard to win the dramatic results that will re-establish the patient’s faith in breast augmentation surgeons.
Meet Dr. Courtney
Dr. Courtney El Zokm, called Dr. Courtney by his patients, has devoted many years to honing his expertise in plastic surgery. He is committed to creating balance and natural results through meticulous attention to detail.
Meet Dr. Courtney
Dr. Courtney El Zokm, called Dr. Courtney by his patients, has devoted many years to honing his expertise in plastic surgery. He is committed to creating balance and natural results through meticulous attention to detail.
Implant Alternatives: Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation with implants has successfully brought breasts back into shape for fifty years. Women who’ve undergone cancer surgery, multiple pregnancies and more have implants to thank for rejuvenating their pride in figures crowned by perky or bodacious breasts. In the past five years, however, more women have been passing on the breast implant to augment their breasts with their own body fat. Those looking for mild to moderate enhancement can avoid implants while reaching their goals when they choose fat transfer breast augmentation.
The fat transfer breast augmentation (also called autologous fat transfer) has several advantages. First, patients with fat transfer breast augmentation report that their breasts look and feel very natural. Then, his procedure does not involve any scars or rippling that can occur with saline implants. The best advantage, however, is that fat is removed from areas with too much of it. Patients get to slim one area of the body while augmenting another, getting them closer to the feminine, hourglass ideal.
Despite these advantages, patients looking for a significant increase in breast size will get better results from breast implants.
The process behind fat transfer breast augmentation is simple. Dr. Courtney uses liposuction to harvest fat from another part of the body, such as the abdomen or hips. Using sterile techniques, the fat is then processed and transferred to the breasts. While fat transfer does create two treatment sites, one at the liposuction area and another to graft the fat into the breasts, incisions are smaller than those created during breast implant surgery.
What Can I Expect During Breast Augmentation Recovery and Beyond?
You will wake from your surgery in our state-of-the-art surgical center with one-on-one nursing care. You will have a compression bandage around your chest to support and protect your breasts to limit post-surgical swelling. After spending a couple of hours in recovery, patients are released to go home the same day. During your first few days of breast augmentation recovery, it is best to have someone home to assist you. One of the aspects of Dr. Courtney’s personalized care entails a visit from a health care specialist, at your home, to monitor your recovery and needs.
We send a homecare nurse to you the day after your surgery. He or she will check your incisions, bandages, and overall health. If you are one of our out-of-town patients, the nurse comes to your recovery center or hotel room.
Within a week or two, most women return to their normal daily activities with some limitations. For instance, you should not lift anything heavy for a few weeks, especially above your shoulders and head. Additionally, you may need to refrain from vigorous exercise until cleared by Dr. Courtney.
While you will see immediate results from your surgery, your body will continue to heal over the coming weeks to months. Once the swelling subsides, the implants will settle into their final position. During this time of recovery, it is important for you to follow all post-operative instructions that Dr. Courtney provides to maximize your healing and results.
Breast Augmentation Surgery Concierge Services in Houston, TX
With our reputation reaching all corners of Texas and beyond, we often get inquiries from outside Houston and even from other states and countries. Of course, it’s wise to trust only the most qualified surgeon with your precious body.
If you plan to travel to Houston for your breast augmentation surgery, we are happy to advise you on hotel accommodations, transportation, and detailed directions. We also alert you to the nearby nursing services and any post-operative support you may need in addition to that we provide. We share contact information for food and beverage delivery services, as well.
Dr. Courtney and his team want your procedures to go smoothly from the moment you first arrive in Houston to your departure.
If you have specific questions about what’s involved in breast augmentation surgery, please don’t hesitate to call us at 713.522.4411 or contact us via our online form today. Well look forward to your call or visit!
[1] “ASCs: A Positive Trend in Health Care.” Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.