Breast Augmentation
Precision, proportion, and presence — by a double-board-certified plastic surgeon.
Breast augmentation is the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure in the country — and when it's done right, it shows.
Better is the goal. Better proportion, better symmetry, a result that reads as yours — considered, natural, and lasting. The implant is the last decision, not the first.
Before considering size or profile, Dr. Brock Lanier evaluates your chest wall, your tissue, and your proportions. His training spans oncologic, reconstructive, and aesthetic breast surgery — a breadth that brings something genuinely different to every consultation. Every augmentation here is individually planned.
~ What Is Breast Augmentation? ~
The Philosophy
The goal of breast augmentation is not just to make breasts larger. It is to make your breasts better — in proportion to your frame, consistent with your aesthetic goals, and natural in movement and feel.
Breast augmentation involves the placement of a silicone or saline implant — or, in select cases, the use of your own fat — to increase volume, improve symmetry, or restore fullness (after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight change). The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours.
What separates an excellent outcome from an average one is almost never the implant itself. It is the surgical planning: the assessment of your native breast tissue, chest wall geometry, skin elasticity, nipple position, and personal goals — and the technical precision with which the pocket is created and the implant seated.
This is the conversation Dr. Lanier has with every patient before a single decision is made.
The SoCal OncoPlastic Difference:
Why Personalized Care Matters
Breast augmentation is one of the most technique-dependent operations in plastic surgery.
The incision placement, the pocket plane, the implant selection — every decision influences not just how the result looks on day one, but how it ages, how it moves, and whether it holds.
Dr. Lanier's training in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery gives him an understanding of breast anatomy that most purely cosmetic surgeons do not carry. He has operated on breasts under every anatomical condition — post-mastectomy, post-radiation, asymmetric, ptotic, tuberous. That surgical depth directly informs what he sees when he evaluates an augmentation patient.
At SoCal OncoPlastic Surgery, your consultation is unhurried, your implant selection is collaborative, and your surgery is performed by Dr. Lanier. Concierge care from the surgeon – not an assistant.
Implant Choices — Understanding the Options
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Modern cohesive silicone gel implants are the most commonly chosen option for breast augmentation — and for good reason.
They move naturally, feel close to native breast tissue, and maintain their shape over time. More form-stable implants (previously called "Gummy bear") offer a firmer feel and hold their contour even if the shell is disrupted. Dr. Lanier will walk you through the spectrum of silicone options and what each means for your result.
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Saline implants are filled with sterile water and have the advantage of being adjustable at the time of surgery.
If there is a leak, the body absorbs the saline harmlessly. They tend to feel firmer than silicone and may be more visible at the upper pole in patients with limited native tissue.
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For patients seeking modest volume enhancement without an implant, fat transfer — harvesting fat via liposuction from one area and transferring it to the breast — is a compelling option.
It produces a highly natural result, eliminates the implant variable entirely, and offers the added benefit of body contouring at the donor site. It is best suited for patients seeking one-half to one full cup size of increase and who have adequate donor fat available.
Surgical Approach: Incision & Pocket Placement
Where the implant goes — and how it gets there — is key.
Incision Options
The three most common approaches are the inframammary fold (IMF), the periareolar, and the transaxillary (armpit) incision. Dr. Lanier will recommend the approach that offers the best combination of access, scar concealment, and precision for your specific anatomy. He will discuss the pros and cons of each in detail during your consultation — there is no one-size answer.
Pocket Plane
Implants can be placed in front of the pectoralis major muscle (subglandular, or subfascial), partially beneath it (dual plane), or fully beneath it (submuscular). Each plane has distinct implications for appearance, feel, animation, and long-term behavior. Dual plane placement — where the implant sits behind the muscle superiorly and behind the breast tissue inferiorly — is the most commonly used approach for augmentation today, offering the best balance of natural contour and implant coverage.
Breast Augmentation: at a glance
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1–2 hours
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General anesthesia
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Accredited outpatient surgical facility
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Most patients return to light activity within 5–7 days; strenuous activity restricted for 4–6 weeks
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Typically 5–7 days for desk work; longer for physical roles
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4–8 weeks post-operatively
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3–6 months, as swelling fully resolves and the implant settles into position
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Modern implants are not lifetime devices, but many patients go 10–20+ years before revision may be needed
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Dr. Brock Lanier, MD — personally, every treatment
Keep in mind this is general information about a typical or usual experience. Individual experiences can vary.
— Combining Procedures —
Augmentation + Lift
For patients with significant breast ptosis (sagging) alongside volume loss, implant placement alone may not achieve the desired result — and in some cases can worsen the appearance of drooping. A breast lift (mastopexy) repositions the nipple-areola complex and removes excess skin to restore the breast to a higher, more youthful position on the chest wall.
When the goals are both volume and lift, Dr. Lanier will evaluate whether a combined augmentation-mastopexy can be safely performed in a single operation, or whether staging the procedures is the better approach for your anatomy and safety. This is a nuanced surgical decision.
Preparing & Protecting: Pre- & Post-Operative Care
Before your surgery:
A pre-operative laboratory panel and clearance from your primary care physician will be completed in the weeks leading up to surgery.
Avoid blood-thinning supplements (aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, Vitamin E) for two weeks prior to surgery.
Nicotine in any form — cigarettes, vaping, patches, gum — must be discontinued at least 4-6 before surgery. Nicotine dramatically impairs wound healing and significantly increases complication risk.
Arrange a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.
Prepare a recovery area at home: a reclining chair or elevated pillow setup, loose comfortable clothing, and easy access to your prescribed medications.
After your treatment:
Most patients experience tightness, swelling, and moderate soreness in the first several days. Prescription pain medication is typically needed for only 2-4 days, transitioning to over-the-counter options thereafter.
A surgical bra will be provided and should be worn consistently during the initial recovery period. Dr. Lanier's team will give you precise instructions on garment use and showering.
Implants will sit high initially as the body tissues adapt — this is expected and resolves as the implant settles, typically over 4-8 weeks.
Light walking is encouraged from day one. Upper body activity, lifting, and exercise are restricted for four to six weeks.
Is It Right for You?
Candidacy & Contraindications
Breast augmentation is appropriate for adults who are in good general health, at or near a stable body weight, and have realistic expectations about the outcome.
Ideal candidates are typically those who:
Desire fuller, more proportionate breast volume
Have experienced volume loss following pregnancy, breastfeeding, or significant weight change
Have naturally small breasts inconsistent with their proportional goals
Have meaningful breast asymmetry they wish to address
Important Considerations:
Breast augmentation does not correct significant sagging — that requires a lift, either separately or combined.
Patients planning future pregnancies should be aware that pregnancy, nursing, and subsequent weight changes may affect long-term results and may necessitate revision surgery.
Implants are not lifetime devices. While modern implants are highly durable, most patients will consider some form of revision or exchange over the course of their lifetime .
A personal and family history of breast cancer does not automatically preclude augmentation, but it does require a thoughtful discussion about screening protocols and implant selection.
Common Questions: FAQ
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Implants can obscure some breast tissue on standard mammography. Patients with implants should inform their imaging center so that specialized displacement views can be obtained. This is a well-established protocol and does not negate the value of screening. Modern implant placement and imaging techniques allow for effective surveillance.
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Implant selection should not be a catalog exercise. It is be done with dimensional planning based on your chest wall measurements, breast base width, tissue thickness, and aesthetic goals to determine the range of implants that will work for your specific anatomy. Sizer trials during your consultation help translate measurements into real expectations. The goal is a result that looks like you — not like a procedure.
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In most cases, yes. Implant placement beneath the muscle or through the inframammary fold preserves the majority of breast tissue and ductal anatomy. Periareolar incisions carry a slightly higher theoretical risk of ductal disruption.
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Breast augmentation is a safe procedure when performed by an experienced surgeon in an accredited facility — but it is not without risk. The most clinically significant risks include capsular contracture (scar tissue hardening around the implant), implant rupture, asymmetry, changes in nipple sensation, and the need for revision surgery. Breast implant illness (BII) is a patient-reported syndrome of systemic symptoms that some patients associate with their implants; while the scientific evidence remains evolving, it is discussed candidly with every patient. Breast implant-associated ALCL (BIA-ALCL) is an extremely rare lymphoma associated almost exclusively with textured implants — smooth implants, which Dr. Lanier primarily uses, carry no established association.
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The first 24–48 hours are the most uncomfortable. Most patients describe it as a feeling of pressure and tightness rather than sharp pain. By day 5-7, most patients with desk jobs feel ready to return to work. The implants will look high and feel tight for several weeks — this is normal. At 6-8 weeks, most patients begin to see the shape they will live with long-term, though the final result continues to evolve through 3-6 months.
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There is no fixed expiration date. Many patients go years (10-20+ years) without needing any intervention. The most common reasons for revision surgery are capsular contracture, changes in personal preference, or natural changes in the breast tissue over time. Dr. Lanier will give you a realistic picture of what long-term ownership of your result looks like.
