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Is Breast Augmentation Right For You?
Breast augmentation (augmentation mammaplasty), procedures, more commonly referred to as a boob job, have remained the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in America for the past seven years, with a total of 304,181 breast augmentation surgeries performed in 2023 alone. Breast augmentation enhances the symmetry, size, and overall aesthetic appeal of the breasts through the surgical insertion and precise placement of silicone or saline breast implants. By choosing a board-certified and reputable plastic surgeon, together you can go over your options for breast augmentation and decide whether it is right for you and your aesthetic goals.
Recovery:
1 Week
Cost:
Starts at $8K
Results:
3-4 Months
At Cosmetic Surgery Associates, located in Bethesda, MD, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Franklin Richards, M.D., Dr. Dean Jabs, M.D., and Dr. Keshav Magge, M.D. have more than 50 years combined medical experience. For individuals in Washington, DC looking for great care, these doctors have successfully performed countless breast augmentation procedures on patients all over Maryland with a variety of aesthetic goals.
A bigger bust achieved through a breast augmentation procedure can make you feel sexier, confident, and more approachable to others.
Reasons to Choose Breast Augmentation
- Improve body contour
- Correct reduction in breast volume after pregnancy
- Balance out a difference in breast size
- Reconstruction following breast surgery
Breast augmentation, or breast enlargement, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. In some case it can be combined with a breast lift to correct the appearance of sagging breasts. A breast implant is a silicone plastic shell filled with a saltwater (saline) solution, or a gelatinous form of silicone gel, known as memory gel or gummy bear implants. Breast implant surgery is done on an outpatient basis and takes approximately one and a half hours. You will usually feel tired and sore for a few days following the surgery. The swelling in the breasts may take three to five weeks to disappear. You will likely be able to return to work one week after surgery.
Dr. Jabs, Dr. Richards, and Dr. Magge understand that the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery is a highly personal one, and will work in close collaboration with you to safely bring your breast enhancement goals to fruition.
There is a lot of information one needs to know before undergoing breast augmentation and your surgeon wants you to be completely informed about the procedure. That is why consultations are so important to the breast augmentation process. A breast augmentation consultation provides the best way to get complete answers to specific questions that relate to your individual needs.
Choosing Your Breast Implants
Breast augmentation currently ranks as the third most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the US after rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery.
As breast implant technology has progressed, patients now have a multitude of implant shapes, textures, profiles, sizes, and materials to choose from. While having a variety of implants to select from is a positive development, the plethora of implant choices may feel overwhelming at first. However, you can rest easy knowing that Dr. Jabs, Dr. Richards, and Dr. Magge will patiently guide you throughout the implant selection process, helping you to choose the most flattering implants for your physique.
Breast Implant Types
Women in the US have a choice between FDA-approved saline-filled breast implants and silicone gel-filled breast implants. Among silicone gel implants, a new advanced quality called form-stable or gummy bear implants with an ultra-cohesive silicone gel is becoming a fantastic option for many women.
Silicone Implants
Consistently deliver results that look and feel completely natural. Silicone breast implants are less likely to ripple or cause undesirable changes in the natural breast tissue. Silicone implants are offered in moderate through ultra-high profiles and range in pre-determined sizes from 175cc to 800cc. Cosmetic Surgery Associates utilizes the Keller Funnel for insertion. This is a funnel-shaped device that allows the surgeon to insert the silicone implant into the pocket with a “no-touch” technique.
Saline Implants
Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water that is naturally reabsorbed by the body in the case of a leaking implant. Unlike silicone implants, saline implants can be custom-filled to a precise size. The profile of a saline implant is moderate to high, and although this type of implant is easier to remove and requires a smaller incision, saline implants are more prone to rippling over time.
Profile
Some women want a fuller, more spherical look to their breasts—round implants may be the best option for these patients. Round implants are offered in many different profiles and are currently the most popular silicone implant shape in the United States.

Shape
Some women want a fuller, more spherical look to their breasts—round implants may be the best option for these patients. Round implants are offered in many different profiles and are currently the most popular silicone implant shape in the United States.
Implant Placement
Breast implant placement can significantly impact your breast augmentation results and the overall profile of your upper torso.
Breast implants can be placed submuscularly, which means in a breast pocket created below the pectoral muscle, or subglandularly, which means above the pectoral muscle, right below the breast tissue. The invasiveness of the procedure is similar in both cases, although breast augmentation recovery can be slightly different for the two techniques.
- Submuscular placement — underneath the chest muscle
- Subglandular (a.k.a. submammary) placement — between the chest muscle and breast tissue

Incision Placement
There are two options for incision placement during breast augmentation.
The options for the location of incisions may include an inframammary incision below the breast crease a periareolar incision along the border of the lower half of the areola or a transaxillary incision in the armpit. The placement of this incision is designed to either help camouflage scar tissue or make implant insertion as quick and easy as possible. In any case, your plastic surgeon aims to make as small of an incision as possible.
- Periareolar (incision encircles the lower half of the areola)
- Inframammary (incision is made just below the curve of the breast)
After helping you to select the optimal implants and choosing the appropriate incision and placement options, Dr. Richards, Dr. Jabs, or Dr. Magge will create a custom-tailored treatment plan designed to safely fulfill your aesthetic goals and complement your physique.
Results & Recovery
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released the results of a survey in 2008 that revealed that 99% of the respondents would do breast augmentation again. Overall, respondents gave a satisfaction rating of 9.2 out of 10 following breast augmentation.
The May 2013 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery published the results of a five-year study, which revealed that 98 percent of the respondents reported that the results of breast augmentation met or exceeded their expectations. Only one percent expressed dissatisfaction with their post-op scarring, while 92 percent reported an improvement in self-esteem.
Breast Augmentation Recovery
You will want to take at least one week off of work for your initial recovery after a breast augmentation. It may take 6-8 weeks for you to fully recover, and during this time you will want to abstain from any strenuous activities or heavy lifting. After your plastic surgery you will be sent home with drainage tubes in each breast. Your surgeon will direct you on how to properly clean, empty and care for your drains before they are removed after about a week. In order to maintain the new shape of your breasts, you will be required to wear a surgical bra at all times. In order to monitor your progress and check for signs of breast implant illness, you will need to attend follow up appointments at your plastic surgeons.
Breast augmentation surgery is generally performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure, and is typically completed in about an hour (if performed in conjunction with a breast lift, the surgery may take longer). After your breast augmentation, you will be released to a friend or family member who will take you home to recover. Your initial results will be visible immediately after your surgery, and will continue to improve over the next 2-4 weeks, as any residual swelling and bruising subside.
Discomfort after breast augmentation surgery is usually mild to moderate. All sutures are dissolvable, so your follow-up appointments will be scheduled at one-week, one-month, and three-month intervals to ensure that you are healing properly.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are seriously considering a surgical procedure to enhance the size, shape, and profile of your breasts, we strongly recommend setting up a consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons to find out if you’re a good candidate for breast augmentation. Our office is only 11 minutes away from Potomac and 10 minutes away from North Bethesda & Rockville. Schedule your consultation appointment today!
Breast Augmentation FAQs
Can breast implants cause pain years later?
Can breast implants last 30 years?
Can I move my arms after breast augmentation?
Can you breast feed after breast augmentation
Do breast implants cause autoimmune disease?
Do you have to replace breast implants every 10 years?
Does getting breast implants make you gain weight?
Does insurance cover breast implants?
How do I know if my breast implant is leaking?
How do you know if you have capsular contracture?
How long do breast implants last?
How painful is breast augmentation recovery?
Is breast enlargement possible without surgery?
Is getting a breast augmentation worth it?
What is the difference between a breast augmentation and breast implants?
What is the most common breast implant size?
Will Cigna cover breast augmentation?
What is capsular contracture, and will it happen after my breast augmentation?
Can breast implants obstruct the results of a mammogram?
Will I lose sensation in my nipples or breasts after my breast augmentation surgery?
Do I need to postpone my breast augmentation surgery until after I am finished having children?
What are the different incision options for my breast augmentation surgery?
Should or could I have a breast lift at the same time as breast augmentation?
How long does it take to recover from breast augmentation surgery?
What does breast augmentation mean?
How does breast augmentation work?
Keshav Magge, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Honored as a Top Doctor by Bethesda Magazine and Washingtonian in both 2024 and 2025, Dr. Magge is recognized for his exceptional surgical skill, artistic precision, and patient-centered approach. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, he completed a fellowship in Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he gained advanced expertise in facial rejuvenation and aesthetic surgery innovations.
Meet Dr. Magge
A. Dean Jabs, MD, PhD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Jabs is an award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon recognized nationally for his expertise in creating natural-looking results and his warm, compassionate approach to patient care. Trained in NY at Columbia University, he served in the US Army and has special expertise in facial rejuvenation. He has over 35 years of experience and has consistently been voted a top plastic surgeon by Washingtonian and Bethesda magazine.
Meet Dr. Jabs
Franklin D. Richards, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Richards has been recognized as a Top Doctor by several prestigious organizations, including Castle Connolly, Consumers’ Research Council of America, and Washingtonian magazine. A leading plastic surgeon in Bethesda, Maryland, Dr. Richards is the past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Suburban Hospital. His expertise is in achieving natural results in facelift and eyelid surgery, with additional interests in cosmetic surgery of the breast and abdomen.
Meet Dr. RichardsComplementary Procedures
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction surgery can relieve pain from heavy breasts and make movement and exercise more comfortable. It also helps achieve a proportionate shape for improved confidence and ease in everyday life.
Breast Lift
The breast lift is a popular procedure for women who want to address signs of aging or post-pregnancy changes to their bodies. During the procedure, excess skin and breast tissue are removed, and the remaining tissues are carefully lifted to achieve rounded, youthful-looking breasts.
Breast Revision
Breast revision is beneficial for many women, whether you are no longer satisfied with the results of a previous breast surgery or have suffered complications like implant rupture or capsular contracture. It can also be used to address bodily changes caused by aging or to repair the breasts after a mastectomy.
Patient Photos
View our gallery to see photographs of real patient results at Cosmetic Surgery Associates.
Learn MoreDoctor Videos
Patient education is one of our primary goals. Check out our educational video series to learn more about specific procedures and view real results.
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