Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty) is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to enhance breast size and shape, using either saline or silicone implants. We’re proud to offer breast augmentation procedures using the most advanced techniques to patients in Edison, Marlboro, Warren, and West Orange, New Jersey, as well as those traveling from afar.

Before and After Photos

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Meet Dr. Harry

Meet Dr. Elliot

The technical challenge of making a woman’s breasts look as good as possible to complement her body is something I look forward to every day. – Dr. Harry T. Haramis, M.D., FACS

Ideal augmentation time

Importance of timing and surgeon selection

Let’s be honest. Buoyant breasts are a powerful symbol of youthful vitality. The best and most popular age bracket for breast augmentation is also the most critical and convenient: Gravity has kicked in and self and sexual confidence are waning. A boost is in order. In fact, in 2020, the highest percentage (35%) of women undergoing breast augmentation nationally was between the ages of 30 – 39. Next were women between ages 40 and 54 (28%), and then 20 and 29 ( 27%). Beyond that, just 2% of breast augmentation are under 20 years old and only 7% of patients are 55 and over.¹

Patient age overview

Popular Life Phases for Breast Augmentation

The cost of breast augmentation

Perfection is pricey but affordable. Breast augmentation isn’t inexpensive. Nationally, the average “surgeon’s fee” for the procedure is $3,947. To this base fee are added the costs of anesthesia, hospital or operating room facility fees, and other related expenses. You can typically expect to pay from 6 to 10 thousand dollars for breast augmentation in most other centers throughout NJ. The surgical procedure is intensive and thus costly, yet we’d strongly caution against deciding based on price alone and urge you to seek only a board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Discounts that sound too good to be true are. We offer a 100% free consultation where you’ll receive a detailed rundown of costs for your procedure, and to ease the financial burden we accept the 4 most popular financing options.

Augmentation overview

Augment: The action or process of making greater in size. Breast augmentation is an elective outpatient surgical procedure for enhancing the breast volume and breast shape. An FDA-approved implant composed of either saline or pre-filled silicone is placed beneath the breast tissue, the chest muscles, or a combination of both (“dual plane”). The art of breast augmentation lies in carefully selecting the size and style of implant best suited to you: your body type and your beauty goals. The science of it lies in safely making your dreams a stunning reality.

Breast implant surgery is the most popular cosmetic surgery in America. Chances are, you’re looking to undergo the procedure yourself. Drs. Hamaris and Heller will invest the time and care into ensuring your comfort, safety, and total understanding of the procedure ahead of you. As board-certified surgeons who specialize in breast augmentation and have a combined 50-plus years of experience, you’ll be in caring hands, from private consultation to pre-op and from post-op to full recovery.

Why choose us

5 key distinctions patients count on in choosing Associates in Plastic Surgery in NJ: Expertise, Experience, Artistry, Accredited Surgical Centers & Privileges at all Area Hospitals, Multi-location Convenience.

Expertise

At Associates, continuing education is second-nature and our surgeons remain abreast of industry developments, constantly pushing the envelope of possibility to do even better. Dr. Haramis and Dr. Heller have achieved some of the highest levels of certification and board membership possible. As board-certified surgeons and Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), they’ve trained among the best to become the best.

Artistry

Elective cosmetic surgery is both an art and a science. The best breast augmentations require a keen eye and an understanding of proportions and integration. Breast augmentation can be done in a million ways. But only a fraction of those ways is truly perfect for you. You’ll likely want to look stunningly beautiful, but naturally so. And that’s why the goal of our surgeons is always to draw out and complement your inherent natural beauty.

Multi-location convenience

To help us serve you closer to home, our surgical facilities are spread out across four of New Jersey’s counties—in Edison, Marlboro, Warren, and West Orange. With well-established ties to the community, it’s our honor and privilege to call so many locals our patients.

Experience

Our breast augmentation surgeons, Dr. Haramis and Dr. Heller have performed a combined several thousand successful breast augmentations. Yes, your procedure is unquestionably unique and carefully curated to your own beauty and body goals, yet our patients are calm and confident knowing their special day has been preceded by thousands just like it for satisfied patients all across the state.

Accredited surgical centers & hospital privileges

Patient safety is our priority. Each of our surgical facilities meets the same strict protocol required of hospitals. Cutting-edge computerized imaging software helps us help you envision your end result right from the start. State-licensed, Medicare-certified, and passed by the nation’s accreditation authority on safety, cleanliness, and quality, our surgical facilities are ideal. And our surgeons have privileges in all area hospitals.

Private consultation

You’ve thought long and hard about breast implants. You’ve perused our site and gallery and are intrigued by the possibilities of what breast augmentation can do for you. What’s next? Contact us by phone or online form for a no-obligation private initial consultation in our private New Jersey practice.

The goal of a breast augmentation consultation here at Associates will be to educate you as a patient about breast implants and the operation, carefully answer any of your questions about the procedure, including everything from preparation to postoperative recovery, and then discuss types of breast implants, the benefits of subglandular or submuscular implant placement, and the size and that will best complement your body. You also have the opportunity to learn about the relatively rare risks and complications associated with breast augmentation, including capsular contracture and implant rupture.

What to look for in your consultation

Whether you choose Associates here in New Jersey—and we’d love to have you—or another surgical center entirely, here’s what to look for and take mental or even written note of in a breast augmentation consultation:

Instinct, gut feeling, calmness, and comfort

When you enter the facility, speak to our staff and your surgeon, how do you feel? Are you at ease and relaxed? Do you feel comfortable and understood? Do you feel under any pressure to have the procedure or have it sooner than you’d like to? Yes, the decision is a big one and you may feel uncertainty or anxiety in general, but your visit to our center (or another’s) should leave you feeling understood, cared for, calmer, and more certain that you either do or do not want a breast augmentation.

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

Study this closely. We’ll have a portfolio on file you’re free to look at. They’re all 100% unedited photographs. No, they don’t—and shouldn’t—look like Photoshopped glam models in studio lighting. What you’re looking for here is: Do you like the look of the finished procedure? Are scars overly obvious? Do things look natural? Do all patients look unique, or does it seem the surgeon has a “cookie-cutter” approach to all patients? Do you like the look of this surgeon’s work? Can you picture what the procedure might do for you and do you like it?

Industry expert recommendations

VIEW COMPLETE LIST OF QUESTIONS

Options

You’ll have a wide variety of breast implant options to choose from to achieve the look and feel you’re after. Some of the more important choices you and your surgeon will cover include:

Breast implant options

Contours and textures

Textured Implants have a surface that is roughed up ever so slightly to help them stay better in place. They move around less and reduce the risk of tight scar tissue formation inside the breasts. On the downside, textured implants are associated with a very rare form of cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

Round Implants have the same dimensions all around and so don’t create unusual projections in the unlikely event they were to rotate. They’ll also leave your breasts appearing larger and fuller than teardrop implants would.

Smooth Implants have an outer shell with no fine grooves or texture of any kind. They’ll give dynamic motion similar to actual breasts.

Incision options

Inframammary

(in the fold of the breast) is the most common and involves placing an incision in the crease under the breast. This allows excellent surgical access and leaves you with scars that are virtually imperceptible as they’re hidden by the breast itself.

Periareolar

(around the nipple) is another common choice and involves an incision near the lower half of the areola, which placement tends to hide the scar.

Transumbilical

is a safe and less invasive incision type done in the naval area, at the top rim of the belly button. The empty shell of a saline implant would be inserted while empty and filled once in its final position.

Transaxillary

is an incision placed in the armpit area leaving no scar on the breasts themselves.

Two factors determine the incision type used: the first being a patient’s preference, and the second being the surgeon’s best-recommended incision for the size and type of implants you choose. The latter incision types for instance aren’t an option for some implants. Inframammary and Periareolar, are by far the most common choices and work well for most patients, nevertheless, your surgeon can help you select what is best for you personally.

Recovery

Your breast augmentation procedure will be performed in our accredited surgical center in NJ, under IV sedation or general anesthesia. On the day of your surgery, you will be discharged with a bandage and wraps in place. Some soreness, swelling, and bruising should be expected and pain medication will be prescribed. This makes recovery virtually painless, though you will feel a deep soreness—as the chest muscle is being stretched, there is some discomfort that usually subsides over the first two weeks.

For two weeks after the procedure, don’t lift up anything heavier than about 25 pounds. Within a few days, as tolerable, you can return to a non-strenuous job, while heavy exercise can usually resume after about one month. While your sutures will dissolve on their own over time, you should still expect to come in for several follow-up appointments to track your recovery and ensure optimal healing progress.

You will also be given a complete list of tips for recovery and what to expect and will have a direct line to us throughout your recovery. Tens of thousands of patients make it through this recovery process annually, but we want you to feel as comfortable and confident throughout it as possible.

Your new breasts will often appear too high, to begin with, but will fall nicely into position in subsequent weeks. You can typically return to work in 10 days, with no strenuous activity for 2-3 weeks.

Dr. Harry’s message

Breast augmentation remains extremely popular. Many women are either naturally small or have had breast changes over time. Unfortunately, pregnancy, hormone changes, and aging can adversely affect a woman’s breasts despite diet and exercise. These concerns are more evident without the support of a bra, bathing suit, or clothing and may affect self-esteem causing avoidance of activities. An attentive plastic surgeon will review these concerns in detail with the patient to best address them. Breast augmentation is not merely inserting the biggest implants to enlarge the breasts. There is an art to the process before, during, and after the procedure.

Outstanding results will not focus only on her breasts but on their unique relation to the rest of the patient. This will include present size, shape, and position in relation to her body proportions, chest wall, any right to left asymmetries as well as skin and tissues. In some instances, a breast lift may also be beneficial at the time of augmentation. Of course, every patient is different and it is up to the plastic surgeon’s artistic judgment and expertise to best match the outcome to the patient’s desires.

Many options for implants, access incisions, techniquse, and plane placement will be reviewed. Implant style and size depend upon examination. Smooth round gels are the mainstay, usually under the muscle. In some cases, partially under the muscle (dual plane) or completely above the muscle may give a more natural look. Access is usually from under the breast crease while around the nipple-areola or the axilla may be considered.

Most importantly, a patient must feel comfortable with her plastic surgeon. This usually requires more than one consultation with her plastic surgeon.

– Dr. Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

FAQs

Resources & references

1. 2019 Plastic Surgery Statistics, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
2. American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Is your plastic surgeon board certified? That’s the first of many questions to ask
3. Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
4. ASPS, What questions should I ask my plastic surgeon about breast augmentation?
5. FDA, 23 Oct 2019, Questions and Answers about Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)
6. Dowden RV. Transumbilical breast augmentation is safe and effective. Semin Plast Surg. 2008;22(1):51-59. doi:10.1055/s-2007-1019143
7. FDA, Breast Implants, 28 September 2020
8. Patient Safety, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
9. American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS)