• Home
• FAQ
• Breast Augmentation

MTF Top Surgery FAQ

For questions not answered here, or for a printable version, you may download our PDF, Breast Augmentation: Your Questions Answered.

• How do I know which type of breast augmentation I should get?

• There are various choices when it comes to breast augmentation, including saline vs silicone implants, implant shape, overall cup size, implant placement, and incision location.

  Our surgeons are is skilled in all of these techniques and will help guide you through the details of each option, taking into account your personal goals and anatomy.

• What factors can affect my final appearance?

• Chest shape, skin elasticity and existing breast tissue, and even body type all play a role in how your whole body will look after breast augmentation. Age is also a factor; if you’re older, your chest will appear more youthful than other women in your age bracket.

• How do I know which implant size is right for me?

• Breast implants come in a range of sizes and are based on the amount of fluid or gel in the implant itself. It’s always a good idea to bring a photo to your consultation that depicts your preferred final results. When selecting images, choose individuals with a body shape that closely resembles your own. If they are before and after images, try also to select photos where the ‘before’ anatomy is similar to your current anatomy.

  During your consultation with our surgeons, you’ll have the chance to try on various implant sizers to determine which size looks best under clothing.  It’s not only fun for you to get a glimpse of the final result, but is a highly accurate way of predicting satisfaction with your ultimate size.
  

• Can I get breast augmentation if I have never been on estrogen?

• It is recommended that patients access hormone therapy (minimum 12 months) prior to breast augmentation surgery in order to maximize breast growth to obtain better surgical(and aesthetic)results. However, hormone therapy is not a requirement for surgery.  Our surgeons is always available to discuss individualized options with you.

• What are the potential complications of implants?

• Overall, risks associated with plastic surgery are relatively small. The risk of experiencing a serious complication is less than half of one percent, while mortality risks of less than 1 in 50,000 patients. However small, it is always advisable to be aware of the potential complications associated with breast augmentation.

• What are the major risk factors for breast augmentation?

• Generally speaking, your overall health is a good indicator of your risk level. However, older patients are at a higher risk of serious medical conditions, and they may have higher risks.

  Smoking, heavy drinking, diabetes, high blood pressure, a bleeding disorder, lung or heart disease, are some specific conditions that may affect your candidacy for this surgery.

• How can I reduce these potential risks?

• One of the most important ways to reduce risk is to select a board-certified plastic surgeon for your procedure to ensure that your doctor has extensive surgical training, has passed rigorous testing and is current on all of the latest surgical techniques and advances in patient safety.

  If you are a smoker, you must quit smoking at least 3 weeks before surgery and absolutely do not smoke for 3 weeks after surgery.  Not one cigarette, not one puff.  You can use a vaporizer with ZERO nicotine, but not any nicotine at all, and no smoking at all (marijuana or tobacco).
  

  It’s also very important that you share a detailed medical history and information about your goals, to make sure everyone is on the same page.

• Am I at risk for breast cancer after breast augmentation?

• So far, there is little evidence linking saline or silicone breast implants to increased risk. Only 2% of all breast cancer occurs in the breast tissue of people designated male at birth, so the risk for breast cancer is very low for trans women and nonbinary people with or without breast implants.

  However, there is some scientific evidence that estrogen HRT can increase cancer risk. If you are over the age of 50 and have had HRT for 5 or more years, it’s recommended that you get an annual mammogram.