What are the Steps Involved in Breast Augmentation Surgery?

If you are considering Breast Augmentation surgery but are unsure what it entails or if it would be right for you, read here to get the facts from Dr. Deutsch.

In its most simplistic meaning, Breast Augmentation is a surgical procedure in which an implant is inserted to increase breast volume. While breast augmentation currently ranks as the number one cosmetic surgery in the United States, your reasons for Breast Augmentation can be quite varied. From wanting to restore breast volume after weight loss or breastfeeding to simply enlarge naturally smaller breasts, correct non-symmetrical breasts, or even correct tuberous breast deformities.

If you have been searching for how to do breast augmentation safely and confidently in Atlanta, this guide walks you through every step of the breast implant procedure, from your first consultation to post-operative care. Augmentation mammoplasty is one of the most refined cosmetic surgeries available today, and understanding the process can help you feel prepared and in control of your decision.

What You Will Learn

• How to do breast augmentation step by step, from consultation through recovery
• How Dr. Deutsch helps you choose the right implant size, placement, and type
• What happens during your breast implant procedure and how long it usually takes
• What post-operative care looks like during the first weeks of healing
• When to schedule an augmentation mammoplasty consultation in Atlanta

Breast Augmentation Steps at a Glance

Use this quick overview to see how each stage of the breast implant procedure builds on the one before:

• Consultation: Personalized planning with Dr. Deutsch for size, placement, and implant type.
• Scheduling: Surgical Coordinator confirms your hospital date and pre-op timeline.
• Procedure Day: Anesthesia, incision, and breast implant placement.
• Going Home: Discharge with a surgical bra and pain management plan.
• Post-Operative Care: Activity restrictions, follow-ups, and incision monitoring.

STEPS FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION

The Consultation with Dr. Deutsch

Dr. Deutsch likes to meet with each patient personally prior to surgery to discuss your desired outcome and vision. As part of this discussion, together, you will determine the best implant size for you. Measurements of your breast width and the distance between your sternal notch (the indentation above the breast bone) and nipple will be taken. These measurements, along with your frame size and personal preferences, will help determine the perfect size. You will also discuss implant placement and type.

• Implant placement: After selecting the correct implant size for you, Dr. Deutsch will discuss implant placement. The implant can be inserted under or on top of the pectoralis muscle. Placing the implant under the muscle provides a more natural appearance for women who don’t have a lot of natural tissue. Dr. Deutsch recommends placing the implant on top of the muscle for women with ample breast tissue or who choose the softer saline implant.
• Implant type: Finally, Dr. Deutsch will help you choose the correct implant that fits you best: silicone or saline. Each is a personal preference. The silicone implants made today are thicker with a more concentrated gel inside, mimicking a more natural appearance and feel. Saline implants are also very popular, providing a firmer appearance and feel, which is preferable to some patients. They are also less costly.

If you are still weighing your options between materials and shapes, our companion guide on the types of breast implant shapes and materials can help you arrive at your consultation with a clearer picture of what you want.

Once these particulars have been settled, your Breast Augmentation in Atlanta will be scheduled with Dr. Deutsch. Here’s how the rest of the process will look so you know what to expect.

Scheduling Your Surgery

You will then contact our Surgical Coordinator at Perimeter Plastic Surgery to find a surgical date that works best with your schedule.

During scheduling, our team will share pre-operative instructions to help you prepare for your augmentation mammoplasty, including guidance on medications to pause, fasting before anesthesia, and arranging a ride home. For a more detailed checklist, our pre and post breast augmentation care tips blog is a helpful next read.

The Procedure Day

• At the Hospital
  All procedures are done in a hospital where you will be administered anesthesia. You have your choice of intravenous and general anesthesia. Dr. Deutsch will recommend the best option for you, although most breast augmentations are performed while under general anesthesia. You will feel groggy, notice some symptoms of an upset stomach, and may experience some other mild effects, which will all wear off after a few hours from surgery.
• Breast Implant Placement
  Dr. Deutsch will make an inconspicuous incision based on the choice you made in the consultation for your Atlanta Breast Augmentation. Dr. Deutsch will make the incision as small as possible and in the most naturally occurring area possible to lessen the appearance of the surgical scar.

A common question is how long the breast implant procedure takes. From the moment anesthesia is administered to the time you wake up in recovery, a straightforward augmentation typically takes about one to two hours of operative time, with additional time for prep and post-anesthesia monitoring. Combination procedures, such as adding a breast lift or a mommy makeover, may take longer and are planned in advance during your consultation.

After Surgery/Going Home

You are sent home from the hospital with another adult to monitor you for the first 24 hours. You will be able to drive once you are no longer using the narcotic pain medicine, and most patients return to work within 2-3 days after the surgery.

You will wear a special surgical bra home from the hospital and continue to wear it for about 4-6 weeks, avoiding strenuous activities. You will want to sleep on your side or back for the duration of this time.

Perimeter Plastic Surgery will schedule aftercare appointments with Dr. Deutsch and/or our nursing staff to answer any follow-up questions you may have, ensure your recovery is going well, and that the incisions are healing properly.

Post-Operative Care Tips for the First Few Weeks

Thoughtful post-operative care protects your results and supports a smoother healing experience. Most patients do well by following a few key habits:

• Wear your surgical bra consistently for the full 4 to 6 weeks to support the implants while tissues heal.
• Avoid strenuous activity, lifting, and chest exercises until Dr. Deutsch clears you, typically around the 6-week mark.
• Sleep on your back or side with your upper body slightly elevated to reduce swelling.
• Stay hydrated and eat balanced, protein-rich meals to support tissue repair.
• Attend every follow-up visit so we can monitor healing, incisions, and implant settling.

For a deeper week-by-week breakdown of what to expect, our post breast augmentation recovery and care guide walks through each stage of healing in detail.

Why Choose Perimeter Plastic Surgery for Your Breast Augmentation?

Dr. Mark Deutsch is double board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor 11 years running, and brings more than 30 years of surgical experience to every breast implant procedure.

• Two Atlanta area offices in Buckhead and Fayetteville for consultations and follow-ups.
• Hospital based procedures with board certified anesthesia, not an office only operating room.
• Direct surgeon access at every consultation, pre-op visit, and aftercare appointment.
• Personalized planning with precise measurements of breast width, sternal notch to nipple distance, and frame size to confirm implant fit.
• Full breast surgery range, including breast augmentation, breast lift, and mommy makeover combinations tailored to your anatomy.

With over 20 years of plastic surgery experience, you can rest assured that your Atlanta Breast Augmentation performed by Dr. Deutsch will get you the results you want from the caring, safe, and ethical team at Perimeter Plastic Surgery.

When to Schedule a Breast Augmentation Consultation in Atlanta

If you have been thinking about how to do breast augmentation the right way and are ready to ask real questions about your anatomy, options, and timing, a consultation is the best next step. Dr. Deutsch will review your goals, examine your breast tissue, and walk you through implant size, placement, and type so you leave with a clear plan. To get started, request a consultation or call our Atlanta office at (404) 255-0886.

FAQs About Breast Augmentation in Atlanta

1. What happens during breast augmentation surgery?
   Once anesthesia is administered, Dr. Deutsch makes a small, inconspicuous incision and creates a pocket either under or on top of the pectoralis muscle, based on the plan from your consultation. The chosen silicone or saline implant is carefully placed, the incisions are closed, and you are moved to recovery to begin waking up from anesthesia.
2. How long does a breast implant procedure take?
   A standard breast implant procedure typically takes about one to two hours of operative time, plus additional time for anesthesia and recovery monitoring. Total time at the hospital is often four to five hours, although combination procedures like a breast lift or mommy makeover will add to that timeline.