Unveiling Breast Augmentation Excellence
Breast augmentation is a transformative procedure that allows you to enhance your breast size, with results tailored to your individual preferences. At Core Plastic Surgery, we take pride in offering an advanced approach to breast augmentation, emphasizing a minimally invasive technique that sets us apart in Alabama. With Dr. Grady Core's expertise, our patients benefit from a procedure that leaves no visible scars on the breast and only a subtle, less than one-inch scar under the arm, which rapidly fades over time.
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Confidence in Curves
Breast augmentation, sometimes called a “boob job,” is one of the most commonly requested cosmetic surgery procedures for patients who want to enhance breast size, shape, or symmetry. It involves altering the size of the breasts, whether larger or smaller. Breast augmentation can be performed using a traditional method or endoscopically to minimize incisions and recovery time. Dr. Core is the only surgeon in the state of Alabama who performs breast augmentation with a true minimally invasive technique. This leaves no scars at all on the breast and less than a 1″ scar under the arm, which fades quickly. In addition, Dr. Core’s TEAM technique (Transaxillary Endoscopic Augmentation Mammoplasty) provides total muscular coverage over the implant for a much more natural appearance after the breast implants settle.
Endoscopic Breast Augmentation improves recovery times and eliminates the risk of scarring on the breast. Endoscopic breast augmentation is a specialized technique only practiced by a few surgeons in the United States who are experts in the use of endoscopic vision, which eliminates any scar on the breast. Saline or silicone implants can be used during endoscopic breast augmentation, depending on the patient’s anatomy and preferences. The implant is placed under the arm using a 1-inch incision in the hair-bearing portion of the armpit. This transaxillary, endoscopic method eliminates the need for a scar on the breast. Dr. Core is currently the only surgeon in the world who has practiced, almost exclusively, the endoscopic approach since 1993, giving him the longest experience of any surgeon anywhere with this technique. Dr. Core also has taught this procedure to hundreds of plastic surgeons worldwide since 1994.
Endoscopic breast augmentation is a minimally invasive method of placing an implant in the breast through a very tiny incision located either under the arm or in the belly button. Potential patients should be aware of the difference between TUBA (transumbilical breast augmentation) and transaxillary breast augmentation, as these two methods are quite different, and only the transaxillary method is fully “endoscopic.”
The TUBA method is quite limited. It is not possible to pass a silicone implant using TUBA. Only a saline implant, not gel, can be placed through a long subcutaneous tunnel extending from the belly button to the breasts, and many patients are not good candidates for saline. If you do not have much breast tissue to camouflage the implant, you will be at higher risk for rippling and implant visibility. In addition, saline implants are firmer than silicone, and thus, if there is little tissue over them, then they will feel very resistant to compression.
The transaxillary endoscopic technique has several advantages. First of all, both saline and silicone gel implants can be placed. Most importantly, the portion of the muscle that needs to be divided is approached from above (from the armpit looking down toward the muscle origin). Once the scope is under the muscle, the origin of the muscle is fully visualized, and, in fact, the field of view is even better than with the open method; therefore, precision is enhanced. In short, the TUBA technique is a blunt and blind method of placing only saline implants. Dr. Core looked closely at TUBA over 10 years ago and felt that the transaxillary method offered patients much more flexibility, a more precise result, and still no scar on the breast.
The Science of Natural Elegance
At Core Plastic Surgery in Birmingham Breast augmentation techniques alter the size and shape of women’s breasts as well as provide the following benefits:
A Plan Based on Your Anatomy
Breast augmentation may be appropriate for women who want to increase breast volume, restore fullness lost after pregnancy or weight changes, improve symmetry, or create proportions that feel better suited to their frame. Candidates should be in good general health, have fully developed breasts, and approach surgery with a clear understanding of what breast implants can and cannot accomplish.
Dr. Core also considers the condition of the skin, the position of the nipples, the amount of natural breast tissue, chest dimensions, and any existing asymmetry. Breast implants can add volume and improve shape, but they don’t always correct significant sagging. When the breasts sit lower on the chest, or the nipples have descended, Dr. Core may recommend combining augmentation with a breast lift.
Patients shouldn’t be pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of surgery. During a private consultation, Dr. Core will review your health history, previous breast procedures, plans for future pregnancy, and aesthetic goals before recommending an approach.
Empowerment Through Breast Augmentation
When women are unsatisfied with the appearance or size of their breasts, they often seek the expertise of a qualified plastic surgeon. Women living in Birmingham, Mountain Brook, and the surrounding communities turn to board-certified plastic surgeon Grady Core, M.D., F.A.C.S., of Core Plastic Surgery for breast augmentation to enhance their appearance and boost a positive self-image. Grady Core, M.D., F.A.C.S., a board-certified plastic surgeon, offers plastic and reconstructive surgery to people living in and around Birmingham, Mountain Brook, and the surrounding communities to look and feel younger. Contact Dr. Core’s office today to schedule your consultation!
Choosing the Right Fit
Breast implants are selected according to the patient’s anatomy and desired result. There is no standard implant that works for every body. Dr. Core evaluates the width of the chest, existing breast tissue, skin quality, breast position, and natural differences between the two sides before recommending an implant.
Saline implants contain sterile saltwater and are filled after the implant shell has been placed. A rupture generally causes a noticeable loss of volume as the saline is safely absorbed by the body. FDA-approved saline implants are available for cosmetic breast augmentation in patients 18 and older.
Silicone implants arrive prefilled with silicone gel. Many patients prefer their softness and the way they resemble natural breast tissue, particularly when there is less natural tissue covering the implant. Highly cohesive silicone implants, sometimes called “gummy bear” implants, use a firmer gel that helps the implant maintain its form. FDA-approved silicone gel implants are available for cosmetic augmentation in patients 22 and older.
The planning process also considers implant width, volume, projection, profile, and placement. Choosing an implant is more precise than selecting a bra cup size, which can vary considerably between manufacturers. Dr. Core helps patients compare realistic options that fit their anatomy instead of choosing a number without considering how it will sit on the chest.
Precision With Discreet Placement
The location of the incision affects where the resulting scar is placed and how Dr. Core accesses the implant pocket. The primary options include:
A transaxillary incision is placed within the underarm rather than on the breast. Dr. Core uses endoscopic visualization to create the implant pocket and position the implant through an incision typically measuring less than one inch. This approach leaves no surgical scar on the breast itself. It is the foundation of his TEAM technique, or Transaxillary Endoscopic Augmentation Mammoplasty.
An inframammary incision is placed in the natural crease beneath the breast. It provides direct access to the implant pocket, and the resulting scar is generally concealed by the breast fold. This approach may be appropriate depending on the implant, the patient’s anatomy, and whether previous breast surgery has been performed.
A periareolar incision follows part of the border between the areola and the surrounding breast skin. The color transition may help camouflage the healed incision. This approach may be considered when breast augmentation is performed with another procedure, although it is not appropriate for every patient.
For the majority of our patients who have trouble with excess skin as well as muscle laxity, the cosmetic abdominoplasty is most commonly the option. The high lateral tension of abdominoplasty is the one most commonly practiced by Dr. Core, but he also practices the newer technique of lipo-abdominoplasty developed in Brazil. The Brazilian technique involves a combination of liposuction with minimal undermining in central muscle repair.
The location of the incision affects where the resulting scar is placed and how Dr. Core accesses the implant pocket. The primary options include:
TEAM Science
When considering breast augmentation Birmingham patients that visit us will have this tailored to their unique anatomy, cosmetic goals, and the current size and shape of their breasts. Most often, Dr. Core performs breast augmentation using his TEAM technique (transaxillary endoscopic augmentation mammoplasty). This procedure provides muscular coverage over the implant so that it looks more natural once the breast implants settle. TEAM mammoplasty gives the plastic surgeon the ability to see the total operative as opposed to an open technique, which allows him to be more precise with the placement of the implants. As one of the developers of the TEAM technique, Dr. Core has used this technique since 1992.
Confidence in Curves
Although the results of breast augmentation are immediately noticeable, the full results take a few months to become visible after the incisions have fully healed and the appearance of scars is greatly diminished. Throughout the planning stages for your procedure, we will ensure you understand the results you can expect and how they may refine and change over time.
Aesthetic Marvel
Dr. Core performs all breast augmentation procedures on an outpatient basis. You’ll return to the office for your post-op appointment the next morning, where he’ll review all aftercare instructions. A three to four-day recovery is all that is required in most patients as opposed to most other techniques. A full range of activity is encouraged immediately after endoscopic breast augmentation. The healing and recovery are based on the type of implant and the incision. You may return to work within a week following your surgery but must refrain from heavy lifting and strenuous activities for several weeks. Sutures are usually removed within a week or two following surgery, with any scarring greatly diminishing within about six months.
What to Expect Over Time
Breast implants are durable medical devices, but they are not considered lifetime devices. There is no required date when every implant must be replaced, and an implant that’s functioning well doesn’t automatically need to be removed at the ten-year mark. Some patients keep their implants longer, while others need or choose another operation sooner.
Revision surgery may become appropriate if an implant ruptures or deflates, scar tissue tightens around it, its position changes, or the patient wants a different size. Pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and natural aging can also change the surrounding breast tissue even when the implant remains intact.
Silicone implant ruptures can occur without obvious symptoms. Current FDA recommendations call for an ultrasound or MRI five to six years after silicone implant placement and every two to three years afterward, even when the implants feel normal. Patients should also contact their surgeon if they notice persistent swelling, pain, firmness, a change in breast shape, or a new difference between the breasts.
Building a Complete Surgical Plan
Breast augmentation increases volume, but some patients have concerns that require more than an implant alone. If pregnancy, weight loss, or aging has stretched the skin and lowered the breasts, augmentation may be combined with a breast lift. The implant restores volume while the lift reshapes the breast and repositions it higher on the chest.
Breast augmentation may also be included in a mommy makeover with procedures such as a tummy tuck or liposuction. Combining procedures can address several areas within one surgical plan, but doing so isn’t automatically appropriate for every patient. Dr. Core considers overall health, the length and complexity of surgery, recovery needs, and the patient’s priorities when deciding whether procedures should be combined or performed separately.
Clear Information for an Informed Decision
Every operation carries potential risks. Those associated with breast augmentation include bleeding, infection, fluid accumulation, delayed healing, anesthesia complications, changes in nipple or breast sensation, visible or raised scarring, and dissatisfaction with the size or shape of the breasts.
Implant-related complications may include rupture or deflation, rippling, asymmetry, implant visibility, movement from the intended position, and capsular contracture. Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue that naturally forms around an implant tightens, potentially causing firmness, discomfort, or a change in breast shape. Some complications require another operation to remove, replace, or reposition an implant.
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL, is an uncommon immune-system cancer found primarily in the fluid or scar capsule around certain implants. It has occurred more frequently in patients with textured implants. The FDA has also received reports of other rare cancers arising in the capsule surrounding an implant. Some patients report systemic symptoms commonly called breast implant illness, although the relationship between implants and these symptoms remains under investigation.
These risks should be reviewed alongside the benefits, implant-specific labeling, and FDA patient decision checklist before surgery. Dr. Core will explain how implant type, surgical technique, medical history, and long-term monitoring affect an individual patient’s risk profile.
Decades of Endoscopic Experience
Dr. Grady Core’s experience with endoscopic plastic surgery dates to the development of the field itself. He co-developed endoscopic plastic surgery techniques in 1991, expanded their applications to breast surgery, and has taught these methods to surgeons around the world since 1992.
His TEAM breast augmentation technique uses endoscopic visualization through a small underarm incision. This gives Dr. Core a clear view as he develops the implant pocket and positions the implant while keeping the incision off the breast. The approach reflects the same priorities that guide every breast augmentation he performs: precise implant selection, careful tissue handling, discreet incisions, and close attention to symmetry.
Dr. Core trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Mayo Clinic and has been certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. Patients work directly with him to develop an individualized surgical plan, and his experienced team provides support from the initial consultation through recovery.
Understanding Your Investment
Breast augmentation cost depends on the implant selected, surgical technique, complexity of the procedure, and whether augmentation is combined with a breast lift or another operation. After Dr. Core has evaluated your anatomy and developed a surgical plan, the office will provide an individualized cost breakdown.
The breast augmentation fee includes the physician’s fee, operating room fee, anesthesia fee, surgical garment, and implants. Core Plastic Surgery accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Financing options through CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit are also available to qualified applicants. Visit the patient financing page for additional information.
Every surgical incision creates a scar. The goal is to place that incision where it will be discreet and allow it to heal as inconspicuously as possible. Dr. Core’s transaxillary endoscopic technique places a small incision in the underarm, leaving no incision or surgical scar on the breast itself. Patients who require an inframammary or periareolar approach will have a scar beneath the breast or along the areola. Scars generally soften and fade with time, although healing varies between patients.
The right implant should fit your chest dimensions, natural breast tissue, skin quality, lifestyle, and desired proportions. Bra cup size alone is not a reliable way to select an implant. During your consultation, Dr. Core will evaluate implant width, volume, profile, projection, and placement while accounting for any natural asymmetry. The goal is a result that fits your body and reflects the amount of change you actually want.
Many women can breastfeed after breast augmentation, but no surgeon can guarantee that a patient will be able to do so. Breastfeeding ability depends on factors that include milk production before surgery, the incision used, and whether nerves or milk ducts are affected. Tell Dr. Core if future pregnancy and breastfeeding are important to you so those plans can be considered when choosing an incision and surgical approach.
Breast implants don’t have a fixed expiration date, but they aren’t lifetime devices. They don’t need to be replaced automatically after ten years if they remain intact and aren’t causing problems. Revision may be needed if an implant ruptures, changes position, develops capsular contracture, or no longer matches the patient’s preferences. Long-term follow-up and recommended imaging are important, particularly for silicone implants.
Walking and gentle movement are encouraged early in recovery to support circulation. Heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and demanding upper-body movements should wait until Dr. Core confirms that healing is far enough along. The timeline depends on the implant placement, incision, individual healing, and whether other procedures were performed. Patients receive specific instructions rather than a one-size-fits-all return-to-exercise date.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have and get you on your way to beautiful, natural-looking results. Contact us.
3595 Grandview Parkway, #150, Birmingham, AL 35243
