Everyday I get many e-mails asking for advice and information on many things including how to get in shape, how to become a professional model, how to do hair and make up like I do for shoots and all the information I have on breast implants and who to go to. I decided to make Tara Advice, frequent informational Diary posts that answer all the questions I'm constantly being asked!

TARA ADVICE DISCLAIMER:
All information, advice, etc. given at TaraBabcock.com is for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. Tara Babcock is not and does not claim to be a medical professional and Tara Advice is not meant to be taken in place of real medical diagnosis. By reading on you have agreed to hold Tara Babcock, and all involved in Tara Advice and TaraBabcock.com free from any responsibility herein.

All information in this article is a compilation of remembered and refreshed information and opinions based on Tara Babcock's personal experiences. Images are provided by Google search engine and Tara Babcock.

This week is all about my breast implants as well as the things you need to know when shopping for the right ones for you or your girlfriend. Before I got mine done I did tireless hours of in depth research on all different kinds and all different techniques and complications. I will also share some of that important information here!

ABOUT MY IMPLANTS

Pre-op size: A cup
Post-op size: DD cup
Rib cage circumference: 27"
Height: 5'4"
Weight:115
Implant: Mentor Spectrum
Starting size: 360cc
Final size: 570cc
Implant filler: Saline
Implant shape: Round
Implant texture: Smooth
Implant Profile: Between High and Moderate
Technique: Sub fascial-sub muscular
Incision site: Under breast crease
Cost: $8,000

My implants are Mentor Spectrums. I was turned down by many doctors when I told them I wanted to go to a DD cup because of my extremely small frame, petite stature and very low upper body fat content. My surgeon is one of the only surgeons who offers the Spectrums. What is special about them is that they are post-operatively inflatable. I started out a C cup with tiny fill ducts underneath the skin below each breast. Each week I would get some fluid added until I was at my desired size. I then got them removed! It was a bit more expensive, but definitely worth it to get exactly what I wanted! Easy! :)

I went to many doctors in the greater Seattle area as well as researching and contacting doctors in California, Florida and Oregon. What I have found about the more "famous" plastic surgeons in high-traffic areas is that they do not treat every patient as a special case. Because they handle so many breast augmentation surgeries a day, they tend to take less time with the patient to understand exactly what he or she wants. I went to a consultation with a doctor who had much prestige, just to find he only uses one kind of implant in each patient. The visit was very quick and I really did not feel like he listened to what I really wanted. Alternatively, it is also hard to find a reputable surgeon in lower traffic areas who will have the skills to execute the job correctly, even though they will have time to go over every detail with you. I was extremely fortunate to find who I believe to be the best plastic surgeon in the world!

MY SURGEON

My surgeon is simply the best! I have recommended him to dozens of other models, friends and boyfriends who are shopping for their girls. Many women from all over the world have traveled to receive his services and he had worked with other models including fitness girls who still need the ability to work out with heavy weights.


Dr. Richard A. Baxter, my plastic surgeon. Click HERE to view Dr. Baxter's web page!

"After graduation from the University of California School of Medicine in San Diego in 1983, Dr. Baxter completed residency training programs in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Past President of the Washington Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Northwest Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Baxter has pioneered several new techniques in the Seattle and the Pacific Northwest and has been recognized as a plastic surgery expert by regional and national media. Dr. Baxter has lectured on advanced plastic surgery techniques internationally and has a Certificate of Advanced Education in Cosmetic Surgery." -BaxterPlasticSurgery.com

Dr. Baxter is extremely artistic and a perfectionist. He wanted to get the what I wanted exactly right and he takes the time to fix anything until it is perfect. He's very intricate and he and his nurses, anesthesiologists, receptionists and whole teams are extremely nice, supportive and genuinely interested in getting things right! I absolutely love them and Dr. Baxter is the ONLY cosmetic surgeon I am comfortable going to. I am a neurotic perfectionist myself and having he and his team work on me makes me completely at ease! Dr. Baxter ROCKS! :)

CHOOSING YOUR IMPLANTS

There are many different implant types, shapes, placements and even textures! You must review each one and decide which is best for you, your goal and your body type! Here is some information on many of the different types to help you get a good idea which ones are right for you!

IMPLANT SHAPE:
Round- Round implants are by far the most common shape, they are more practical and do not cause complications if the implant were to flip or shift in its pocket. Most surgeons will use this type of implant.


Implants of different shapes.

Teardrop-Teardrop implant were created to better simulate the natural shape of a woman's breasts. They are far less common and a fairly new idea. Ask your surgeon to see if these may be right for you. My honest opinion is that these implants look very strange and even less natural than large, round implants. They can also cause complications were they to shift.

IMPLANT FILLER:
Saline- Saline is a sterile water and salt mix. Saline definitely has a similar texture to water so some rippling may occur. On the other hand, saline is completely safe and natural. If your implant were to break, your body would naturally absorb the non-harmful substance into the body. Saline is definitely the way to go for the "fake look". They will give you a nice, firm, round breast.
Silicone-Silicone is a thicker, more gel-like substance than Saline. Silicone will also give you a slightly more natural look as the gel tends to settle more the the bottom as a natural breast would. Although new Silicone implants are much safer today, you still must be a certain age in most states to get these implants and there is still a fair amount of research supporting the dangers of Silicone in the body and blood stream. Your best bet is to talk with your doctor about this.
Gummy Bear-Gummy Bear implants are relatively new on the market and are still pretty hard to obtain. They are made of thicker, gummier Silicone and have the properties of a Gummy Bear. They are solid and can be cut in half with no leakage. For my next implants I am definitely checking into them as I hear they also retain shape like Saline, but feel natural and amazing like Silicone!

IMPLANT PROJECTION:
You can choose to have low, moderate or high profile implants. The wider your ribcage the lower projection your implants can be as they will be wider as well. While most implants are commonly moderate, high profile implants are becoming extremely popular as girls with smaller frames will be able to get larger, more projected implants.


Different implant projections. Low, moderate and high profile.

My implants were Spectrums and they are commonly in between moderate and high profile. My implants are wider than my breast footprint, but this did not cause any complications as I stretched it slowly and now I have nice, close together breast with lots of cleavage! :)

IMPLANT PLACEMENT:
Sub Glandular-Sub glandular implants are over the muscle. This is said to create the "fake look" best, but the implant will be easier to feel, see and easier to move around.
Sub Muscular-Sub muscular implants are under the pectoralis muscle, or chest muscle. This muscle covers about 2/3 of the implant for a more natural look, better protection, but does, after many years, put pressure on the implant to move downward and may speed up bottoming out.


Different implant placements diagram.

Sub Fascial- Sub facial placement is a new technique that my surgeon swears by. Instead of putting an implant above the muscle or completely below the muscle the implant is placed under the fascia, a thinner muscle tissue that will have the benefits of both over and under muscular placements. I have achieved a fake look without having ripples, imperfections or ridiculously stuck on breasts. A big plus most fitness girls have is that it also give the most ability to lift heavy with your chest muscles!

IMPLANT TEXTURE:
Smooth is the most commonly used implants. Some surgeons swear by textured implants as they will move around less and are said to give less chance of capsular contracture as the body will have something more natural to develop the capsule around. Again, definitely talk to your doctor about what is best for you!

INCISION SITE:
Inframammary-An inframammary incision is underneath in the breast crease. This is usually a 1.2-3 inch incision. It is the most common and allows for easy reopening when the implant need to be replaced or in case of complication. This is the incision I chose.


Diagram of different breast augmentation incisions

Periareolar- This incision is made around the areola and will blend in to the line where the areola and breast line meet. With this incision you may also make the areola smaller if desired with no additional scarring
Transaxillary-Transaxillary incisions are made in the armpit. An endoscope is used to direct the implant into place. This allows for an easy hide of the scar, but implant placement is much harder and removal may result in extra scarring in an easier to work with region. No deodorant for a while while it heals!
Transumbillical-This is the new belly button incision. Similar to the armpit incision, it hides scarring nicely, but if very difficult to do and any removal or troubleshooting will result in more scarring.

IMPLANT SIZE:
I really cannot help you with this, as it differs with absolutely everyone. My height, weight, rib cage circumference and implant info are all at the top. You can get a good idea about what may work for you from that information. It is a very personal decision you must make with your surgeon. Bring pictures of breasts you like on women who look similar to you. There are many databases out there sorted this way to make this easier for you. You can always take my images because, although they are protected by copyright, I love helping out other girls who are taking the plunge! Good luck! :)

COMPLICATIONS
There are many things that can go wrong with a breast augmentation. Some can be the fault of the surgeon, while others depend on your anatomy, how you heal or how well you take care of thing post operatively. Below is a list of things that can happen, why they happen and how to avoid them before and after your surgery.

INFECTION:
Infection can occur from the surgeon's lack of cleanliness or it can result from poor care after the surgery. When an infection occurs, it will most commonly happen in the first few days after the surgery, when the scars are new and susceptible to bacteria. Though rare, infection can occur anytime after the scar has healed. Often an infection can be completely cured with antibiotics if discovered soon enough. My surgeon prescribed me an antibiotic that I can take as a preventative measure for a few days after my surgery. You may want to ask your doctor about this during your consultation.

CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE:
One of the more common aesthetic complications of breast augmentation, capsular contracture is a hardening or misshaping of the capsule your body naturally makes around foreign objects. When the implant is placed, your body will realize the foreign object and begin to form a sac, or a capsule, around that object for protection. Occasionally, the capsule will contract around the implant, harden or become misshapen causing minor to severe aesthetic effects on your breast implants. Some surgeons try to make the pocket for the implants bigger and looser upon insertion, some swear by preventative medications or massage. This is often remedied by removal of the implant and capsule and reinsertion. Only time and your body will tell if a second capsular contracture complication will arise. I was told to do none of these things and did not develop capsular contracture! :)

-Capsular contraction is measured by a grading system referred to as the Baker grading system. The Baker grading system has four grades:

* Grade I: The breast is normally soft and looks natural
* Grade II: The breast feels a little firm but looks normal
* Grade III: The breast feels firm and may appear distorted
* Grade IV: The breast feels hard, possibly painful, and may appear distorted

SCARRING:
In some cases the incision scars will remain visible after they have fully healed. This is usually due to poor after care and can be prevented by abstaining from any sun exposure on the scars for the first year. High SPF creams can work well. There are also measures you can take to fade the scar such as prescription and over the counter medication, certain creams and pads. Most scars are only visible VERY close up. Mine are slightly visible as I neglected to protect my scars for the whole first year. When I did protect them though, I would use an SPF 40 Chap Stick and apply it to the scars, my doctor said SPF 40 should be plenty and it seemed to work easily without hindering my tan too much!

BOTTOMING OUT:
Bottoming out is when the implant sags too low into the soft, stretch breast tissue and causes the nipple to be positioned upward on the breast. This can be due to poor placement, anatomy or time. Often when implants are placed sub muscularly the muscle will gently push down on the implant and after many years could cause bottoming out as well. I do my part in preventing this from happening for longer by wearing a bra as much as possible when I am standing or sitting, to avoid gravity's pull downward on my breast tissue. I also wear a good support bra when at the gym.

SYMMASTIA:
Symmastia occurs when the breast wall between the two breasts in damaged due to too-large implants. This can also be a surgeon error when placing implants. Some surgeons will try to place the pocket too close to the wall in order to achieve more cleavage. People with symmastia have breast that look much too close together or may appear to have a "uniboob" where there is no clear separation, or cleavage, between the breasts at all. A good way to avoid this is to get a good surgeon. A good surgeon will not take the risk of putting an implant that is too wide for your breast footprint, the width of your natural breasts. If you are looking to go big you can also get high profile implants or Mentor Spectrums, like I did. If you have a narrow ribcage or small breast foot print, large implants may just not be for you. I was most worried about this complication and was lucky to have such a technologically advance surgeon that could get me the look I wanted without causing any complications!

Make sure you do a lot of research and talk to your doctor about what you should do and what you are most worried about. Be informed, speak up, it is important you know what your doctor will be doing and if he/she is being honest about all the complications and techniques.

CONSULTATION

The first and most important thing is to make sure your surgeon is a BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON! CLICK HERE to check to make sure your plastic surgeon is certified or to find one in your area. Google them and make sure they have no outstanding or solved lawsuits or claims against them.

Bring a friend to the consultation as well as a notepad to take notes and lots of images of girls whose breasts you admire. It is always easier if the girls are relatively your size and body type. Make a list of questions to bring and ask your surgeon.

Be informed. It is very important to know what you are talking about and what you are getting yourself into! The more you know the calmer you will feel about your decision. Make sure you're doing this for yourself!

PREPARATION

Have a friend...
Prior to your surgery you should make sure you have someone to pick you up from your plastic surgeon after everything is done. This is a must as you are not even coherent and driving would be physically impossible and downright stupid. I highly recommend you have someone stay with you and take care of you for a few days as you will be very dependent on other to get up, use the restroom and you will not be in the mood to do thing for yourself. I remember thinking, oh that's BS, this will be easy! I stand completely corrected!

Time to Fast...
You will also not want to have anything to eat or drink before. If it is in the morning, do not have anything to eat after about 12AM Midnight and nothing for breakfast. If your stomach is full the sedation and anesthesia could easily make you sick, possibly even during the procedure, which would be a disaster.

No Looking Pretty...
You may not wear any make up, lotion, hair products or any kind of beauty products as any possible contaminants can possible cause infection. You must also remove all of your metal and precious metal jewelery as it is commonly known to react with the anesthesia causing a chemical reaction that could burn you.
Relax...
Remember to be in a good place before your surgery. I was pretty nervous, but I told myself to trust my decision, trust my surgeon and just have a nice nap! When I woke up I have boobies! :)

RECOVERY

What you should expect after your surgery is to feel groggy and stupid from the anesthesia. That was always the part I hated the most. It's just like waking up from getting your tonsils taken out, your wisdom teeth removed or any other operation where you are put to sleep using sedation. I had a hard time staying awake or thinking clearly, which drives me mad, and I remember everyone having to help me into the bathroom to pee.

When I got home, I went to sleep. You must sleep propped upright, at a 45 degree angle for the first few days to a week. You also must sleep on your back, which was extremely uncomfortable for me! I always sleep curled up on my side. I woke up with pain in my chest, similar to muscle soreness, but more extreme and piercing. I took my pain pills and tried my best to eat a piece of toast. My throat was so dry I had to drink something with each bite. I also got pretty nauseous and had to take some pills for it. I remember how painful it was to be on my knees gagging into the toilet with my chest hurting like that! You will need someone to pretty much pick you up every time you want to get up and help you to the bathroom...I hope you all have some good friends!

The pain wasn't too bad, I only remember two really excruciating moments that came out of nowhere-really sharp pains for a few seconds that almost made me cry. Other than that it was just a lack of chest muscle usage...which is actually extremely inhibiting and some weird showers and sleepless nights! Overall, though, if I had to do it again, I would! It was definitely worth it! :)

CONCLUSION

I hope this guide helped you all a bit in making your decision about breast enlargement! I'm happy to answer any extra questions my members may have! Just shoot me an e-mail from the Member's Home section and I will get back to you ASAP! If you're not already a member, JOIN MY SITE NOW! to get all of my advice and so much more! Breast augmentation was a very rewarding decision for myself, my love life and my career. Good luck! :)

xoxo, Tara Babcock