Hagopian Plastic Surgery: Thomas Hagopian, MD
99 Krog St. NE, Unit C110
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: (404) 885-8542
Tuesday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Whatever your reasons for considering breast augmentation, it’s important to choose a plastic surgeon who clearly understands your goals and has the training and skill to make those goals a reality. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Hagopian encourages breast augmentation patients at his Atlanta, GA, practice to actively participate in making decisions related to the procedure and to feel comfortable voicing their aesthetic concerns and goals.
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Once you’ve made the decision to get breast augmentation, you have other choices that will influence your experience and results. These include the type and size of breast implants and how Dr. Hagopian places them. Some women also choose to enhance their breasts using fat transferred from another area of their body, either instead of or in addition to implants.
The shared decision-making process we use sets our practice apart from others. Based on a patient decision aid developed by Chelsea Hagopian, a certified nurse practitioner with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in health systems leadership, the document is designed to help patients make quality, informed decisions about their breast augmentation surgery.
The Aesthetic Society breast augmentation decision guide
Your breast implant options include the size, the material that fills the implant shell, and the implant profile.
The right size for your breast implants is based on personal preference and the type of results you want. Many patients want to increase the size of their breasts in a way that looks natural, which means the results are in harmony with the rest of their bodies. Dr. Hagopian takes precise measurements of the breasts and chest during the consultation to help guide your choice. It’s also helpful to bring before-and-after photos of patients with similar body types to show what you consider optimal results.
The material filling the implant can be either saline—a saltwater solution—or cohesive silicone gel. Silicone implants vary in the consistency of the gel, including form-stable implants sometimes called “gummy bear” implants. Both types of implants have benefits, although most patients believe silicone gel devices look and feel more like natural breasts.
The profile of breast implants refers to how much they project from the chest. The options—usually moderate, moderate-plus, and high—influence how your breasts appear from the side. Dr. Hagopian explains the difference and helps patients choose a profile that works with their frame and goals.
Women who want only a modest increase in the size of the implants—about 1 cup size—may be good candidates for a procedure that uses a patient’s own fat to enhance the breasts. This technique involves using liposuction to harvest fat from one area of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs, and transfer it to the breasts after it’s purified. This technique can also be used in addition to breast implants.
Breast augmentation is performed while you are under general anesthesia. Dr. Hagopian begins the surgery by making a small incision at the base of the breast where the skin connects to the chest wall—a location called the inframammary fold. This incision location minimizes the risk of complications and provides Dr. Hagopian with direct access to create an implant pocket.
The location of the implant pocket—which is where he places the implants—is typically behind the chest muscle (submuscular). Inserting implants behind the muscle helps camouflage the edges of the implants, especially for patients who have little existing breast tissue or thin breast skin.
Two other implant location options include subglandular (behind the breast tissue and in front of the muscle) or subfascial. The fascia is a thin layer of connective tissue. In some cases, Dr. Hagopian can insert breast implants behind the fascia but in front of the muscle. Women with adequate breast tissue may be good candidates for these implant locations.
Plastic surgery is the perfect field for Dr. Hagopian, who has a knack for fixing things and helping people. He’s a former firefighter/paramedic, and he had a business building highly sought-after custom taillights in medical school. He met his wife, Nurse Hagopian, at Emory University, and they bonded over many shared interests, including a commitment to exceptional patient care.
Meet Dr. Thomas Hagopian
Nurse Hagopian is an Atlanta native, a self-identified nursing ethics nerd, and an ANCC board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. She’s passionate about studying informed consent, empowering fellow nurses to use their voices, and collaborating with people in addressing their aesthetic care needs.
Meet Nurse HagopianDr. Hagopian performs breast augmentation as an outpatient procedure. That means you’ll return home on the day of the surgery after spending time in the recovery room. During the first 3 to 5 days, you may take prescription pain medication to manage discomfort, although some patients find over-the-counter pain medicines provide enough relief. Patients who have implants placed behind the muscle may notice more discomfort than those whose implants are placed in front of the muscle.
It is important for all patients to take short walks around their homes starting on the day of the procedure to enhance circulation. You should plan to take off at least 3 days from work (more if your job requires lifting heavy objects).
You can ease back into low-impact cardio exercises after a week or so, but avoid upper body workouts until Dr. Hagopian clears you.
Dr. Hagopian’s surgical fee for breast augmentation in Atlanta starts at $3,000, which does not include the implants, operating room, and anesthesia fees. If it is combined with a breast lift, the starting price is $8,000. We will give you a personalized pricing estimate as part of your consultation.
Even though your breast augmentation results can last for many years, breast implants are not intended to last for the rest of your life. However, if you remain happy with the appearance of your breasts and don’t experience any complications, you may not need to replace or remove the implants for 15 to 20 years.
If you would like to learn more about whether breast augmentation is right for you, please request a consultation online or call (404) 885-8542. Our Atlanta office welcomes people interested in breast augmentation surgery from Inman Park, Druid Hills, Decatur, and throughout Georgia.
