Breast
Overview
About Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is a highly individualized procedure that you should choose to fulfill your own desire for enhanced breast size, symmetry, or fullness. Using implants or fat transfer, Dr. Guarda helps you achieve a result that looks and feels natural.
During your consultation, you'll explore implant type, size, and placement together, so your outcome complements your frame and reflects exactly what you're hoping for.
✚ Medically reviewed by Dr. Helena Guarda, MD — Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery. Last reviewed August 2026.
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Procedure Time
1–2 hours
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Anesthesia
General
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Initial Recovery
1 week
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Implants
Saline or silicone
Every plan is individualized — the details above are typical ranges and are confirmed during your consultation.
Why Patients Choose It
Benefits at a glance
- ✓Enhanced breast size and fullness
- ✓Improved symmetry and shape
- ✓Natural-looking, proportionate results
- ✓Personalized implant selection
Is It Right for You?
Are you a good candidate?
You may be a good candidate for breast augmentation if some of the following apply. The best way to know is a personal consultation with Dr. Guarda.
- ✓You'd like more breast fullness or size
- ✓You want to improve breast symmetry or shape
- ✓Your breasts didn't develop as fully as you'd like
- ✓Pregnancy, nursing, or weight change reduced volume
- ✓You are physically healthy and not pregnant/nursing
- ✓You have realistic expectations and want natural-looking results
What to Expect
Your journey, step by step
1
Consultation
Meet with Dr. Guarda to share your goals, review your health history, and design a plan tailored to you.
2
Preparation
Receive clear pre-operative instructions — and any needed lab work — so you feel fully prepared for the day of surgery.
3
Procedure
Your procedure is performed with meticulous care in an accredited surgical setting, prioritizing safety and natural results.
4
Recovery & Results
Follow a guided recovery with scheduled follow-ups as your final results gradually take shape.
Recovery
Recovery timeline
A general guide to what recovery looks like. Dr. Guarda provides a personalized timeline based on your body and your plan.
First 24–48 hours
Rest at home with support nearby. Some swelling, bruising, and tenderness are normal and managed with prescribed medication.
First 1–2 weeks
Most patients return to desk work and light activity. Follow-up visits confirm you're healing well; avoid strenuous movement and heavy lifting.
Weeks 2–6
Gradually resume exercise as Dr. Guarda clears you. Swelling continues to subside and your new contour becomes more defined.
3+ months
Final results settle as tissues fully heal and any scars continue to soften and fade.
Preparation
How to prepare
- ✓Complete a thorough consultation and any required lab work or medical clearance
- ✓Stop smoking well before and after surgery to support healing
- ✓Avoid blood-thinning medications and supplements as directed by Dr. Guarda
- ✓Arrange a ride home and help at home for the first few days
- ✓Fill prescriptions and set up a comfortable recovery space in advance
Safety
Risks & safety
As with any surgery, breast augmentation carries some risks — which may include bleeding, infection, changes in sensation, scarring, and reactions to anesthesia. Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon operating in an accredited facility significantly lowers these risks. Dr. Guarda reviews your complete medical history and discusses every risk — and how it is minimized — during your consultation, so you can make a fully informed decision.
Results
Results & longevity
Results from breast augmentation are designed to look natural and last. While aging, pregnancy, and major weight changes can affect your outcome over time, maintaining a stable weight and healthy lifestyle helps preserve your results for many years.
Questions & Answers
Breast Augmentation FAQs
Answers to questions patients ask most. Have another? We're glad to help.
Saline or silicone — which implant is right for me?
Both are safe, FDA-approved options. Silicone implants tend to feel more like natural breast tissue, while saline offers a firmer feel and smaller incision. Dr. Guarda will help you choose based on your anatomy, goals, and preferences.
What size implant should I choose?
Sizing is highly personal. During your consultation you'll discuss your goals and may try sizers so your result complements your frame and looks proportionate — never 'overdone' unless that's your goal.
Will breast augmentation affect breastfeeding?
Many women are able to breastfeed after augmentation. Incision choice and implant placement can influence this, and Dr. Guarda will discuss options if future breastfeeding is important to you.
How long do breast implants last?
Implants are not necessarily lifetime devices, but many last well over a decade. Routine monitoring is recommended, and implants can be exchanged or removed later if needed.
When can I return to work and exercise?
Most patients return to desk work in about a week and resume full exercise, including chest workouts, over four to six weeks as directed.
Local Care
Breast Augmentation in Suffolk & Hampton Roads
Dr. Helena Guarda proudly serves patients across Suffolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and the greater Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Our practice is located at 5131 River Club Drive, Suite 110, Suffolk, VA 23435 — convenient to coastal Virginia communities seeking breast augmentation with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.
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Considering Breast Augmentation?
Your individual consultation with Dr. Guarda awaits. Call or send a message with any questions you may have.