Awake Breast Augmentation

For the right candidate, breast augmentation can be performed awake, under local anesthesia, in our own office surgical suite — without general anesthesia, and known for a rapid recovery.

Many, if not most, of our procedures can be done awake, under local anesthesia, in our office surgical suite, for selected candidates. Others are done under general anesthesia at an outpatient surgery center. The setting depends on patient selection and the procedure planned; there is no set way and no guarantee either way. It is determined with Dr. Conkright at your consultation.

Performed awake, your breast augmentation takes place personally with Dr. Conkright, start to finish, in our own office surgical suite. Being awake also gives Dr. Conkright more time to work artistically and attend to your comfort — and because you remain awake, you can participate and interact during your procedure, which can help fine-tune your results in real time.

Whether awake breast augmentation is right for you depends on your preferences, your health, and your goals. Dr. Conkright reviews all of this with you personally and determines the right setting together with you, at your consultation.

Your visit starts one to two weeks before surgery, when you meet with Dr. Conkright to confirm your plan, have your photographs taken, sign informed consent, and go over your pre- and post-operative instructions in detail. Your plan is reviewed one final time with Dr. Conkright just before your procedure begins.

Your procedure begins with a sterile prep. We start by injecting a small entry port with an insulin needle. Through that, and a very tiny incision, we infiltrate our tumescent solution — a combination of saline, anesthetic agents, and other medications as necessary — gently, working to keep any discomfort to a minimum. After a few minutes’ wait, the chest is anesthetized, and from then on patients typically feel very little other than motion. Occasionally a patient does become uncomfortable; when that happens, we are very quick to address it. The procedure is finessed to keep you as comfortable as possible throughout. Many patients listen with headphones or use eye shields to avoid distraction.

We attend specifically to your comfort, because a comfortable and calm patient is a happy patient. Many times, patients can also participate: you can move and position yourself for Dr. Conkright, and talk with him during the procedure about your implants and what he’s doing. Patients can often see their implants before they go in. It isn’t always the case, but if you want to participate, you can.

Typically, a breast augmentation takes about an hour. You’ll be with us longer than that, for preoperative, prep and postoperative time, but the surgery itself is generally rather brief and well tolerated. And because awake procedures have no shut-off times or goal times, we can work as long as your procedure needs.

This awake anesthetic technique is an art and part of Dr. Conkright’s specialty — he has years of experience with these techniques.

Your procedure is performed personally by Dr. Conkright, start to finish, in our own office surgical suite, without general anesthesia. Afterward, you go home the same day with your support person.

Breast augmentation at Conkright Aesthetics is a rapid recovery. Most patients are back to light daily activities — with lifting limited to under 30 pounds — within about three days, then gradually increase their activity from there. You can reach overhead for everyday things early on, but more vigorous activity, like exercise classes, waits two to three weeks. By three weeks, most patients are back to full activity, including sports like tennis. A soft support bra is typically worn for three to four weeks, and over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen, along with a muscle relaxant if needed, helps control any soreness.

Instead of the extended weeks off work or limited activity that can come with many surgical recoveries, patients are typically back to work and their normal routine in just a few days. It’s one of the most inviting reasons patients choose Conkright Aesthetics for breast augmentation.