Breast Augmentation in Charlotte, NC

Understanding Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases breast volume and improves shape using breast implants or, for some patients, your own fat. Many women choose it to restore fullness lost after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight changes. Others have simply always wanted a fuller figure or better symmetry between the two sides.

The goal is not a single “look.” It is a result that feels natural on your body, moves with you, and suits the way you live. That is why every plan at our practice begins with your goals and your measurements, not a preset size.

Why Patients Choose a Female Plastic Surgeon for Breast Augmentation in Charlotte

Talking about your body and the changes you’d like to make can feel personal. For many women, having a female plastic surgeon makes those conversations more comfortable, especially when discussing concerns, expectations, and goals.

With more than 15 years of surgical experience and fellowship training in plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Melissa Marks brings both expertise and a thoughtful approach to breast augmentation. Her reconstructive background helps guide her attention to symmetry, tissue health, and natural-looking proportions.

She also believes that listening is an important part of the process. During your consultation, you’ll have time to ask questions, discuss your options, and make informed decisions without feeling rushed or pressured.

Is Breast Augmentation Right for You?

You may be a good candidate for breast augmentation if you:

• Would like more breast fullness or a size that better complements your frame
• Have noticed a loss of breast volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight loss
• Want to improve differences in breast size or shape
• Are in good overall health and do not smoke, or are willing to stop smoking before and after surgery
• Have realistic expectations about what breast augmentation can achieve

If your main concern is sagging rather than volume, a breast lift may be a better option or may be combined with augmentation. During your consultation, Dr. Marks will evaluate your anatomy, listen to your goals, and help you understand which approach may give you the results you’re looking for.

Your Breast Implant Options

Choosing breast implants can feel like a lot of decisions at once. Dr. Marks breaks each one down so you understand your options and why she recommends what she does.

Saline Implants

Saline implants have a silicone shell filled with sterile saltwater. They are typically placed empty and filled once in position, which can allow for a smaller incision. If a saline implant leaks, the body safely absorbs the solution, and the change in size is usually easy to notice.

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants are filled with a cohesive gel that many patients feel looks and feels closer to natural breast tissue. Because a leak in a silicone implant may not cause noticeable changes, the FDA recommends periodic imaging over time to check the implant. Dr. Marks will review the screening schedule with you.

Form-Stable or “Gummy Bear” Implants

Form-stable implants use a firmer, highly cohesive gel that holds its shape. Some patients choose them for a specific contour, especially when they want more fullness in the lower part of the breast.

Size, Shape, and Profile

Size is about more than cup letters. Dr. Marks considers your chest width, breast tissue, skin quality, and shoulder and hip proportions when recommending implant size and profile. During your implant size consultation, you can try sizers and review simulations so you can see and feel the difference between options before surgery.

Incision and Implant Placement Options

Where your incision goes and where your implant sits both affect your final result, your recovery, and how discreet your scars will be.

Common incision options include:

• Inframammary: a small incision in the natural crease beneath the breast, often well hidden
• Periareolar: an incision along the lower edge of the areola, where the color change helps soften the scar
• Transaxillary: an incision in the armpit, which keeps scars off the breast entirely

Implant placement can be:

• Submuscular (under the muscle): often recommended for patients with thinner tissue, as it can provide more coverage and a softer transition at the top of the breast
• Subglandular (over the muscle): sometimes a fit for patients with enough natural breast tissue, and it may offer an easier early recovery

Dr. Marks will explain which combination fits your anatomy and goals, and why.

Prefer a More Natural Approach? Fat Transfer to the Breast

Not every patient wants implants. For women hoping for a subtle increase of about a cup size or less, fat transfer may be an option. This approach uses liposuction to gently remove fat from an area like the abdomen or thighs, then purifies it and places it into the breasts for a soft, natural enhancement.

Fat transfer is best for modest changes, and some of the transferred fat may not survive long-term.

What to Expect During Your Consultation

Your consultation is the first step toward creating a breast augmentation plan that fits your body and goals. If you’re considering breast augmentation in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Marks will take the time to understand what you’re hoping to achieve, answer your questions, and explain your options. You’re welcome to bring inspiration photos or any concerns you’d like to discuss.

During your visit, Dr. Marks will:

• Review your medical history, current medications, and any previous breast procedures
• Examine your breast tissue, skin, and chest measurements
• Discuss your goals, preferences, and desired results
• Explain implant types, sizes, incision locations, and placement options
• Review the recovery process, potential risks, and long-term considerations
• Recommend a personalized surgical plan and provide a cost estimate

If you’ve been exploring breast augmentation results using online simulators, those images can also help you communicate your goals. Our guide on using an AI plastic surgery simulator explains how these tools can help you prepare for your consultation while keeping realistic expectations about your results.

Breast Augmentation Recovery: What to Expect

Every recovery is a little different, but most patients follow a similar general timeline. Dr. Marks will give you detailed instructions based on your procedure.

The first few days: Expect tightness, swelling, and soreness across the chest. You will wear a supportive surgical bra, and having someone at home to help is a good idea.

The first one to two weeks: Many patients return to desk work and light daily activities in about a week. You will still avoid lifting, pushing, and raising your arms overhead.

Four to six weeks: Most patients are cleared to slowly return to exercise and normal routines, depending on how healing is going.

Several months: Swelling continues to fade and implants settle into a softer, more natural position. Final results are usually visible after a few months.

Long-Term Care and Implant Safety

Breast implants are a long-term commitment, and Dr. Marks believes informed patients make the most confident decisions. According to the FDA, breast implants are not lifetime devices, so some patients will need a revision or replacement in the future.

Before surgery, Dr. Marks will review a patient decision checklist with you, along with possible risks such as capsular contracture, rupture, and changes over time. You will also learn what follow-up and imaging may look like for your implant type.

What Determines the Cost of Breast Augmentation

The cost of breast augmentation in Charlotte, NC depends on your individual plan. Factors include:

• The type of implant you choose
• Whether surgery includes fat transfer or is combined with a breast lift or another procedure
• Anesthesia and surgical facility fees
• The complexity of your plan, including any correction of asymmetry

You will receive a personalized quote after your consultation. To make your plan easier to budget, ask our team about financing options.

Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, or Both?

Breast augmentation adds volume. A breast lift raises and reshapes breasts that have started to sag. If you are looking for both more fullness and a lifted position, combining the two may give you the most balanced result.

For moms who want to address both breast and body changes after pregnancy, a mommy makeover can bring augmentation together with procedures like a tummy tuck or liposuction. Dr. Marks will help you decide whether augmentation alone, a breast lift, or a combined approach is the right fit.

Serving Charlotte and the Surrounding Communities

Our practice is located on Steelecroft Parkway in Charlotte and welcomes patients from Ballantyne, Steele Creek, South Charlotte, and across the greater Charlotte and Lake Norman area. Women throughout the region choose Dr. Marks for breast augmentation in Charlotte, NC because they want double board-certified expertise in a boutique setting where they feel seen and heard.