Why Choose Dr. Zenn?

  • Dr. Zenn’s peers consistently recognize him as a master breast surgeon
  • By invitation, Dr. Zenn often teaches techniques of breast surgery around the globe
  • Dr. Zenn is the published author of multiple textbook sections and articles about breast surgery
  • Dr. Zenn performs complex breast augmentation surgeries based on his extensive experience in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery
  • He is rated as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for Reconstructive Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery

What is Breast Augmentation?

Breast augmentation enhances and reshapes a woman’s breasts and increases breast size through the placement of silicone or saline implants and/or fat grafts. Many women choose breast augmentation surgery to have fuller, larger breasts. While others seek to counteract the effects of significant weight changes, as well as aging. Breast augmentation or breast implants are the most requested plastic surgery procedure for women seeking mommy makeovers. Most often the goal of breast augmentation is a more balanced and feminine figure.

Dr. Zenn’s Approach to Breast Implants

Dr. Zenn plans breast augmentation procedures with consideration of his patients’ goals, preferences, and unique anatomy. As a skilled cosmetic breast surgeon, he has the ability to perform procedures using a variety of advanced surgical techniques. Additionally, he has in-depth knowledge of the aesthetic nuances that lead to natural-looking, long lasting results.

Typically, Dr. Zenn:
  • Favors round and smooth silicone implants. In his experience, these implants tend to offer the most natural appearance whether the patient is standing up, lying down or being active
  • Has patients try on various-sized implants at consultation to best determine the desired breast size. This eliminates surprises after surgery with breasts smaller or larger than anticipated
  • Recommends above-the-muscle implant placement when possible. For the majority of his patients, this provides the most natural-looking outcome without the associated problems encountered with under-the-muscle placement, such as unwanted movement of the breasts with activity and discomfort
  • Advises patients if they should consider breast augmentation alone or in conjunction with a breast lift. Many women benefit from the reshaping effects of a lift as well as the increased fullness of an augmentation
  • Will discuss fat grafting to the breast to hide implant visibility long-term

Some surgeons place implants in a position under the muscle that is higher than the desired final results. After several weeks or months, the muscle and breast skin stretches, the implants descend, and the breasts take on their final, more natural shape.

Dr. Zenn’s patients can often avoid this delay; he uses a more deliberate and exacting approach that positions the implants precisely, which allows patients to see the benefits of their surgery sooner. Placement of the implants above the muscle also limits the pain associated with surgery and removes the annoying breast movement (“animation deformity”) seen with submuscular placement.

“Dr. Zenn is definitely the best surgeon in the specialty of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. I had the honor to work with him as an OR Nurse and see only wonderful outcomes. He had to be my surgeon, no doubt about it! Dr. Zenn has great bedside manners, he is very professional and knowledgeable, caring and compassionate. He helped me choose the right size of implants for my body frame, and explained to me every step of the procedure from the registration to recovery. He followed up with post- op calls himself and with his wonderful nurse JoAnn. If you are looking for breast augmentation that has a natural look to feel confident and beautiful, you must come and see Dr. Zenn.”

Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

During your initial visit to Zenn Plastic Surgery, you will have the opportunity to get to know Dr. Zenn and our staff and to discuss your aesthetic goals. Dr. Zenn will spend as much time as necessary with you to develop a shared understanding of how you want to look after your breast augmentation. He will show you his extensive gallery of before and after photos so you can see other patients with similar anatomy and their post-augmentation results.

As part of your examination, Dr. Zenn will take note of your body’s unique anatomy to ensure that your results:
  • Have the most pleasing shape possible, both in and out of clothes
  • Appear natural, full, and symmetrical
  • Avoid the all-to-common unnatural appearance of implants that are placed too high or spread too far apart

You will have the chance to see how you would look after augmentation by trying on different sizes of implants. Hence, this will allow you to get a realistic idea of how you will look in your clothes after surgery (and is usually the most fun part of the consultation!).

The consultation is your opportunity to ask all the questions you’ve ever had about breast augmentation. Things such as, over the muscle vs. under the muscle, round vs. shaped, smooth vs. textured. And even, what’s the buzz about Gummy Bear implants? Dr. Zenn will be happy to share his expertise with you. Above all, there is no question to small. We want you to be comfortable with your decision to have breast augmentation. And certainly, very confident in your choice of plastic surgeon.

Your Experience

All Zenn Plastic Surgery patients have their procedures in one of several accredited ambulatory surgical facilities in the Raleigh – Durham – Cary area. A board-certified anesthesiologist(MD) helps patients sleep safely and comfortably throughout the surgery. Patients wake up with little or no pain, sore throat, or queasiness.

On the day of your procedure, Dr. Zenn will review the surgery with you and answer any final questions. Next, he will make marks to guide the breast augmentation surgery.

During the surgery, Dr. Zenn will:
  • Place incisions with a focus on minimizing scarring and speeding your recovery
  • Place the desired implant sizers and make small adjustments as needed before placing final implants
  • Ensure that your breasts have a symmetrical, natural appearance, whether you are upright or lying down

Your Recovery from Breast Augmentation Surgery

Following your breast augmentation, you will go home and rest. Then, will see Dr. Zenn in the office the next morning for your post-surgery examination. You may shower the first day after your surgery. You will want to take it easy for 2-3 days before returning to work. It’s not uncommon to have soreness, swelling, and tenderness in your breasts and the surrounding areas as you heal which is easily hidden in clothes. You can resume regular gym workouts 2-4 weeks after surgery. Dr. Zenn will see you back two months after surgery for your final exam and photos.

Breast Augmentation FAQs

  • How will breast augmentation affect future pregnancies?

    Breast augmentation poses no health risks to the baby or mother during pregnancy.

    While breast augmentation doesn’t affect pregnancy, pregnancy can affect the results of breast augmentation. Pregnancy causes a woman’s body to undergo natural changes, often including the breasts. Some women find their breasts increase in size while pregnant, while others see a noticeable decrease. Every woman is different.

    Breasts may change size or shape during or after pregnancy, so even though your implants are the same as before pregnancy your breast may look different. The surrounding breast tissue can change significantly or minimally – everyone’s breasts respond to pregnancy differently.

    For those whose breasts sag after pregnancy, the implants will still provide some lift to the breasts. Some women with post-pregnancy sag choose to have a breast lift, leaving the implants alone and just addressing the breast shape.

    For others who want to get the shape of their pre-pregnancy breasts back, Dr. Zenn performs a Breast Augmentation Revision by repositioning or exchanging implants to a different size, with or without a breast lift.

  • Does breast augmentation interfere with breastfeeding after pregnancy?

    There are some women who are unable to breastfeed after pregnancy with breast implants in place. But keep in mind, approximately 25% of American women are unable to breastfeed – without any surgery performed. Technically, every woman should be able to breastfeed after breast augmentation because the nipple is never separated from the breast gland. Dr. Zenn carefully chooses precise placement for incisions during the augmentation procedure so the breast gland is never disturbed. Typically, he makes incisions around the areola or under the breast as an entry point.

    If you are considering getting pregnant in the near future, Dr. Zenn recommends waiting for breast augmentation surgery until after you give birth and finish breastfeeding.

  • Why do some women have numbness after breast augmentation?

    Numbness is related to injury of the nerves running into the breast which can happen as the pocket is created for the new implant. This is true whether the implant is above or below the pectoralis muscle. The location of the incision does not affect sensation of the nipple. The bigger the implant, the greater the risk for numbness.

    Numbness can make breastfeeding difficult if the normal response of the nipple is blunted or eliminated. For Dr. Zenn’s patients, the occurrence of permanent numbness is extremely rare.

  • How do you decide what size implant is best for a patient?

    You will have the chance to choose your implant size during your consultation. Dr. Zenn will recommend the ideal size range for implants according to what will “fit” on your chest. Then with the help of Lissa, Dr. Zenn’s nurse, you will try on different sizes (under a bra) until you have a good idea of what you want. This will allow you to get a realistic idea of how you will look after surgery (and is usually the most fun part of the consultation!).

    We do not use any imaging technology to predict what you will look like post-augmentation for one very good reason – they don’t work. Dr. Zenn’s experience with these technologies is that they do not accurately predict post-surgical results. He considers them more of a marketing gimmick. When it comes to sizing for breast implants, placing an actual implant inside your bra is the way to go!

  • Dr. Zenn didn’t perform my breast augmentation... Would he consider doing the revision?

    Breast Augmentation is the most common plastic surgery procedure in the US, and therefore most plastic surgeons perform this surgery. However, revision of breast augmentation requires particular expertise in breast surgery and years of experience fixing problems for all different reasons in all different body types. No one in the Triangle has more experience and proven results with secondary breast surgery than Dr. Zenn. Patients sometimes have 2 or 3 surgeries with their surgeon before they finally come to Dr. Zenn to fix their problem.

    Dr. Zenn has many tools at his disposal to treat these problems as he has been in practice, focused on breast surgery for over 20 years. He has seen it all and has successfully helped women who had given up hope after being told nothing could be done.