Midwest “Mystery” Breast Augmentation Trends
Since being back in Indy for over a year now, I'm reminded of the simple moments of connection that make me appreciate being back home so much. Sunday dinners with my parents, having friends drop by for dinner, running into friends at coffee shops, and being able to go to birthday parties for friends' kids.
It has broadened my perspective and simultaneously made me appreciate aspects of being "home." For me, going away has allowed me to appreciate the things I love most about Indy. Namely, the people and a certain "warmth" about the Midwest that I haven't felt in quite the same way anywhere else.
Getting to practice where I grew up also means I get to take care of patients that I may know in some way. It's been incredibly rewarding to have these people, and all of my patients, trust me to care for them.
The Midwest “Mystery” Breast Augmentation
While some plastic surgery trends can be widespread, there’s often lots of small differences between regions. Since moving back to Indy, it’s been interesting to notice differences in how Midwesterners view and approach plastic surgery. Here's what I've been hearing most frequently about breast augmentation goals since being back:
"I don't want people to know I had my boobs done…"
"I don't want my father-in-law to be able to tell."
"I miss my boobs from when I was nursing!"
"I want it to be kind of a mystery… Did she have her boobs done or does she just have really great boobs?"
This last one seems to be the prevailing sentiment, and it's also different from where I've lived before. I did my fellowship near Dallas, where there was a "bigger is better" mentality—at least more so than in the Midwest. On average, the implant size placed there was larger than what I'm placing in my practice here in Carmel. The Midwest seems to be more reminiscent of aesthetic trends in the Northeast; in both of these regions, there is a trend for smaller, more natural breast augmentations.
“Ballerina Breasts” & “Yoga Boobs”
What I’m noticing back in Indy seems to match much of what has been written in the media in the last year or so about "ballerina breasts" or "yoga boobs"—essentially the trend toward smaller breast augmentations. This is something I have seen in my practice and I do love this, as my aesthetic tends to be a tad smaller. However, I absolutely try to listen to my patients, and I use a variety of tools to "size" their implants and figure out what meets their goals.
Believe it or not, the most common reason women have follow-up plastic surgery after getting breast implants is to exchange their implants for larger breast implants! I have had several patients recently tell me stories of their friends who wish they had gone bigger. This has affected how they think about their own implant size goals, often making them want to start with something slightly bigger than their initial thought.
Two Things I Hear Most about Breast Surgery During Consults
During consults, these are the two main things I hear when it comes to breast augmentation:
I want it to be subtle and I don't want people to know
I don't want to regret not going bigger!
To tease out the real size motivators for my patients, I always ask "are you more afraid of being too small or too large?" While there is certainly a tendency toward wanting smaller implants in Indy, this question helps me tailor my approach around what each individual patient’s goals are. Many patients use the word "natural," but this can mean very different things to different people. Looking at goal pictures gives me a much better feel for what a patient is looking for in their outcome. The consult is really about trying to climb into your head as much as possible before we get anywhere close to surgery.
Lifestyle Factors & How Patients Choose a Surgeon
One lifestyle factor that definitely affects how people think about procedures: for patients who love working out, especially weight lifting, an "above the muscle" or subfascial breast augmentation may be a better option for them than the submuscular plane (check out this handy little implant placement diagram here).
In general, patients approach plastic surgery in a very thoughtful, considerate, and informed manner here in the Indianapolis area. A lot of thought goes into who they choose as a surgeon, and how they approach thinking about surgery. I love this mentality, and think it’s imperative that you choose a highly-experienced surgeon whom you trust. Indianapolis certainly does not feel like a place where patients nonchalantly approach plastic surgery (in contrast with other places, such as Miami!).
I tell patients "if you see 5 different plastic surgeons, you will get 5 different plans/approaches.” Surgery is a big decision, and you should choose a surgeon you trust and feel comfortable with. The patient-surgeon relationship is something I take very seriously. Multiple surgical consultations are never a bad idea, as they can help you find a surgeon with whom you feel comfortable.
Local Aesthetic Impact
What do I appreciate most about practicing in this community? Being a part of it! I was on a flight back to Indy from AZ recently and there was a group of moms from Indy also flying home, one of whom had been my patient for a breast augmentation. "We saw your good work at the pool recently!” one of them said, which felt like a full circle moment. Being back home. Running into patients on the plane. And getting to hear positive surgical outcomes being noticed in the community makes me so grateful for the work I’m able to do.
As I myself am about to have a baby, I have even more respect for everything moms do to grow, birth, and raise children. I love that I’m able to positively impact how moms feel about their bodies.
TL;DR
It has been such a joy being back in the Midwest, getting to learn about the local aesthetic trends, and continuing to tailor my approach to each person who walks into the practice. I feel so grateful to have such amazing patients. I genuinely enjoy hearing about their goals, discussing the options, and landing on a plan that is right for them.
Come on in - let’s talk about your goals and how we can safely and responsibly achieve them!
