Breast augmentation is one of the most requested plastic surgery procedures in the Colorado Springs area. If you’re considering it, the decision involves more than simply choosing an implant size. This guide will lead you through the practical considerations: what’s involved in the surgery, what recovery looks like, what you can expect to spend, and why some Colorado Springs patients choose to make the 60-mile drive to Dr. Colton McNichols’s practice in Pueblo.
What Breast Augmentation Involves
Breast augmentation is a major surgery that increases the size and fullness of the breasts. It can also restore volume lost after pregnancy or weight loss, as well as improve symmetry between uneven breasts. The procedure is usually performed by inserting implants (silicone or saline) to enhance breast fullness.
Implant Types: Silicone vs. Saline
For breast augmentation, you can choose between saline or silicone implants. Silicone implants are filled with cohesive silicone gel that closely mimics natural breast tissue in feel and movement. They are the most commonly chosen implant type among board-certified plastic surgeons nationwide. Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater, are slightly firmer to the touch, and can be adjusted in fill volume after placement, giving the surgeon a small degree of flexibility in achieving symmetry.
Incision Approaches and Placement
The implants will be inserted through one of the following incisions:
- Inframammary (beneath the breast)
- Periareolar (around the nipple)
- Transaxillary (in the armpit)
Each has tradeoffs in scar visibility and surgical access, and the choice of incision will depend on the type of implant used, your anatomy, and your preferences.
Breast implants can be placed either in front of the pectoral muscle or behind it. Once again, each has its pros and cons. Dr. McNichols will recommend the incision and placement approach most suited to your anatomy and goals during your consultation.
Who Makes a Good Candidate
Good candidates for breast augmentation are healthy, not pregnant or breastfeeding, and have realistic expectations about the outcomes. A few specific considerations influence whether you’re a good candidate for a particular approach.
Physical Considerations
Adequate breast tissue is needed to support breast implants. Patients with very thin tissue over the chest can still be candidates but may see better results with sub-muscular placement, which provides a more natural-looking result. Skin elasticity also affects how well the breast will accommodate the new volume. Overall health, including the absence of conditions that impair healing, affects both candidacy and timing for breast augmentation.
When a Lift May Also Be Recommended
If there is significant drooping or sagging of the breast tissue, augmentation alone may not produce the results you’re hoping for. Inserting implants to a breast that has descended can sometimes result in what’s called a “Snoopy” or “waterfall” deformity, where the breast tissue droops over a high-sitting implant. In such cases, performing a lift alongside augmentation typically yields a more natural-looking result. If breast sagging (“ptosis”) is present at your consultation, Dr. McNichols will discuss whether a combined breast augmentation and lift would better accomplish your goals.
What to Expect: Consultation Through Recovery
The Consultation Process
Your consultation is the most important step in the process. Dr. McNichols will take a full medical history, examine your breasts, discuss the size and style of implant that fits your frame, and walk you through the recommended surgical plan. Many patients bring photos of outcomes they find appealing; these are a useful reference for communicating what you’re looking for, and Dr. McNichols will use these to explain what results can be accomplished with your anatomy. You’ll leave the consultation with a clear picture of the recommended approach as well as a detailed cost estimate.
The Procedure Itself
Breast augmentation is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes one to two hours, depending on the complexity of the case. Most patients go home the same day. During the surgery, Dr. McNichols creates the implant pocket, places the implant, and closes the incision — all within a single outpatient session.
Recovery Timeline: Days 1–7, Weeks 2–6, Months 3–6
- Week 1: Resting and healing. Soreness, swelling, bruising, and discomfort are common. You’ll have activity restrictions (no lifting, limited arm movement, etc.). By the end of this week, most patients are moving around comfortably at home. The breasts and implants typically feel a bit firm and tight, but they will soften with time.
- Weeks 2–6: Gradual progression from light daily activity toward most normal routines. Most patients return to desk work within 7–10 days. Exercise and strenuous activity can typically resume around the four- to six-week mark. Implants become softer and more settled at this stage, though final implant position continues to develop. Most swelling resolves by week 6.
- Months 3–6: Implants settle. Most patients feel the results look best and most natural at this point, once the initial tightness and elevation have given way to the implant’s resting position.
Understanding Breast Augmentation Cost in Colorado
What Drives the Total Cost
Board-certified plastic surgeons in Colorado typically charge between $6,000 and $12,000 total for breast augmentation, including surgeon fees, anesthesia, and facility costs. Silicone implants add roughly $1,000 to $1,500 over saline. The specific scope of your procedure — incision approach, implant type, whether a lift is included — affects the final figure. A consultation with Dr. McNichols includes a detailed cost breakdown specific to your procedure.
Financing Options
Medical financing through programs such as CareCredit or Alphaeon Credit allows the cost to be spread over monthly payments. Dr. McNichols’s practice can walk you through available financing options and the application process at your consultation.
Why Price Alone Is a Poor Guide for Choosing a Surgeon
The cost of surgery is an important consideration for any budget-minded individual, but it should not be your determining factor in selecting a surgeon. Bear in mind that the lowest price quote is also rarely the full picture. Quotes that fall significantly below the typical range for the area often reflect reduced facility standards, minimal surgical time, or a surgeon who has not completed the full residency and fellowship training required for board certification. When evaluating quotes from different surgeons, ask them what’s included: does the fee cover the anesthesiologist, the facility, follow-up visits, and revision if needed?
Why Patients Choose Dr. McNichols
The Colorado Springs area has established plastic surgery practices with strong local reputations. Dr. McNichols’s practice in Pueblo, CO is approximately 60 miles south of Colorado Springs via I-25. The question for some patients is whether a surgeon 60 miles south offers something meaningfully different. Many patients from the Colorado Springs area, Monument, and Fountain choose to consult with Dr. McNichols due to his training, practice structure, and personal attention.
Dr. McNichols’s Training Background
Dr. Colton McNichols, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon who completed his residency at Johns Hopkins — one of the few academic medical centers that offers integrated plastic surgery training combining reconstructive and aesthetic procedures at the highest level. He holds board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), which demonstrates that his education, training, qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have been evaluated and determined to be consistent with the high standards established by the ACS.
Practice Volume vs. Personal Attention
Larger practices in Colorado Springs often see significant patient volume, which is a mark of reputation but also means less time with the operating surgeon at every touchpoint. A smaller private practice means Dr. McNichols sees you personally from consultation through follow-up, without the intermediary steps of a large institutional practice.
Schedule a Consultation
If you’re considering breast augmentation and want to discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. McNichols’s Pueblo practice welcomes patients from across southern Colorado, including the Colorado Springs area. Contact our office to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. McNichols. Call 719-772-0908 or contact us online to book your consultation today.