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Breast augmentation patients report some of the highest satisfaction rates of any elective surgery, with 98 percent saying their results met or exceeded expectations. Dr. Steven Teitelbaum, an Associate Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at UCLA and a past president of the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, has performed breast augmentation in Santa Monica for decades, helping patients achieve that same level of confidence in their results. This blog looks at what the satisfaction and safety data actually show, and how an artful, conservative surgical approach supports those outcomes.

Breast Augmentation Patient Satisfaction: What the Data Shows

These high satisfaction rates hold up under close research scrutiny. A prospective outcome study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, found that 98 percent of women said their results met or exceeded their expectations, with more than half rating their result a perfect 10 out of 10.

 The psychological outcomes track closely with the physical ones. Before surgery, 86 percent of women in the same study reported feeling self-conscious about their breasts, a number that dropped to 13 percent afterward, and 92 percent reported improved self-esteem overall. Eighty-five percent rated their new size "just right," a factor that helps explain why these numbers run higher than many other cosmetic procedures. A few factors drive that gap:

  • Breast augmentation is elective and carefully planned, giving patients and surgeons time to align on goals before surgery
  • Modern implant technology and surgical technique have reduced complication rates over the past two decades
  • Preoperative imaging and sizing tools help patients visualize results before committing to a size

 Patients who take an active role in choosing their implant size tend to report better long-term satisfaction than those who defer entirely to a surgeon's recommendation. Dr. Teitelbaum works through this decision collaboratively, walking patients through realistic outcomes rather than simply telling them what to expect.

Satisfaction by Implant Type: Saline vs. Silicone Results

Both saline and silicone implants can produce high satisfaction rates, though patients often describe silicone as feeling and looking more natural. A meta-analysis in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum found no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the two, but silicone's cohesive gel is widely reported by patients to move and feel more like natural breast tissue.

 Saline implants remain a reasonable option for some patients, particularly those who prefer a smaller incision or want the ability to detect a rupture immediately through visible deflation. The right choice depends on body type, goals, and how much a patient prioritizes feel versus other tradeoffs, which is why Dr. Teitelbaum discusses both options in detail during consultation rather than defaulting to one.

Breast Augmentation Safety Statistics: Complication Rates by the Numbers

Complication rates for breast augmentation have declined significantly as implant technology and surgical technique have matured. Being transparent about these numbers is part of what helps patients make an informed decision and builds trust before surgery.

 The most common complications include capsular contracture, implant rupture, infection, and the need for revision surgery over time. None of these are minor considerations, and each carries different odds depending on implant type, placement, and surgical technique.

 Modern silicone implants show low rupture rates in long-term manufacturer studies. Six-year data from major implant manufacturers' core studies put rupture rates around 1 percent for primary augmentation patients, a marked improvement over earlier generations of implants that were prone to shell degradation and gel leakage.

Capsular Contracture: Incidence Rates and Risk Reduction

Capsular contracture, the hardening and tightening of scar tissue around an implant, is the most frequently cited complication after breast augmentation. A clinical review in Aesthetic Surgery Journal places its overall incidence at 10.6 percent across the literature.

 That number drops considerably in lower-risk populations using modern techniques. One study following patients through purely primary augmentation, with no history of revision or reconstruction, found a contracture rate of 2.8 percent, which fell further to 0.4 percent when antibiotic irrigation of the implant pocket was used. Several factors influence where a given patient lands within that range:

  • Submuscular, or subpectoral, implant placement is associated with meaningfully lower contracture rates than placement above the muscle
  • Antibiotic irrigation of the implant pocket during surgery reduces bacterial contamination, a known contributor to contracture
  • Surgical experience and meticulous technique reduce tissue trauma that can trigger excess scarring

 Dr. Teitelbaum's approach reflects these findings. He favors techniques that minimize bacterial exposure and tissue disruption during placement, an outgrowth of the quality-focused philosophy he has described in his own writing on surgical technique. He also avoids chasing device trends that promise shortcuts without a track record, choosing instead to rely on approaches supported by long-term outcome data.

Breast Augmentation Volume and Trends in the United States

Breast augmentation remains the most frequently performed cosmetic surgical procedure in the country. ASPS member surgeons performed 306,196 breast augmentation procedures in 2024, an increase of roughly 0.7 percent over 2023.

 California continues to rank among the states with the highest procedure volume nationally, a trend that tracks with the concentration of experienced plastic surgeons practicing in Los Angeles and along the Westside. Patients researching breast augmentation in Los Angeles often have access to surgeons who perform a high volume of these procedures each year, which correlates with lower complication rates in published outcomes research. That same volume effect holds true for surgeons offering breast augmentation in Santa Monica, where dense concentrations of board-certified specialists give patients more opportunity to compare experience and outcomes before choosing a surgeon.

 Patient preferences have also shifted over time toward more proportionate results rather than dramatic size changes, reflecting broader trends in what patients are asking for during consultations. Dr. Teitelbaum's aesthetic philosophy, shaped by his lifelong study of classical art and proportion, has long emphasized results that blend naturally with a patient's frame rather than appearing overtly surgical.

Long-Term Outcomes: How Breast Implants Perform Over 10-20 Years

Modern breast implants are built to last many years, and a large share of patients never need a replacement for medical reasons. The FDA recommends periodic monitoring, including MRI screening for silicone implants, but a stable implant with no symptoms does not require automatic removal at any fixed age.

 Around the ten-year mark, some patients choose revision surgery, though this is a choice rather than a requirement. Common reasons include a shift in personal style preferences, natural changes due to aging or weight fluctuations, or simply wanting a different size than the one chosen years earlier.

 Dr. Teitelbaum has been vocal in his own writing about avoiding oversized implants specifically because they tend to age less gracefully and can accelerate tissue stretching over time. His conservative sizing philosophy is intended to support results that hold up well over the long term, not just in the months immediately following surgery.

Technology Advancements Improving Breast Augmentation Outcomes

Advances in implant shell design have played a major role in reducing complication rates over the past two decades. Multilayer, cross-linked silicone shells resist tearing and gel migration far better than earlier generations of implants, which contributes directly to the low rupture rates seen in current manufacturer studies.

 Preoperative sizing and imaging tools have also improved the consultation process, helping patients see a realistic approximation of their results before surgery. This kind of visualization can reduce the gap between expectation and outcome, one of the strongest predictors of long-term satisfaction.

 Dr. Teitelbaum's involvement in clinical trials for new devices and techniques gives him direct insight into which innovations hold up under rigorous study and which are marketing before they are medicine. That distinction matters, since not every new device or technique reaching the market has data to support its claims.

Considering Breast Augmentation in Santa Monica? Dr. Teitelbaum Can Help

Patient satisfaction data tells a consistent story: breast augmentation, when planned carefully and performed with attention to technique, produces results that patients are genuinely happy with years later. Dr. Teitelbaum brings board certification, decades of experience in Santa Monica, and a research-driven approach to every consultation. Patients considering breast augmentation are encouraged to schedule a consultation to discuss which implant type, size, and placement best fit their goals.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Outcomes, risks, and suitability vary from patient to patient.

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