Any plastic surgery procedure, no matter the nature of the specific surgery, requires considerable preparation and planning. Take breast augmentation for example. While on the surface, the goal of every breast augmentation surgery is to help the patient increase the size and volume of their breasts. However, there are many factors to consider and choices to be made before any surgery can actually be performed. With this in mind, I have put together a pre-surgery checklist for breast augmentation patients which details some of the most important and universal steps that any patient must take before their procedure can take place.
1.) Confirm That Breast Augmentation is The Right Procedure For You
Breast augmentation surgery (also known as breast enhancement) is performed to help women who wish to improve the size of their natural breasts. This increase in breast size is achieved by using breast implants that will add volume and also re-shape the breasts as the patient desires. However, some women who only seek a modest increase in breast size may benefit from undergoing fat transfer for the breasts instead of traditional breast augmentation.
2.) Choose Which Type of Breast Implant Is Best For Your Needs
Once you have determined that you are a good candidate for breast augmentation, you’ll need to choose the right breast implants for your specific needs. This entails choosing not just the right size, but also the right material, shape, and texture such as silicone implants, saline implants, round ones, tear-dropped shaped implants, smooth ones, or textured ones. I walk all my patients through all of their options in great detail during pre-surgery consultations showing visuals, as well as each type and allowing them to even try on to help them make the most informed decision possible.
3.) Determine If You Should Also Have a Breast Lift
It’s very common for women to undergo a breast augmentation and a breast lift together in one surgery. While a breast augmentation can help with the size and shape of the breasts, a breast lift can correct their positioning so the new breast contour achieved with surgery is what the patient is hoping for. While it’s certainly not mandatory to undergo these two procedures together, it can be highly beneficial in many cases.
4.) Find the Right Plastic Surgeon to Perform Your Breast Augmentation
Before any surgery can take place, it’s essential to find an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your breast augmentation. While meeting with prospective surgeons, make sure to really try to get to know them, their aesthetic sensibility, and how they work in order to determine if they are the right doctor for you. It’s also important to review some patient testimonials as well as to see before and after breast augmentation pictures from past procedures they have performed to see the kind of results you may be able to expect.
5.) Physically Prepare for Your Surgery
While no two procedures or patients are ever exactly the same, there are certain things that I recommend for all breast augmentation patients to help them prepare for surgery. This includes adjusting current prescription medications (if recommended by your physician), stopping smoking or other forms of nicotine consumption (including vaping), and temporarily avoiding certain over-the-counter medications like aspirin or ibuprofen that may increase bleeding and affect recovery after surgery.
My hope is that these steps will be instructional for anyone currently considering or preparing for an upcoming breast augmentation procedure. In my experience, this kind of preparation can be incredibly helpful in the long-run for patients. For more information on breast augmentation or if you would like to schedule a complimentary plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. David Whiteman, at Southern Plastic Surgery. You can also follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for additional videos, tips, news, and so much more.