Breast augmentation continues to be the most performed cosmetic surgery for women. As surgery techniques evolve, there are many questions that patients should be asking their surgeon. The basics are quite obvious – like asking about optimal size and appearance. But there’s much more. Patients should be discussing their reasons for the surgery. Is the goal to achieve better body proportion? Is it related to changes that have occurred after pregnancy and breast feeding? Or is to reverse some of the changes that have occurred due to the natural aging process?
Because every woman is different, and every body type varies, asking the right questions allows the surgeon to offer appropriate solutions. For some, it might be about increasing breast fullness; for others, it might be about enhancing breast symmetry; and for others, it may simply be about rejuvenating overall appearance. A healthy dialogue between you and your surgeon will help optimize the best results, and focus on your specific wishes and goals.
Breast Implants & Augmentation
Like any surgery, it’s important for patients to be fully informed about their breast augmentation procedure. For example, it’s important for the surgeon to articulate the pros and cons of breast augmentation, both in general terms but also specifically for that patient based on her anatomy and goals. It’s important for patients to have the opportunity to discuss such things as the type of breast implant, the location of the incision, and the “pocket” position for the implant itself. It is equally important to discuss how the breasts may change over time, and how decisions made today can affect these changes. In any event, pre-surgery consultations should be comprehensive, informative, never rushed, and should provide ample time for you to ask questions.
One of the most important questions in breast augmentation is about which implant to go with. Here, the surgeon can explain the differences between saline implants and silicone implants, and can go into greater detail about the advantages and disadvantages of each option. This discussion is fundamental – and the patient’s decision will be vital in moving forward. It’s also necessary for the doctor and patient to openly discuss the potential for breast implant failure.
Another aspect of breast implant surgery is scar placement. Here again, the surgeon will review each option, including the pros and cons with each. On this subject, it’s key to make decisions jointly between patient and surgeon. And while each woman might have a personal preference, it’s the surgeon’s experience and knowledge that can help guide patients toward the option that will best help her to achieve her goals. All this comes from a personalized one-on-one approach, with personal health and wellbeing at the focus.
For many women, breast augmentation surgery can be life changing. From a physical standpoint, things like breast shape, breast size, and breast position are often at the forefront. But there are also emotional and psychological aspects to consider. The psychological aspect should not be undervalued – indeed, the best patient outcomes come from a patient/doctor relationship that is personal, open, and supportive from the first visit.
Whatever the personal motivation, patients should be fully satisfied that all of their goals have been fully addressed. And it should all begin during the pre-surgery consultation. Understanding all of the pros and cons, the expected recovery period, and the potential risks will make for a more informed, less stressful, and overall more positive experience.