Essential Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon about Breast Augmentation

Breast is a cosmetic procedure used to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. It can be used to restore volume lost after pregnancy or weight loss, or to achieve a more balanced figure. Breast augmentation involves the use of implants placed behind each breast, either above or below the chest muscle.

The type of implant used will depend on the desired look and feel for the breasts, as well as the patient’s anatomy. Implants can be made from silicone gel, saline, or a combination of both. The incision used for placement of the implants depends on several factors, including implant type and size, body type, and personal preference.

Reoperation rates vary depending on several factors such as implant type and placement, activity level, and lifestyle habits. Factors that determine candidacy for breast augmentation include age, health history, body type, and aesthetic goals. It is important to discuss these factors with a plastic surgeon prior to undergoing any procedure.

Breast augmentation may be combined with other procedures such as a breast lift in order to achieve optimal results. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is necessary in order to determine which procedure is best suited for an individual patient’s needs.

Overall, breast augmentation can help women achieve their desired look and feel when it comes to their breasts. It is important to discuss all options with a qualified physician in order to ensure safe and successful outcomes.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. It can be used to restore breast volume that has been lost after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging, or to achieve a more balanced figure. The procedure can also be used to correct asymmetrical breasts.

Definition of Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is performed by placing implants behind the breast tissue or chest muscles. During the procedure, incisions are made in inconspicuous places such as the armpit, around the nipple, or in the crease beneath the breast. The implant is then inserted through the incision and positioned in place. This procedure can be done with either saline-filled or silicone gel-filled implants.

Types of Implants Used

Saline-filled implants are filled with sterile salt water and have an outer shell made of silicone. They are generally firmer than silicone gel-filled implants and may feel less natural than their silicone counterparts. However, they tend to cost less than silicone gel-filled implants.

Silicone gel-filled implants are filled with a cohesive gel that feels similar to human fat and have an outer shell made of silicone. They tend to look and feel more natural than saline-filled implants but may cost more money.

Incision Options Available

The type of incision used during breast augmentation will depend on several factors including the size and type of implant being used, as well as patient preference. Common incision options include:

• Inframammary – Incision made in the crease beneath the breast

• Periareolar – Incision made around the edge of the areola

• Transaxillary – Incision made in the armpit

Reoperation Rates

Reoperation rates for breast augmentation vary depending on several factors including age, body type, activity level, lifestyle choices (such as smoking), implant type, and surgeon experience and skill level. Generally speaking, however, reoperation rates tend to be higher for women who choose larger implants or those who undergo multiple procedures simultaneously (such as combining a breast lift with augmentation).

Factors in Determining Candidacy

Women considering breast augmentation should discuss their goals with their plastic surgeon before undergoing any surgery. Factors such as body type, desired outcome, medical history (including any existing health conditions), aesthetic desires (such as size and shape), lifestyle habits (such as smoking), future plans for children, skin elasticity, and overall health will all be taken into consideration when determining candidacy for this procedure.

Breast augmentation increases size and shape, restores lost volume, corrects asymmetry, and can be done with saline or silicone implants. Reoperation rates vary, and candidacy is determined by body type, desired outcome, and lifestyle habits.

Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

When considering breast augmentation surgery, it is important to ask your plastic surgeon a few key questions. This will help ensure that you are making the right decision and that you understand the procedure and its potential risks. Here are some of the questions you should ask before undergoing a breast augmentation procedure:

Experience and Specialization in Breast Augmentation Procedures

Your plastic surgeon should have extensive experience performing breast augmentation procedures. Ask about their specialization in this area, as well as any additional certifications or qualifications they may have. Additionally, ask about their success rate with similar procedures and how many years of experience they have performing breast augmentation surgeries.

Type of Implant Most Commonly Used

Your plastic surgeon should be able to explain why they recommend a particular type of implant for your procedure. Ask what type of implant is most commonly used for breast augmentation, what the advantages are for each type, and whether there are any risks associated with them. Make sure to discuss the shape, size, texture, and placement of the implants being recommended so that you can make an informed decision.

Reoperation Rates

Reoperation rates refer to how often patients need to undergo a second operation after their initial breast augmentation procedure. Ask your plastic surgeon about their reoperation rates for similar procedures so that you can get an idea of how successful their results typically are. It is also important to find out if there is a warranty or guarantee associated with the implants used in case something goes wrong during the surgery or afterwards.

Medical History, Aesthetic Desires, and Future Plans for Children

It is important to provide your plastic surgeon with detailed information about your medical history so that they can assess whether or not you are a good candidate for a breast augmentation procedure. Additionally, discuss your aesthetic desires for the outcome of your procedure as well as any plans you may have for having children in the future so that your plastic surgeon can factor this into their recommendations.

Expected Longevity of Results

Although results from a breast augmentation procedure can last up to 10 years or more depending on age and lifestyle factors such as smoking or pregnancy, it is still important to discuss expected longevity with your plastic surgeon prior to undergoing surgery. This will help ensure that you understand what kind of maintenance might be required over time in order to maintain optimal results from the procedure.

Combining Breast Augmentation and a Breast Lift

Breast augmentation and breast lift surgery can be combined in one procedure to improve the overall shape, size, and appearance of the breasts. This combination is also known as “Augmentation-Mastopexy”. The procedure is typically recommended for women who have lost skin elasticity due to age or weight loss, resulting in sagging breasts. A breast lift alone may not be enough to restore the volume and shape of the breasts that was lost, so a breast augmentation can help achieve desired results.

Benefits

The benefits of combining both procedures include:

• Achieve more youthful looking breasts with increased fullness and improved projection.
• Improve symmetry between the two breasts.
• Reduce sagging and flattening of the breasts.

The combination surgery usually takes longer than either procedure alone, and it is important to discuss all potential risks with your plastic surgeon prior to undergoing this type of surgery. Recovery times are typically longer with this combined procedure compared to each operation performed separately. Swelling and bruising may take longer to subside than if you just had one procedure done.

Candidacy

Patients who are good candidates for combining these two procedures should be in good overall health with realistic expectations about what can be achieved through surgery. Your plastic surgeon will assess your medical history, aesthetic desires, future plans for children, and other factors before determining if you are an appropriate candidate for this combination procedure.

In conclusion, combining breast augmentation and a breast lift can provide patients with fuller, more youthful looking breasts that are better proportioned and symmetrical. It is important to discuss all potential risks with your plastic surgeon prior to undergoing this type of surgery in order to ensure optimal results.

Conclusion

Breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure that can help women feel more confident in their body. It involves the placement of implants to enhance the size and shape of the breasts, and it can be combined with a breast lift for optimal results. While there are many benefits to having this surgery, it is important to ask your plastic surgeon questions about their experience, type of implant used, reoperation rates, and other factors before proceeding. Ultimately, breast augmentation can help you achieve the look you desire while also boosting your self-esteem.

Breast augmentation can improve self-esteem, but requires research into surgeon experience, implant type, and reoperation rates.