What to Expect Before and After your Breast Augmentation Surgery
In your initial consultation with your plastic surgeon, prepare to discuss your goals for your body and what you would like to achieve through breast augmentation surgery. Your surgeon will evaluate your current health and review your medical history to ensure that you are a good candidate for the surgery. Be sure you’re completely honest with your surgeon about your health. Let him know about any medications, supplements or vitamins that you are taking. Also, if you are a smoker, be sure that your surgeon is aware of this.
If your doctor confirms that you are healthy and strong enough to undergo the procedure, then you will begin to discuss the specifics of your surgery. Your surgeon will help you to pick the best type of implant and kind of breast augmentation surgery to meet your needs. Once you have chosen an implant, your surgeon should be able to supply you with information from the manufacturer about the implant. Be sure to ask for this literature and read it thoroughly before you head in for surgery. There are a number of different surgical techniques that can be applied during breast augmentation surgery. For example, if your skin is prone to very visible scarring, your doctor may recommend a type of incision that leaves minimal scars. Furthermore, if your breasts have sagged, he may discuss the option of including a breast lift during your augmentation surgery. Finally, your surgeon should speak with you about the type of anesthesia used during your breast augmentation surgery, as well as the type of facility where the surgery will be performed.
Also, in order to prepare for your breast augmentation surgery, be sure to completely review the costs involved. Most health insurance companies do not consider breast augmentation surgeries to be medically necessary. However, if you are having breast augmentation surgery after a mastectomy or in order to repair your physique after an accident, your insurance may pay for all or part of the surgery. Be sure to speak with both your insurance company and your doctor about the costs involved with your breast augmentation surgery before going through with the procedure.
Preparing for Your Breast Augmentation Surgery
Your surgeon will give you some pre-operative guidelines to follow before your breast augmentation surgery. The information will likely include a program for eating, drinking and the intake of vitamins and minerals in the days before your procedure. If you are a smoker, your surgeon will probably urge you to quit or at least cease smoking for a certain period of time prior to your breast augmentation surgery. Furthermore, you may be required to have a mammogram, which is used to compare the health of your breasts before and after your surgery.
Before you can continue with your plans for breast augmentation, expect to sign a consent form stating that you understand the procedure and the responsibilities of taking care of your breasts once the surgery is complete. In some cases, you may have to undergo a waiting period of a number of days or weeks between signing the paperwork and having your surgery. Be sure to read this form closely and discuss the risks of breast augmentation surgery in detail with your doctor. Once you have scheduled your surgery, be sure you have someone who can take care of you during the first few days after your surgery. At the very least, you will need to have someone who can drive you home after your breast augmentation surgery. It is best, however, to have a friend, family member or spouse on hand for two or more days after augmentation.
What to Expect After Your Surgery
Although you will almost certainly be sore and tired in the days after your surgery, you will most likely be able to get out of bed and resume light activity within one to two days. However, it is very important not to engage in any rigorous activity, including workout regimens, for some weeks after surgery. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication to help with the discomfort caused by the surgery and will advise you about acceptable levels of activity for the days and weeks afterwards.
Within a week after your surgery, you will return to your doctor to have your gauze dressings removed. At this time, your surgeon may give you a surgical bra to wear with new instructions about how to care for your breasts. Any stitches will probably be removed within ten days to two weeks. Be sure to speak with your doctor about how to continue to care for your breasts. Also, be sure to set up routine mammograms.
Your New Breasts
It will take two weeks, perhaps even longer, for the swelling and bruising in your breasts to dissipate. Scars, which will never disappear completely, can take many months to go away. If you are particularly worried about scarring, speak with your breast augmentation doctor about how to take good care of your incisions and also inquire about scar-reducing formulas. It can take many weeks before you see the final result of your breast augmentation surgery. One of the best ways to see the results of your breast augmentation is to take before and after photos.
Diane Goettel
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