Our Surgeons Approach
As with any surgical procedure, the goals of breast augmentation surgery are simple: A safe procedure with the desired outcome for the patient. For breast augmentation, this means increasing the breast size, with minimal scarring to achieve a natural, pleasing and long-lasting look. Some patients may request a larger appearance, some smaller. The amount of augmentation is tailored to each patient.
Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
You are a good candidates for breast augmentation if you are in good physical health and have realistic expectations. As this is a purely elective, cosmetic procedure, you should have no major medical problems such as heart, lung or vascular disease and be on little, if any, medications. In order to improve healing, it is best to be a non-smoker.
As well, you must be prepared psychologically. Your expectations must be realistic – you must understand what surgery can and cannot achieve. As well, implants eventually wear out and may need replacement several times over their lifetime. Patients must be aware of this and the costs associated with replacement.
Also, the immediate recovery can be quite painful and physical exercise must be avoided for several weeks.
How Dramatic of a Change is Recommended?
Our Surgeons recommend a natural appearance to the augmentation. Most patients desire a one to two cup size augmentation and this is reasonable. Implant sizes most often range from 250 – 400 cc in size. Our Surgeons rarely place implants above this range as they can stretch the skin too much, look unnatural and can lead to back, neck and shoulder problems.
Preparing for Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast augmentation requires a general anesthetic in our Surgeons opinion. In addition to being in good health and being a non-smoker, patients are required to have nothing to eat or drink after midnight before their surgery.
As well, breast augmentation can be very painful after the surgery, so patients are advised to take at least two weeks off of work and not plan to do any lifting or anything strenuous for at least 6 weeks after the surgery. If they have small children at home, they are advised to get help for this time period. They will require someone to drive them home after the surgery and it is advisable to have someone stay with them the first night after the surgery.
As well, they will require a sports bra that opens at the front with no underwire for the first 6 weeks after surgery.
What can I do to assist the recovery process?
The best thing you can do is to follow our Surgeons post-operative instructions carefully. Do no more nor no less than he instructs you, even if you feel great – the inside takes a long time to heal, even if the outside looks great. Keep your incisions nice and clean. He will instruct you on how to perform breast exercises to ensure the implant sits nicely in its newly formed capsule. Attend the scheduled follow-up appointments. Do not apply any creams to the incision until our Surgeons instruct you to.
Get lots of uninterrupted rest and drink plenty of fluids. Should you do all of this and listen carefully, you will have the greatest chance of achieving all of your surgical goals.