Whether you have never felt confident in the size of your breasts or recent weight loss or nursing has caused your dissatisfaction, breast augmentation may be an ideal solution for you. Our surgical experts at Nuance Cosmetic Surgery in Folsom, CA understand how hard it can be to decide if surgery is right for you. Today, we’re looking at seven questions you should ask your cosmetic surgeon to help you make that call.
7 Questions To Ask Your Surgeon When Considering Breast Augmentation Surgery
1. Am I a Good Candidate for Surgery?
If you’re in the Sacramento area and considering breast augmentation, there are lots of questions you should ask a surgeon to help you decide if this procedure is appropriate for you. These can be addressed in your initial consultation with our surgeon where we will take a full medical history.
Many factors affect your ability to qualify for surgery, including your health, concerns, goals, expectations, and habits. Your age also affects whether you will qualify for surgery. You must be at least 18 years of age to qualify for saline implants. On the other hand, if you want silicone implants, you must be over the age of 22 to qualify.
2. What Augmentation Technique Is Best for Me?
You should also get an understanding of what to expect during your procedure when you attend your initial breast augmentation consultation. Most of the time, Dr. Kenneth Sumida inserts saline implants beneath the pectoral muscle. However, depending on your personal preferences, lifestyle, and other factors, the implant may be placed between the skin and chest muscles.
It is also worth noting that saline implants may not be the ideal augmentation solution for you. During your initial consultation, Dr. Sumida will discuss your concerns and goals and advise you on whether silicone implants may be a better fit for your unique needs. You also may be a good fit for augmenting your breasts with fat harvested from other regions of your body via liposuction.
3. How Long Can I Expect the Results of My Procedure To Last?
To be considered a good candidate for breast augmentation, you should have realistic expectations about the process from start to finish, and you should have realistic expectations about the results of surgery.
If you opt for saline implants, you should not need a follow-up procedure for approximately a decade. If you get silicone implants, you may need to come in for new implants 10 to 15 years after your procedure. If you can maintain your weight after surgery, you may be able to enjoy your desired results for a lifetime.
4. How Should I Prepare for Surgery?
Knowing how to prepare for surgery will also help you decide if it is right for you. There are several steps you must take before surgery to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible, including not smoking or drinking alcohol for two weeks. Similarly, you must avoid taking any blood-thinning pharmaceuticals leading up to your procedure. Additionally, fasting before surgery is required because you need an empty stomach before getting general anesthesia.
It is also extremely important that you prepare for your recovery period. Ideally, you should set up a recovery room on the ground floor of your home that will allow you to recover in comfort. This room should contain water and all of the postoperative medications you are prescribed. You should also prepare for your recovery by arranging for someone to drive you home from your procedure and stay with you for a few days to care for you.
5. How Long Will I Need To Take Off From Work After Surgery?
You should also have realistic expectations about what to expect during your recovery before you decide if surgery is right for you. How much time you will need to take off from work to recover depends on the nature of your job, but you should be able to resume work after only a week of rest. The most notable exception to this is that you will need to take around a month off from work to recover if you have a physically demanding job.
Individual recovery times vary based on several factors, but it is generally advisable to keep your physical exertion to a minimum for four to six weeks post-op. We will meet with you multiple times during your recovery period to assess your progress. We will advise you on when you have healed enough to resume intense physical activity during one of these follow-up appointments.
6. What Aftercare Guidelines Will I Need To Follow After Surgery?
You also must have a solid understanding of what rules you will need to follow after surgery before deciding if surgery is a good fit for you. One rule you need to follow is to avoid tobacco consumption for two weeks post-op. Another vital rule is to not drink alcohol for two weeks after surgery. Similarly, you should avoid taking any drugs or supplements that affect your blood, like NSAIDs and anticoagulants.
Furthermore, it is imperative that you keep your incision sites clean and dry while they heal. During your initial consultation, we will give you a comprehensive list of aftercare guidelines, including how to care for your incision sites. Swimming, bathing, and hot tubs must be avoided for a full month, and you should avoid showering for 24 hours post-op.
7. How Soon Can I Enjoy My Results?
You should be able to enjoy your optimal results four weeks after surgery. At this point, your body should have healed sufficiently and adjusted to the increased volume.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Many factors must be considered if you think breast augmentation may be right for you. During your augmentation mammoplasty consultation, there are many questions you may want to ask, including how you should prepare and what you can expect during your recovery. If you are interested in learning more about augmentation mammaplasty, drop us a line now at Nuance Cosmetic Surgery in Folsom, CA to schedule an initial consultation.