Whether you’re considering a breast augmentation to increase the size of your breasts or a breast reduction to make them smaller, deciding to have breast surgery isn’t something you do overnight. Many women spend months, if not years, weighing the pros and cons of surgery and trying to decide if it’s really the best option for them.
While there’s no guarantee that breast surgery is going to be the right choice for every woman, there are a few ways you can decide if it’s right for you.
1. You Aren’t Happy With the Size of Your Breasts
Most breast surgeries change the size of the breasts in some way. This either means removing fat and tissue to shrink them or adding implants to enlarge them. Being dissatisfied with the size of your breasts is one way to tell if surgery is right for you. Perhaps you have breasts that are larger than average, making it pretty much impossible to find a bra that fits in a typical department store. Or, it might be that your breasts are on the small side, making it a challenge to fill out dresses or tops or to find dresses that fits you both in the chest and in the hips or waist.
Often, one of the first reasons that women think about breast surgery is that they feel unhappy with their breast size.
2. Your Breasts Have Changed Over Time
Breasts change with time. Even the most gravity-defying bras can’t keep breasts from developing some sagging or drooping with age. Events in a woman’s life, such as pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, can also change the size and shape of the breasts. If you’ve noticed that your breasts hang lower than before or seem to be droopier, a breast lift might be an appropriate option for you. Plenty of women decide to have a breast augmentation and breast lift after they’ve had children as part of a mommy makeover.
3. Your Breasts Cause You Physical Discomfort
Here’s something they don’t really tell you in school: breasts can be a huge pain. If you have large breasts and you’ve ever tried to run without a sports bra (or two), you know what we’re talking about.
Even outside of the gym or track, large breasts can cause significant physical discomfort. Depending on their size, they can put extra pressure and strain on your neck, shoulders and back, causing severe problems. The weight of large breasts can also cause your bra straps to dig into your skin leaving painful indentations.
4. You Had Breast Surgery Before and Aren’t Happy With the Results
In some cases, women who have already had breast surgery might be thinking about giving it another go. Perhaps you had a breast augmentation a few years ago, but now realize you went too large (or maybe, not large enough). You might have had surgery, then gotten pregnant and breastfed your babies, causing a change in the size and shape of the breasts.
In some cases, women who have had surgery before didn’t have a good result from the procedure. Something might be wrong with the implant, such as capsular contracture or the implant might have ruptured. In other cases, a woman who already had surgery might decide on a revision because the implants wore out or because she decided that she no longer wants them.
5. You’re Otherwise in Good Health
Breast surgery isn’t for every woman, even if a woman wants to change the size or shape of her breasts. Your overall health and in some cases, your lifestyle habits, can help to determine whether you’re a candidate for surgery or not. For example, your surgeon will usually only perform breast augmentation, lift or reduction if you aren’t a smoker. If you do smoke, you should plan on quitting at least a few weeks before the surgery and should plan on avoiding tobacco for at least a few weeks after the surgery.
If you have a history of illness or certain medical conditions, it’s important to let your surgeon know about them during your consultation. You might be able to go ahead with breast surgery, as long as your medical conditions are under control.
In Houston, Texas, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Vitenas is one of the top-ranked breast surgeons in the country. He performs hundreds of breast surgeries each month. To learn more about your options and to see if surgery is right for you, call 281-484-0088 to schedule a consultation today.
