Blog

How Women Can Avoid Botched Breast Surgeries

Often, botched surgery can lead to disfigurement that makes the patient's quality of life plummet. Dr. Paul Vitenas | Houston, TX.

Breast surgery can increase your confidence and lead to a happier life, but that’s only if the surgery turns out well. There are plenty of horror stories of botched surgeries and terrible results all over the web, and you’ve likely seen how some of these poor surgeries have turned out. Often, botched surgery can lead to disfigurement that makes the patient’s quality of life plummet, and sometimes, botched surgery can even lead to serious illness or death! Before you decide on a surgeon, it’s absolutely necessary to know what to consider in order to avoid botched breast results!

You Get What You Pay For

The temptation to save money on your surgery may be alluring, but a lower price tag usually comes with other costs. Many people go abroad for plastic surgery in order to save some cash, but getting surgery in a cheaper foreign country has a number of serious risks! The disadvantages include:

Uncertain qualifications: In cheaper medical tourism destinations, it’s often easier for individuals to forge documents and bribe their way into practice. If the price is too good to be true, then it’s very possible that the person performing your surgery isn’t even a doctor! Maybe they are a doctor of something, but there’s little guarantee that they’re a licensed plastic surgeon. The last thing anyone wants is for their important surgery to be carried out by someone who isn’t qualified! At worst, they can kill you, and at best, it’ll be subpar work. Your breasts are close to your heart and lungs, and an improper surgery can cause immense damage to these vital, irreplaceable organs!

Questionable reputation: Many countries don’t have as stringent licensing standards as the USA. Even if a surgeon has the proper certifications to conduct breast surgery, it may be difficult for you to find an honest appraisal or record of their work. If they have online reviews, are those reviews in English? It’s already tough to discern the authenticity of a review, and it’s much harder to detect phony reviews in a language you don’t speak.

Lower safety standards: Even if the cheaper surgeon in the foreign country is properly certified and knows what she is doing, you may still be at risk. The country likely has lower sanitation and quality standards, so you are far more likely to get a staph infection or other communicable disease from budget medical staff in another country.

Equipment and materials: If a surgeon is charging incredibly low rates, how can they afford the best equipment and staff? Furthermore, where might they be cutting corners in their surgery? It’s not unheard of for cheap surgeons to use substitutes or adulterants with their products, and while it may not be noticeable right away, adulterated products can leech into your bloodstream and are prone to failure and structural collapse.

Poor results: A budget option is less likely to look right, and it probably won’t turn out the way you want it to. There is a lot to consider when doing breast surgery, and only the most reputable professionals understand all of the minutiae that goes into a proper, successful breast surgery.

While all these considerations have been geared towards surgeries abroad, you should bear the same caution in the USA. While standards are stricter and it’s harder to fake credentials in the US, there are thousands of cases of unlicensed medical practice every year. If they’re charging too little for such an important procedure, that’s a huge red flag, and you can’t entrust your body to someone just to save a little money. At the end of the day, a poor surgery will either end up damaging your health or at the very least, you’ll have to get a breast implant exchange or revision from a more qualified surgeon.

Choose the Right Surgeon

Not every plastic surgeon is equal. Even if they have a license and a legitimate practice, it’s vital to research a surgeon before you commit. A worthwhile surgeon will warn you of the potential complications of your surgery, and they will help you set realistic expectations for the procedure. A surgeon with a silver tongue who simply tells you everything that you want to hear and makes wild claims is probably not a safe bet. A proper surgeon isn’t a fly-by-night salesman; they’re a professional, and they’ll be sure to act like it.

It may be tempting to go with the first surgeon you meet and get a procedure right away, but it’s important to be patient, do your research, and really think about what you want. Any surgeon who tries to rush you or urge you to act quickly probably doesn’t have your best interests in mind. A proper surgeon will guide you through every step. They’ll help you figure out the right solution, and they’ll make sure that you’re thoroughly educated about every aspect of the procedure.

Understand Your Recovery Regimen

Whether you’re getting breast augmentation, a breast lift, or another procedure, your body is going to need some time to heal. If you do not give yourself adequate time to recover, it may negatively impact your breasts, and it will leave you open to infection and further complications. Some surgeons may make over-optimistic promises that you’ll recover in no time and be able to make it to that nice event after your surgery, but it’s better to go with a surgeon who will offer a realistic vision of your procedure and recovery.

Don’t Settle for Less

You only get one body and one life, and botched breast surgery can take that away from you. Take caution as you consider your options. You deserve the best treatment possible, and that can only come from a skilled surgeon with a solid reputation. Dr. Vitenas has a great track record, and he always delivers high-quality results. With an extensive photo gallery and over two thousand positive reviews, Dr. Vitenas is a surgeon whom you can trust. If you want to schedule a consultation or simply have some questions, reach out and take the first step towards a successful procedure!