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Things to Think About Before Breast Augmentation

what to think about before breast augmentation
All surgeries have some amount of downtime or recovery afterward.

Plastic surgery is never something to rush into. You shouldn’t make the decision to have surgery, such as a breast augmentation, quickly or under pressure.

When you have plastic surgery, you are changing your body permanently. While that’s a very positive experience for many people, it’s not something to take lightly. Before breast augmentation, there are a few things to think about to make sure you’re ready for the surgery and are prepared to handle whatever it might bring your way.

Think About the Recovery Process

All surgeries have some amount of downtime or recovery afterward. The length of the recovery period and how you’ll feel as you heal can vary based on the procedure. Before breast augmentation, you want to learn as much as you can about the recovery period, so that you’re certain that it’s something you’ll be able to make time for and cope with.

A few things to research about the breast augmentation recovery process:

  • How long you’ll need to take off from work
  • What you can expect in terms of swelling, bruising, and general discomfort and how you can control any discomfort
  • What you can or can’t wear during the recovery (for example, you’ll most likely need to wear a special bra for a few weeks)
  • When you can start up regular activities, such as exercise, again

After carefully reviewing the requirements and expectations of the recovery period, some women decide that the surgery isn’t a good fit for their lives at the moment. Others find that they do have enough room in their schedules and that their expectations are in line with reality.

Remember That Breast Implants Might Not Last Forever

One other thing to consider before breast augmentation: your first breast augmentation surgery might not be your last one. For many reasons, women occasionally decide to remove or replace their breast implants.

Breast implants aren’t lifetime devices and they do have a shelf life. How long yours last depends on a variety of factors, including your personal tastes. You might decide after a couple of years that you’d like breasts that are bigger or smaller than what you currently have. Some implants do rupture or wear out and will need replacement if that occurs.

Choose Your Size Carefully

Size matters when it comes to breast implants. Before you commit to a particular size of implant, it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of that particular size. You can try wearing sizers around for a few days or weeks to a feel for what life will be like with the real deal.

It’s also a good idea to listen to the advice of your surgeon when it comes to the size and shape of the implant. In some cases, women will want implants that are too large for their frame. Your surgeon can point in you the right direction and explain to you why one size or another is a good (or not so good) fit for you.

Saline vs. Silicone — There Is a Difference

Before breast augmentation, it helps to learn as much as you can about the different implants available. Saline and silicone implants are very different from each other. Whether one is ‘better’ than the other is somewhat subjective, though.

For example, silicone implants have a softer and more authentic feel compared to saline implants, which tend to be firmer. But your surgeon might be able to make a smaller incision when placing saline implants, since they are often filled with the saltwater solution after being placed in the chest.

Another big difference between the two types of implants is what happens if there’s a break or rupture. A saline implant is going to deflate pretty much right away, since the salt water will seep out. Since the filling in a silicone implant is more cohesive, it’s not going to flow out of the implant if there’s a rupture or leak. That means it can be more difficult to detect a problem with a silicone implant.

In many ways, whether you go with saline or silicone comes down to personal preference. It’s important to know which is which and what makes each one unique so that you can make the best choice possible.

Another thing to seriously consider before breast augmentation is the surgeon who will perform the procedure. Ideally, you’ll want to work with a surgeon who years of experience with breast augmentation and other breast surgeries and who performs the surgery regularly. Dr. Paul Vitenas, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston, Texas, has nearly 30 years of experience performing breast surgeries and has regularly been rated a top breast surgeon. To learn more about breast augmentation and all that it entails, call 281-484-0088 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vitenas today.