Celebrities aren’t the only people getting breast implants. In fact, people from various walks of life undergo cosmetic surgery to receive fuller, more symmetrical breasts. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast implants, also referred to as breast augmentation, was the number one cosmetic surgery procedure performed in 2012. As many as 286,000 patients received the procedure that year.
Arm yourself with knowledge before undergoing breast implants procedures
If you’ve never had breast implants, you may have a wealth of questions. Although you can conduct research on your own by reading other women’s stories about the procedure, it’s also a good practice to sit down with your cosmetic surgeon and ask her specific questions you have. As you may have heard in school, no question is dumb or not worth asking.
Below are general questions you can ask cosmetic surgeons, gaining the information you need to make a sound decision as to whether or not you want to get implants:
- When did you receive your accreditation from the American Board of Plastic Surgery? This can reveal how long cosmetic surgeons have been working in their profession.
- If your office accredited by Medicare or a state or national accrediting agency?
- What can I expect during and after receiving breast implants? When asking this question, also ask how long the actual surgery and recovery will take. If you receive the procedure at a hospital, find out if the cosmetic surgeon wants you to stay overnight or if she will release you to recover from the surgery in the comforts of your home.
- Where will you make the incision to insert the breast implants? Some surgeons insert implants beneath the arm, while other surgeons make an incision just below the breast nipple. Another place where surgeons make an incision is the breast fold. This area is just below the breast.
- What should I do should there be complications at the hospital, clinic, the surgeon’s office or at home? Get specific instructions regarding who you should contact and when. Also, find out specific steps you can take to deal with complications on your own at home.
- Should I decide to have children at a later date, how will getting breast implants impact my ability to breastfeed?
- What will my breasts look like if I decide to get the implants removed in the future?
- How can I increase the chances that I’ll have a safe surgery and recovery?
- Do breast implants lift sagging breasts and/or remove stretch marks and other scarring?
Keep in mind that you should also create a list of questions, specific to your personal situation, to ask the cosmetic surgeon you’re thinking about working with. Included in this list of questions should be how much the actual procedure will cost. Also, find out where cosmetic surgeons received their training, what accreditations they have and where they perform procedures for breast implants. Make sure these places are accredited by official governing bodies like The Joint Commission and Det Norske Veritas Healthcare, Inc.
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One more point. Before deciding on the plastic surgeon, know the workmanship of the surgeon from his patients if it is allowed. I guess the PS will not deny it!