Breast augmentation can be a life-changing procedure for many women. In order to get the best possible outcome, it’s important to choose the right plastic surgeon and understand the different options available as part of your procedure. To ensure you get these important decisions right, you’ll need to do your research.
Your initial consultation is an important part of the breast augmentation process. It gives you a chance to learn about the experience and qualifications of your plastic surgeon so that you can make sure you’ve found the right fit. You will also have an opportunity to learn more about the procedure during this meeting.
Our plastic surgeons recommend that you compile a list of questions you may have prior to your consultation to ensure you get all the answers necessary to make a fully informed decision about your breast augmentation options. The following 4 questions should be included on your list.
1. Are you board certified, and how many breast augmentation procedures have you performed?
The skill, training and experience of your plastic surgeon will play an important role in your outcome. Therefore, it’s crucial that you ask your surgeon about their qualifications during your consultation.
Always work with a board-certified plastic surgeon. In order to become certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a plastic surgeon must undergo rigorous training and certification, including:
- 5 years of general surgery residency training
- 3 years of plastic surgery residency training
- Completion of comprehensive oral and written exams demonstrating mastery in the field of plastic surgery
In addition, you will want to make sure your surgeon has extensive experience performing breast augmentation procedures. This is a complex surgery, and the best outcomes are typically achieved by plastic surgeons who regularly perform this procedure.
2. Am I a good breast augmentation candidate?
In general, most women who would like to improve the appearance of their breasts are good candidates for breast augmentation. However, there are certain candidacy criteria which must be met, and your surgeon will need to evaluate your health, medical history, future family plans and desired outcome to determine whether this procedure is right for you.
In some instances, a different procedure may be more effective at achieving your goals. For example, if your primary concern is to correct sagging issues, a breast lift may be the right option for you.
It’s also important to understand that the FDA has imposed the following age restrictions for breast implants:
- 18 and older for saline implants
- 22 and older for silicone implants
If you are currently breastfeeding, you’ll have to wait to undergo the procedure until at least six months after you’re done breastfeeding in order to give your breasts time to fully recover.
3. What are my breast augmentation options?
The techniques used during your procedure will have a significant impact on your final outcome. You’ll need to make decisions regarding the following options:
- Breast implant type (saline, silicone, cohesive gel “gummy bear” implants)
- Incision location
- Breast implant placement
- Implant size
While you should always put weight into a surgeon’s recommendations, it’s important that you have input and feel comfortable with the suggested approach before moving forward. Our plastic surgeons will discuss the different options available in detail during your consultation to ensure you are able to make a fully informed decision.
4. What are the potential complications associated with breast augmentation?
When performed by a highly skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon, breast augmentation is an extremely safe procedure. However, as with any surgery, there are always some inherent risks associated with the procedure. It’s important that you are aware of all potential risks and complications involved before deciding whether to move forward with breast augmentation.
Some of these risks, such as an adverse reaction to anesthesia or the chance of developing an infection, are common to all surgical procedures. Others are specific to breast augmentation. These include:
- Capsular contracture (hardened scar tissue that forms around the implant)
- Changes in breast and nipple sensation
- Breast implant rupture
- Rippling
Our board-certified plastic surgeons take great care to ensure all breast augmentation procedures are performed according to the highest levels of safety. During your consultation, we’ll review your medical history in detail to make sure our recommended treatment plan addresses any potential health risks.
Contact our St. Louis Breast Surgeons
Please contact Renaissance Plastic Surgery using the form on this page or call 636-896-0600 today to schedule your breast augmentation consultation. We serve patients in St. Louis and the surrounding areas of Missouri.