Things to Consider About Breast Augmentation Surgery & Recovery

Getting surgery of any kind is a scary prospect, not matter how needed or voluntary. Even so, breast augmentation surgery is quite common and for good reasons.

Women not only want to look their best but they also want to feel their best. Breast augmentation surgery, like any other modification, is about more than just the surgery itself. It’s about empowerment and looking forward towards a future you want for yourself.

Nonetheless, there are some risks and issues that everyone should be aware of before they commit themselves to the operating table.

We’ve gathered together five salient facts about breast augmentation surgery that merit discussion prior to undergoing the procedure.

We will discuss common reasons behind the surgery, common types of the surgery, the importance of having an ABPS-certified surgeon, long term effects on things such as breastfeeding, and what you can expect during as well as after recovery.

5. The Reasons Behind Breast Augmentation Surgery Are Many and Unique

One thing to keep in mind about breast augmentation surgery is that the reasons behind it are many and as unique as the person getting the procedure. Not everyone is getting breast augmentation for purposes of beauty or aesthetic.

Some are eliminating stretched or excessively sagging skin while others may be correcting issues caused by weight loss and other life changes. Perhaps why we delve into the reasons someone might get breast augmentation surgery first is because there is a slight stigma out there attached to anyone who is considering or has had elective surgery performed. You shouldn’t assume the reasoning behind any elective surgery and you most assuredly shouldn’t think that person is vain or silly.

You’d be surprised at how many serious – and painful – medical issues can be caused by breasts that aren’t quite ideal. From causing back pain to making exercise difficult and even wearing a bra uncomfortable, women who are not happy with their shape of their breasts don’t have to suffer in silence. Breast augmentation offers them a way to fix what bothers them while preserving the beauty and power of a natural look. Next time you find yourself being judgmental about an elective cosmetic surgery, think to yourself “why do I feel this way?” and remember the various reasons that someone might elect to go under the knife. It’s often for way more than just “looks.”

4. Breast Augmentation Comes in Many Forms

Just like every patient is unique, so, too, is every breast augmentation surgery. There are certain common procedures and then there are the more obscure “corrective” procedures that people don’t often consider. When people think about breast augmentation, they usually fixate on the size of the breasts and adjusting that – typically to make them bigger.

Yet there is also breast augmentation surgery to reduce the size of the breasts and even the size and position of nipples.

Downward facing nipples, for example, can be extremely painful for women especially when it comes to wearing a bra and preventing chafing. Also, life’s changes often bring necessary augmentations to the fore that you might never have considered. Two of these that are very common surgeries are those that correct sagging or excessive skin and surgeries to help restore the skin’s natural appearance and give.

There is a bit of “reversing the aging process” about these surgeries but, overall, the goal is to fix some kind of perceived or real problem with the structure, size, and positioning of the breasts. Whatever surgery is performed, recovery time tends to be intense and painful.

This is why having in-depth consultations with your doctor about the surgery you are going to have as well as what to expect in that aftermath is so critical. Breast augmentation surgery not only changes your appearance, but the recovery is going to significantly disrupt your daily life and you have to plan for that ahead of time.

Often in the glamour of talking about cosmetic surgery we forget to mention just how long recovery can be and how painful. Having some kind of assistance with daily tasks helps and being prepared for modified sleeping positions – among other things – is a must.

3. ABPS Certification

You want to make sure that your doctor is American Board of Plastic Surgery certified. Why? Because there are a lot of shady operators out there and someone who isn’t trained up to specifications required by the ABPS could do serious damage to you and your body. This is no joke. You only need to Google this very phenomenon to see that people, often desperate, turn towards less-than-reputable doctors to get breast augmentations done for much cheaper than market rates. It isn’t just the fact that you can mutilate and harm your own body, but also you could get yourself killed.

Surgery is a delicate process no matter what kind of operation it is. From proper procedures for sterilizing equipment to having the proper insurance, staff, and up-to-date methods makes the difference between a successful modification and a disaster.

Ask to see your doctor’s credentials and be sure to review their online reviews as well as reach out to past patients to talk to them. Do your research. And don’t just trust the paperwork you’re given. Often, the American Board of Plastic Surgery will be more than happy to tell you whether or not they’ve heard of a certain doctor or his office.

After all, their job is to prevent fraud and bad operators out there who might ruin or mar the name of their profession. Don’t hesitate to ask for information and, if you’re not satisfied, ask for more. If you get any pushback whatsoever on these requests then you need to turn around and run. No reputable doctor or his office will ever turn you away or make your life hard for wanting to see evidence of credentialing and past performance. It’s just that simple.

2. Life Should Return to Normal Soon

Probably the largest worry that many women have is whether or not life will be the same after breast augmentation surgery – for a variety of reasons. The recovery time for these surgeries is no joke and could consume much of your year. That impacts your ability to work, to exercise, and in general enjoy your life to the fullest. But it is a temporary thing.

Women are often worried that making such a big, permanent change means that other similar changes are coming to their daily routine and life. For example, women who want to become mothers or are expecting to become mothers in the future are often worried about whether or not they will be able to breastfeed their child after a breast augmentation surgery.

All natural and normal functions associated with the breast are preserved during the course of surgery unless the surgery is specifically targeted at correcting something that involves breastfeeding. In other words, talk to your doctor about the surgery you have chosen but, in most cases, natural processes are retained and even restored. You will not be “less” of a woman after breast augmentation and those who want or expect to be mothers in the near future usually shouldn’t worry about whether or not they are able to breastfeed.

1. Recovery is Critical to Overall Success

Perhaps the single biggest aspect of breast augmentation surgery is one that does not get nearly enough discussion in the popular media and that is the lengthy, painful recovery time associated with it. Recovery doesn’t just disrupt your life – it makes you change how you live for a brief period of time.

From what you can wear to how you sleep to even how you eat, you will experience major disruptions to your life because of your surgery and this less glamorous aspects tends to be where people fall short of expectations or make things much harder for themselves. You’ll want to take medicine for the pain as well as apply lotions to help the skin recover from the surgery. This could be anywhere from six months to a year depending on how long it takes for you to heal.

You’re going to need a support network and a lot of help post surgery to live. While you can sit down and develop a plan with your doctor, this major aspect of the surgery is largely left to you and your own resources. Bring together a team of people you can trust, discuss what you might need help with, and secure all of this before moving forward with the surgery. You don’t want to injure yourself in recovery and set yourself back or, worse, have to have surgery again to correct an issue caused by being too aggressive during the recovery period.

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/important-things-to-know-about-breast-augmentation

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263567