7 Things To Know Before Having Breast Augmentation
Although exercises can make your chest look better, breast size is mostly determined by genetics, lifestyle, and body weight, so there’s no real way of enhancing the shape or size of your bust without surgery. Creams, supplements, dietary changes, and workouts simply won’t add dramatic volume to your breasts like implants can. Having plastic surgery is exciting, but planning all of the different aspects of something like breast augmentation can seem a little overwhelming at first. Even if they already have a vague idea of what happens, for patients who are thinking of having breast augmentation, Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute at Maxwell Aesthetics recommends getting to know more about what the surgery involves, from preparation to recovery. This will help you to put your mind at ease before surgery and have a better experience. Read on for seven facts patients should be aware of before they decide to undergo augmentation:
1. You’ll Feel More Like Yourself Within 24 Hours or Less
Any type of plastic surgery is stressful for the body, but thanks to technological advances, the patient experience has been significantly improved from procedures of decades past. Traditional breast augmentation recovery could last for several weeks. With a rapid recovery or flash recovery approach to breast augmentation, patients are able to get back to their normal activities much faster. The surgeon applies leading-edge techniques and medications designed to reduce any trauma associated with this form of surgery.
2. Don’t Lift Heavy Objects for a While
Patients will be able to engage in light, low-impact exercise and most of their normal activities in less than one day with minimal side effects and less need for pain medications. You’ll likely be able to return to work in just a few days. However, patients should avoid lifting heavy weights that would strain the chest muscles for several weeks.
3. You Can Predict What the Outcome Will Be Like
Choosing the size and shape of your implants is a major decision. The state-of-the-art Vectra® 3D imaging system allows the patient and surgeon to have a very precise, simulated visualization of how different types of implants will look on the patient and try out various options before the patient makes any final decisions.
4. Your Breasts Will Continually Change
With or without implants, our breasts don’t stay exactly the same throughout our lifetime. The size and shape of your breasts when you’re in your 50s will most likely be different from what you had during your 20s. Your breasts are affected by hormonal changes from birth control pills, ovulation, menstruation, and menopause. It’s common to lose some natural breast tissue and have some stretched skin due to aging. Damage from smoking or exposure to sunlight could also cause the skin to sag or wrinkle.
5. Most People Are Good Candidates
Anyone can be a good candidate as long as they’re in a good state of health and want to enhance the size and shape of their breasts. However, there are some things that might preclude you from having this surgery. These include being pregnant or breastfeeding, having breast cancer or an abnormal mammogram, having an undiagnosed breast condition, and being seriously ill or having an active infection.
6. Implants Aren’t the Only Method for Augmentation
Another technique for adding volume to the breasts is fat grafting, which involves taking some of a patient’s own fat from areas where they might have some excess—such as the stomach or thighs—and adding it to the breasts. The size increase possible is not as dramatic as with implants, but is appropriate for women who want a moderate increase.
7. You Should Wear Special Bras at First
Even with rapid recovery breast augmentation, a support bra may be necessary while you’re healing. You’ll likely want to avoid underwire or push-up bras that irritate your skin or place too much pressure on the breasts before they’ve settled.
Planning your breast augmentation? The Nashville Plastic Surgery Institute at Maxwell Aesthetics team can guide you through each step of the procedure. Give them a call at 615.932.7700, or fill out a contact form to request a consultation for breast surgery.