According to statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentations were the most requested cosmetic surgical procedure in 2014. Double board certified New York plastic surgeon Adam R. Kolker, M.D. who specializes in breast enhancements, shares his insider tips on what you should know before getting breast surgery.
1. Your first breast surgery probably won't be your last. Twenty-five percent of women will need another surgery after 10 years because implants don't last forever. The implant could begin to leak over time or a "scar shell" could develop around it, warping the shape and causing a need for new implants. Weight loss, pregnancy, and change in preference are other factors that could lead the patient having another surgery after a few years.
2. It will cost you around $3,678. This average total, according to the 2013 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, is based on the surgeon's fee only and does not include the cost of anesthesia, facilities, and materials (stitches, bandages, drapes, etc.). The price will also depend on doctor, patient, and region. The cost of reduction, though, varies greatly patient to patient. A reduction procedure could take three to four times longer than an augmentation, and the cost would reflect that.
3. Generally, patients will only have to take five to seven days off work for a breast augmentation and about the same for a reduction. You won't be feeling 100 percent after that week, but you'll be in good-enough shape to head back to the office if your job doesn't require manual labor. However, if the implant is placed behind the muscle instead of on top (many women choose to do this for a more realistic look and less chance of a scar shell forming around the implant), recovery will be a little harder and you might be sore longer.
4. Breasts with implants feel different to the touch than real breasts. Although silicone breasts feel similar to real breasts, they are still manmade and don't feel like natural breast tissue. You'll be more likely to notice there's an implant in a woman who began with little breast tissue than a woman who had more breast tissue to begin with. Smaller implants and those that are placed below the muscle are harder to detect.
5. You can try on different boob sizes before deciding on one. Using "sizers," a bead-filled neoprene sack, you can stuff your bra to give you an idea of the size you might like.
6. You can't go from small to huge all at once. If you're starting with a small A cup, don't expect to go up to a DD cup in one procedure. It's important to set realistic goals. Your body and skin need time to adjust to drastic changes, so a surgeon will likely suggest going up only a couple cup sizes at first, then increasing the implant size over the course of a few years.
7. Breast augmentations and reductions could possibly affect your ability to breastfeed in the future. Women who have implants oftentimes choose not to breastfeed so the data sets on these women are unclear. However, if you have an areola incision, there's a small risk you could damage minor ducts and could disconnect the areola complex with the main portion of the gland, hindering your ability to breastfeed. Women who have underarm incisions or incisions in the crease of the breast should not have a problem.
8. You might lose feeling in your nipples after a breast augmentation or reduction. Loss of sensation in the nipples can occur whenever there is surgery to the breasts. This depends on a number of factors, including breast shape and surgery type. Even if you lose sensation in your nipples, they will still respond to cold and stimulation (aka they will still be able to get hard even if you can't feel it).
9. You're not a great candidate for a breast augmentation if you have a very strong family history of breast cancer, are obese, or smoke. All these factors increase risks and complications during and after surgery. If you have any significant medical issues, you need to be evaluated and cleared before surgery.
10. Not all "plastic surgeons" are board certified and trustworthy. Thoroughly research surgeons that meet certain criteria before settling on one. First, make sure the surgeon is certified from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Be wary of other "boards" that are not legitimate. Your doctor should also be a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, both of which have a very high standard of criteria and maintenance. Then make sure that surgeon has experience in the type of surgery you're wanting. Ask to see a body of their work and before-and-after photos. Speak to other patients. Schedule a consultation and get a feel for the surgeon's approach.
11. You have a choice of two different implants: silicone and saline. Seventy-seven percent of implants used in 2014 were silicone and the rest were saline. Both implants have upsides and downsides. Silicone implants look and feel more realistic, but it's harder to detect if there are ruptures in the implant due to its gel-like consistency. Saline implants, on the other hand, will show ripples in certain areas of your breasts, but since they have a water-like filling, they will sooner alert you if there is a leak by visibly decreasing in size over time.
12. You can move fat from elsewhere on your body to your boobs. It's a new process called autologous fat transfer. Few people are candidates for this procedure.
13. You can get an areola reduction. This is also called a mastopexy. Oftentimes women who get a reduction will also have an areola reduction so the areola is proportional to the new size of the breast. The area around the nipple is very forgiving when scarring.
14. You can't walk in to a consultation and say you want X implant type through X incision location. You and your surgeon will together decide which incision choice is best for you: underarm incision, incision in the crease of the breast (inframammary fold), or through removal of the areola. Your doctor will take into consideration your beginning breast size and shape, breast tissue, and a number of other factors before recommending which options are best for you and your body.
15. Any breast surgery can have a small effect on breast cancer screening in the future. Breast health is important. Before the surgery, have a proper breast exam with your gynecologist. If you're of age, get a mammogram. Most mammographers don't have an issue if the implant is placed behind the muscle, but it is important to discuss with your surgeon.
16. Exercise, especially cardio that involves bouncing, is restricted after surgery. Although you can start doing light cardio again after a week, most women will need to limit their exercise for up to 12 weeks.
17. Implants are more comfortable if the procedure is done postpartum rather than before the patient has kids. But any implant placed under the muscle will increase the discomfort levels.
18. Augmented breasts will affect your posture just like the weight of natural breasts would. The weight difference between equal volumes of saline, silicone, and breast tissue is slim to none, so a natural C cup and an augmented C cup are very similar in weight. If you choose an implant size proportional to your frame, you will see little effect on your posture. However, if you choose large implants, you will feel the effects.
19. Your boobs do not need to be a minimum size for a reduction. This is all based on personal preference. Think of boob size in terms of a scale from small to large. Based on breast size before the procedure and desired breast size afterward, there are a number of incision options for a reduction for a huge range of results. You can even choose to get a reduction and an implant to replace some of the volume that you've lost over time.
20. It is possible that your boobs can grow back after a reduction. However, if the procedure is done after pregnancy and your weight stays consistent, your breast size is unlikely to change.
21. Ask yourself the following questions and be comfortable with your answers before going through with the surgery:
- How much does my current situation bother me?
- Why do I want this procedure?
- How excited am I to go through with this?
- Can I handle the time off from work and exercise?
- How much am I willing to expose myself to certain risks?
