There are many reasons one can opt for breast augmentation surgery, otherwise known as a mammoplasty. It can be undertaken to reconstruct breast tissue due to cancer or other diagnoses. Or it can be undertaken purely for cosmetic purposes. Whatever your reason, it is most important that you do your research before opting for and choosing your doctor and date for this procedure.
Here are five things you should definitely consider before undergoing breast augmentation surgery or as you and your friends might call it, a boob job.
Make sure it is an implant you are after and not a lift. These are two separate things
Having a certain look, feel and size of breast is an exciting prospect if you have been looking forward to either an enhancement or a reconstruction. But make sure you know the difference between an augmentation and a lift. These are two separate things.
Augmentation primarily changes the size of your breast. A lift, does exactly that. It changes the position of your breast. If you have droopy breasts, a breast augmentation alone may not necessarily help you. You may need a lift as well.
A breast lift otherwise known as a mastopexy will adjust the positioning of the breast, including the relocation of the nipples and areola, allowing your breasts sit higher on your chest and it will offer a more youthful appearance.
For a lot of women, an augmentation and a lift combined is the best option. Be sure to consult your doctor on whether you need one or the other, or both.
Decide what type of implant you want
Breast implants generally come in three types: silicon, saline or body fat cells.
Silicon
Silicon implants are made up of a shell filled with silicone gel. That shell is then placed inside a womans breast to increase its size. The consistency of silicone is said to be very close to that of body fat. This is why a lot of women opt for silicone, so that their implants will feel as natural as possible and will be harder to detect.
The main reason why women may be weary about choosing silicon, is that if the implant ruptures, the silicon can leak into your system, causing breast pain and will more often than not need surgery to remove the imploded implant.
Saline
Saline implants are made up of a shell filled with salt water. The shell is inserted into the breast and filled post insertion until the patient’s desired size is reached.
One of the main reasons women opt for saline, is because if the implant leaks, the salt water causes no harm to your body. If a leakage occurs though, the patient will have to decide whether they will remove the shell or opt to have it refilled with saline.
Body Fat
Transferring fat from one part of your body like from your thighs or waist to your breasts is also an option for women undergoing breast augmentation and is sometimes referred to as fat grafting. This type of breast augmentation occurs in two parts. Firstly yielding the fat, and then placing it into the breast.
The obvious benefit of this method, is that the fat is not only natural but it is already a part of your body. Some doctors have expressed concern over the fact that extra fat injected into the breasts can make it harder to detect cancer cells, but this would be a concern patients should bring up with their doctors individually.
Set aside a budget
Breast Augmentation generally runs from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on your doctor’s rates. Keep in mind though, that this only includes your doctor’s fees and you will also be subject to costs such as:
- anesthesia fees
- hospital stay fees
- costs for other tests conducted around the procedure
- post op medication
Make sure you ask for prices on all costs and set your budget accordingly.
Set aside the right amount of time for the surgery and recovery
After the procedure is complete you will be released to go home after only a few hours. But you will have strict instructions for the recovery process.
For the first two days, you will most likely be subject to bed rest and only limited movements such as slowly walking around your home and going to the bathroom from your place of rest.
For the first two weeks after the procedure you will be asked to follow strict cleaning instructions and you will most probably be wearing special undergarments to ensure your breasts are supported.
For the first three to five weeks you may still experience soreness and swelling and will have to limit your movements to what your doctor recommends.
There is no clear cut time frame for when you will be able to resume exercise or your regular daily activities. Your doctor will be able to tell you when you will be up and running as normal again.
Consult your insurance company
Because breast augmentation is primarily a cosmetic procedure, most health insurance plans do not cover it. Be sure to call your health insurance carrier and ask them if there are any circumstances under which a breast augmentation would be covered, in case those circumstances apply to you.
