Eight things you should know before getting a breast augmentation

For years, there has been an idealised perception of beauty. A woman should have a bust, waist and hip ratio that more or less represents an hourglass. This has become so ingrained in us that we go to great lengths to achieve this body of a “perfect” woman. Many women have resorted to intense workout regimens, body shapers and even surgery to make their bodies look “perfect”.

One of the most common cosmetic surgeries is breast augmentation. Plastic surgeon’s have become busy with women wishing to increase their bust size. Nevertheless, the number of women also opting to get their breast implants removed is also growing in number. A number of celebrities and influencers have come forward confessing to having their implants removed, some even saying that if they could go back, they would have opted not to have breast augmentation.

Therefore, before you opt to get a breast augmentation, bear this in mind:

1. Ensure your doctor knows what he/she is doing

Before settling on a surgeon, do your research. Find out if your plastic surgeon has the necessary certification and if they are conversant with breast augmentation. Have they done the surgery before? What challenges did they face and how did they resolve them? Can you see their clients’ before and after photos? 

Go for a consultation and get a feel of the clinic. How are the standards of hygiene? Are the doctor and his staff friendly? How do they answer your queries? 

You could also get recommendations from people who’ve had this surgery and ask them about their experience.

2. Try out different size implants before settling on a size

Use faux implants called “sizers” to test out implants of different sizes to get a feel of which one you’d prefer. Sizers can be worn under your regular bra giving you a firsthand feel of how you’ll look and feel with a bigger bust.

Should you have a preferred size in mind, listen to your doctor’s recommendations. The size of implant you end up getting will be determined by your overall body size and proportions. 

Bear in mind that the larger your bust size the higher the chance of complications such as back pain post-surgery.

3. There are different types of implants

Breast implants come in different shapes. There are teardrop implants which give a more natural look while round implants look less natural.

Implants are also made from different materials. There are saline and silicone implants. Silicone implants contain a gel-like substance and have been said to feel and look like natural breasts. They require a larger incision. On the flip side, it is harder to detect if a silicone breast implant has ruptured.

Saline implants are filled with a saline solution. They feel and look less natural. You might also be able to feel or see the edges of a saline implant, an effect known as rippling. On the other hand, saline implants need a smaller incision since the solution is put into the implant once it is placed in the body.

4. Types of incisions

There are two types of incisions: inframammary and periareolar. An inframammary incision is done on the crease of the breast i.e on the fold beneath your breast. This incision can produce more symmetrical results. You’ll also be able to hide the resultant scar more easily.

A periareolar incision is done on the lower edge of the areola. Upon healing, the scar should blend in with the natural darker colour of the areola. This incision can, however, interfere with breastfeeding.

Your implant can also be placed over or under the muscle. If you have enough breast tissue to cover the implant, it will be placed over the muscle. However, if you are thin and have very little breast tissue, the implant will be placed under the muscle.

5. Who is a good candidate for a breast augmentation?

If you have stable weight, i.e. it doesn’t fluctuate, you don’t smoke and are in good health, you are a good candidate for breast augmentation. 

6. Recovery

You should be able to go back to normal day-to-day life, unless your work is too vigorous, after a week although you will still feel a bit of pain and discomfort. 

Immediately after surgery, your breasts will look swollen, firm and sit higher than usual. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to some months for your breasts to drop, soften and look more natural, also known as settling. 

Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to help speed up the healing process and prevent complications, including sleeping on your back until such a time that your breasts are fully healed.

7. You may need more surgery in the future

It’s not uncommon for women who’ve had breast implant surgery to have subsequent surgeries. This is because you might be dissatisfied with the results of the first surgery and want an improvement, you want to go up another size or need to change the implant.

8. Can implants affect breast cancer screening?

Your implants can interfere with the results of a mammogram making it harder to detect breast cancer. Breast implants that are placed over the muscle can obscure breast tissue thus the radiographer might not be able to sufficiently interpret the mammogram. However, implants placed under the muscle are less likely to interfere with the results of the mammogram.