Planning for Plastic Surgery - Breast Augmentation

Are you considering having breast implants? If you are interested in breast augmentation surgery, you need to know how to prepare for surgery before you consider entering an operating room.

Preparing for breast surgery is much like preparing for other surgeries. Learn what you need to do to prepare for surgery by reading the tips below.

Step-by-Step Guide to Safe Breast Surgery
If you go into surgery prepared, you are more likely to feel positive and happy about your results than if you go in without first knowing what to expect. Follow the step-by-step guidelines below and rest assured you will have a positive experience.

• Learn everything you can about breast surgery. As a consumer, you owe it to yourself to learn everything you can about breast surgery BEFORE you even considering consulting with a qualified surgeon. Make sure you review all of the articles on this site and learn as much as you can about breast implants and breast surgery. You should have a solid understanding of the actual procedure, and self-care following surgery. If possible, talk with your doctor and go over your surgery ahead of time so you are on the same wave when the time comes for the actual surgery to take place.
• Make sure you have realistic goals about the outcomes of your breast surgery. If you want to have breast surgery so you can look like Demi Moore or some other famous star, you might be disappointed with the outcome. Remember breast surgery results in a different outcome for each patient. The way your breasts look depends on many factors including your overall health, and the type and size of implant used. Talk to your plastic surgeon before having surgery so together the two of you can create realistic goals and expectations for what surgery will and will not do for you.
• Make sure you are comfortable taking on the risks of breast surgery. As a patient, it is your job to decide whether the benefits of surgery will outweigh any risks associated with surgery. If you are not certain, delay surgery until you know you can go into it with no regret.
• Be completely honest with your surgeon before surgery. Do not lie to your surgeon about your medical history, because this can dramatically influence your outcome. If you smoke for example, be sure you tell your doctor. He may ask you to stop smoking X number of weeks before surgery. Do not cheat, do not fib. Doing so will place you at risk for complications or poor healing following surgery.
• Make sure you select a qualified plastic surgeon, not the cheapest surgeon. The best place to look for a good surgeon is by visiting the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All plastic surgeons should be board certified. You can learn more about the ASPS by visiting their website and looking up your doctor's name. Here is a link to follow to check up on your surgeon:
  http://www1.plasticsurgery.org/ebusiness4/PatientConsumers/findasurgeon.aspx

Feeling Nervous Before Surgery
Most surgeons expect a patient to feel nervous before surgery. It helps if you bring a trusted friend or your partner with you before you have breast augmentation or any other surgery.

Make sure your friend knows what you want before you head in the office, because many times, from fear or nervousness, patients make last minute decisions. It's best to decide what you want and how you want it before you have breast surgery. You can even create a list of your dos before surgery, including writing down what size implant you are comfortable with.

Go over this list with your doctor, and you will be one step ahead of the rest when the time comes for your surgery!