An In-Depth Look at Breast Augmentation

The decision to undergo breast augmentation here in Naples, Punta Gorda, or Fort Myers, Florida, can be one of the most significant of your life – and I want you to feel prepared every step of the way. In this month’s blog post, I’m going to take an extensive look at the surgery, including what you can expect before and after, to ensure you feel prepared and educated.

Your Consultation: Exploring Your Options

If you haven’t consulted with any plastic surgeons just yet, you’re probably a bit anxious about what goes on during this initial visit. It’s OK to have some trepidations, especially if you don’t know what to expect. In this section, I’ll touch on some important points in the process so you can go in feeling prepared.

Your breast augmentation consultation is likely to be quite different from most other doctor’s appointments — in a good way. This experience is all about you, and you should plan to engage in an open, clear dialogue about your goals for breast augmentation as well as your motivations for pursuing the surgery. This isn’t an interrogation, and when I meet with patients, I’m not looking for any “perfect” answer. Instead, I want to understand more about you as an individual so that I can tailor your surgery to your goals.

You probably have a lot of questions about how the surgery is performed. While I hope you can find the answers to many of them on my website, I welcome your questions during your consultation. These are some common talking points for patients:

• The recovery timeline: My patients are a very diverse bunch, and many of them have specific questions about getting back to their favorite activities. Maybe you’re a hobby swimmer, or you’ve volunteered to walk the neighbor’s dog on while they’re on vacation. Your consultation is a good opportunity to find out when you can get back to the freestyle (or Fido).
• The right implants for you: This is a big topic that deserves a thorough discussion, so it’s OK if you don’t make all of your decisions during your consultation. We’ll review your options, and you’ll even have the opportunity to touch and “try on” real breast implants at my office near Fort Myers, FL. I also use VECTRA® 3-D imaging to help you envision what different types of implants will look like on your body.
• My experience: I encourage my prospective patients to do plenty of research before ultimately choosing a surgeon. You can review my CV right here on my website, but there’s something to be said for discussing this topic in person. I strive to be as transparent as possible, and I want you to feel comfortable asking me questions about my training and experience.

Preparing Yourself & Your Home

Once you’ve decided to move forward with your surgery, it’s time to get some things in order. Understanding what to do before breast augmentation is just as important as understanding what to do afterward. While my approach to breast augmentation results in a relatively brief and comfortable recuperation period, it’s still a good idea to ensure your home and family are prepared.

After surgery, you’ll need to spend several days close to home, resting and allowing your body to heal. Be sure you have plenty of options for entertainment on hand. Additionally, having a pantry stocked with healthy, easy-to-prepare foods can be a big help.

It’s also a good idea to arrange for help with childcare, errands, housework, and other daily obligations. If you’re married, be sure your spouse is up to the task. Otherwise, hiring a housekeeper or other helper is a popular option.

Finally, it’s important to prepare your body, too. I’ll give you a complete list of medications and supplements you should avoid in the days prior to your surgery. You’ll also be scheduled for a pre-op appointment, where we’ll tie up any loose ends regarding your surgical plan and discuss the special guidelines I recommend for prepping the night before surgery.

Recovery & Results

The post-op period isn’t known for being exceptionally painful, but you will likely experience the most significant discomfort within 48 hours after surgery. These symptoms are easily managed by prescribed pain medicine, which most people feel comfortable transitioning off of within 2 or 3 days. Wondering when to wear a bra after breast augmentation? Most patients move on to wire-free sports bras after a week or 2, later transitioning to regular bras after about a month.

Ultimately, the overwhelming majority of my patients find the results of the surgery to be well worth the temporary discomfort and slow pace of recuperating at home. Just take a look at these breast augmentation before-and-after photos to get a good sense of what’s possible:

Taken before and 10 months after surgery, the photos of this 37-year-old patient provide a great example of results that are significant but still quite natural looking.

I hope this month’s blog post has answered some of the lingering questions you had about breast augmentation. If you think the surgery may be right for you, I encourage you to reach out to my office! Contact us online, or call us in Naples at (239) 262-5662.