Researching Implant Options
Try saline implants for less safety risks. Saline implants are implants filled with saline salt water. While the chance of an implant rupturing is about the same for each type of implant, saline implants cause much less compilations if they do rupture, since they are only releasing salt water into your body, not gel. You must be at least 18 years old to get saline implants.
Go with silicone implants to mimic the appearance of fat. Silicone implants are relatively new in the field of breast enlargement surgery, and they are pre-filled with silicone gel. This gel looks and feels like fat, which can make them look more natural on your body. To get silicone implants, you must be at least 22 years old.
Look into round implants if you want more cleavage. The round shape is the classic implant shape, and it’s an implant in a perfect circle. While these may be more noticeable as unnatural breasts, they can offer more cleavage after they’ve healed. Round implants will still feel like natural breast tissue.
Pick the anatomical implant for a natural breast shape. An anatomical implant is a curved implant in a teardrop shape. While these do look more natural than round implants, they may offer less cleavage and size overall. Curved implants also won’t give the appearance of lift like a round implant will.
Choose an insertion method based on where you can hide a scar. There are 3 main ways a breast implant can be inserted: through the armpit (transaxillary), under the nipple (periareolar), and underneath the breast (inframammary). Talk with your surgeon about where you are most comfortable with having a scar, and what will be the easiest place to conceal once the surgery is done. The transaxillary scar is usually harder to hide, but it removes any scarring from your breasts. The periareolar is usually a smaller, more subtle scar, but it can cause breastfeeding issues in the future. While the inframammary scar may be larger, it has a lower chance of causing breastfeeding issues in the future.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Learn about the complications that can happen after surgery. All surgery comes with risk, and breast enlargement is no exception. After surgery, you may be at risk for bleeding, infection, scarring, capsular contracture, changes to the feel of the breast, or implant failure (when the implant ruptures inside of your body). Capsular contracture refers to a painful complication in which scar tissue hardens around the implant and squeezes, which can result in shape changes in the breasts, breasts that are hard to the touch, and pain. Additional surgery is required to deal with capsular contracture. If you have any questions or concerns about the risks associated with breast enlargement surgery, talk to your surgeon at your consultation about it.
Take future breastfeeding into consideration. While it isn’t common, some people find that they cannot produce milk after getting breast enlargement surgery. You may be at a higher risk for this if you’ve had a mastectomy previously. Your surgeon will be able to tell you whether or not you should worry about this. If you are currently breastfeeding or pregnant, you should not get a breast enlargement surgery until after your baby is done breastfeeding.
Keep in mind that the changes of the procedure may be irreversible. If, in a few years, you decide you don’t like your breast implants and decide to take them out, it could cause deformation, stretching, or dimpling of your breast tissue. These changes may not be reversible or they may require surgery to fix.
Plan ahead for replacement or removal after 10 years. Breast enlargement surgery is not a one and done deal, and you’ll likely have to get your implants replaced or removed after 10 to 20 years. The follow-up surgeries will cost just as much as the initial one, and the recovery time will be about the same, so factor that into your decision as well. Implants degrade over time which is why you need to replace / remove them eventually.
Get implants for yourself, not other people. Be sure to really ask yourself why you want to get breast implants. It should be for you alone—something that will make you feel better overall. Ideally, you should already be happy with your life and your relationships, but there's just one physical thing you'd really like to improve about yourself. If you want to do the surgery for yourself, that’s great! Breast enlargement surgery can lead to higher self-esteem and a better self-image overall.
Consulting a Surgeon
Be at least 18 years old and generally healthy. In order to be eligible for breast implants, you must be 18 years of age to get saline implants or 22 years of age for silicone ones. You should also not be pregnant or breastfeeding, and you should be in good health without any infections or cancer. If you don’t meet these qualifications, a surgeon might turn you away.
Pick a surgeon certified by the ABPS. The American Board of Plastic Surgery, or ABPS, certifies plastic surgeons through a rigorous process that tests their qualifications and standards. If your surgeon is not qualified by the ABPS, you should look for another one who is to find the best, safest choice. Although going cheap is tempting, it’s not good to skimp out on something as important as surgery. Look for a certified surgeon to make sure you’re in good hands if you undergo your procedure. You can also ask your potential surgeon for before and after photos of previous patients to get an idea of what their work is like. Visit the American Board of Plastic Surgery's website to check whether your doctor is board-certified.
Go in for a consultation before you make a decision. The best way to learn about breast enlargement surgery is to meet with a surgeon to talk about your specific case. You can ask your potential surgeon about the difference between the two types of implants (silicone and saline), decide on which shape you’d like (round or contoured), talk about incision areas, and choose whether to situate the implant in front of or behind the breast tissue. All of these decisions depend on your body type and your goals. While your surgeon can give their input, the final decision on all of these aspects will be up to you, unless it is dangerous or unethical for the surgeon to do so. Pay attention to the connection you have with the doctor. If you feel uneasy, you should listen to that.
Discuss how exactly the surgery will be done. When you go in for your surgery, you will be put under anesthesia, so you’ll be asleep the whole time. The surgeon will work for 1 to 2 hours on putting the implants in your breasts in the method that you two discussed in your initial visit. After your surgery, you’ll most likely be allowed to go home the same day unless any complications arise. Knowing what your body will go through can help you make a more informed decision.
Ask about the pricing of the procedure and related costs. While the price does vary from surgeon to surgeon, the baseline cost for breast enlargement surgery is $3,947. This cost does not include anesthesia, medical tests, operating room costs, prescriptions, or the surgeon’s fee, so it will most likely be much more expensive than that. During your consultation, your surgeon can give you an estimate as to how much you’ll be paying for your procedure. Breast enlargement surgery is not covered under medical insurance since it is a cosmetic procedure. If you are considering breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, it may be covered under your insurance.
Schedule 24 to 72 hours for recovery time if you decide to go for it. Most breast enlargement surgeries don’t have a long recovery time, and many people can resume their normal activities within 1 week. However, you may experience a low level of pain for up to 7 days after your surgery, and it could cause your discomfort as you try to go about your daily life. If you work a manual labor job, you may need to take off more time to allow your body to heal. Talk with your surgeon about your job to see when you can return to work. You may need to wear a compression bra for a few weeks until your breasts heal.
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