Preparing for Your Breast Augmentation Procedure

If you are considering a breast augmentation procedure, it is important that you determine whether or not you are a good candidate. If you are, there are several steps that you should take before undergoing surgery. When you speak with your doctor, he or she will ask you what size you want your chest to be after your breast augmentation surgery. You will need to be as honest as possible regarding your expectations. The doctor will then take pictures for your record, and consider factors such as the quality of your skin, the placement of your nipples and areolas, and many others when determining what type of procedure will be best for you. It is vitally important that you are as forthcoming as possible regarding your medical history. You will need to discuss any conditions that you may suffer from, any drug allergies you may have, all the medications that you are taking, and any treatments or previous surgeries that you may have undergone. The doctor will also want to know whether you have a family history of breast cancer. While there is no evidence that a breast augmentation increases the risk of developing the disease, implants may make it harder to read a mammogram. You also need to tell your doctor whether or not you are planning to lose a great deal of weight after your surgery, because you may be advised to hold off on the procedure until your weight has stabilized. Also, you need to tell your physician whether or not you intend to become pregnant. The reason is that pregnancy can substantially alter the size of your chest area unpredictably. As a result, it can have a profound effect on the results of your procedure. Both before and after the procedure, your doctor will probably want you to undergo a mammogram to make sure that no changes have occurred in the tissue structure. You will still be able to perform self-examinations after the surgery. In addition, the doctor will strongly recommend that you stop smoking well before the procedure takes place. Since aspirin and some anti-inflammatory drugs can cause thinning of the blood, you will also be asked to refrain from taking them for a week or so before your operation. Your surgery may be performed in a hospital, a doctor's office, or an ambulatory facility. In most cases, it is considered an outpatient procedure. As a result, you'll probably be going home the same day. You'll need to have someone drive you back home after the surgery and be able to stay with you at least the first night. You'll wear either a surgical bra or gauze dressings that will be removed several days after your breast augmentation.