Breast Augmentation Surgery at a Glance

If you want breast augmentation surgery, this is what you need to know in preparation of meeting with the doctor. First the most obvious aspect of breast augmentation surgery is you will need to weigh the pros and cons of having gel implants verses saline filled implants. Both have their merits and both have some drawbacks and which style works best for you will depend on your goals and what you want the end product to look and feel like.

Next your placement options for breast implants will affect not only how your post-surgical breast looks but also your whole recovery time. Patients who opt to have implants placed above the muscles in a less invasive procedure generally heal within a month and have less post-surgical pain and discomfort. Patients who have the implants placed under the muscle will have a longer total recovery time- up to four months in fact- and will have more pain and discomfort that will need mediation management to control than other placement options.

So why opt for under the muscle placement with so many cons in place? Under the muscle placement looks more natural and provides more protection against accidental punctures to the implant. For women who are going a lot larger the under the muscle placement offers more tissue and fat around the breast to conceal the implant and make it less obvious.

Third there are several options available when it comes to incision options as well. The surgeon can make the incision under the fold of your breast which conceals the scar, or go in through your arm pit or even go up through a natural scar on your body- your belly button- so there is no scar from your implants at all.

You should expect to go home within hours after your surgery which will likely be done at a surgical center and not a hospital. You will need to ensure you have someone at home to help you the first twenty four hours because you will likely be in pain and still under the effects of the medication and anesthesia given to you during surgery.

You will probably have a drainage tube to drain excessive blood and fluids that accumulate during any surgery and stitches from the incisions. Your doctor will want to see you again in twenty four hours to remove the tube, check your stitches and monitor your breast augmentation results. You should expect to be swollen and have some bruising which will likely last a few weeks. You won't be able to return to work for at least a week or two depending on your implant placement during your breast augmentation surgery.

Finally you should make sure that you move around as much as possible to avoid one post-surgical complication which is blood clots and can be avoidable and deadly. With this snap shot of a breast augmentation you are now prepared to go forward as a prepared and savvy patient.