Breast Implants: Three Considerations

If breast implants have been on your mind, take these three steps to complete your consideration to move forward with the idea.

First, get a mentor. Find a friend or acquaintance that has had the experience. She will have endless advice for you to consider in making your decisions. She most likely will be willing to tell you everything you need to know. Hold no question back. You cannot know too much about the procedure, the recovery, and the outcome. Most women do not think past the surgery itself. They want an augmentation, and they get one. They are then faced with issues during recovery that they were not expecting. Recovery is just as important as the operation itself when it comes to the optimum outcome, and a mentor will be able to tell you more about what to expect in recovery than even the most qualified surgeon unless that doctor has implants herself.

Next, give careful consideration to why you are thinking about getting breast implants. It should have nothing to do with how you think people will treat you afterward, and it should not be an idea that was instilled by anyone other than yourself. Breast implants are an enhancement that can boost your confidence in the way you look, but they will not change who you are, and they will not change how people view you or treat you. You should also know that some will make jokes about you speculating whether or not your breasts are real, and you should be emotionally prepared to reject their nonsense and be confident in your own decision.

Once you have asked all your questions to your mentor and determined that you are making this decision for yourself and no one else, begin to scout a good surgeon. You may ask your mentor for her doctor’s information, but do not stop your research there. Have a consultation with a few plastic surgeons. You need to feel very comfortable with the doctor and his or her personality and your ability to communicate effectively with him. Miscommunications maybe the number one reason for discontent following breast implants.

Of course there are other decisions to consider. Type of implant, type of incision, timing of the surgery, and your ability to stick to the requirements of recovery are all things that must be considered, but psychological readiness, realistic expectations, and patient education seem to be the most important considerations for a woman who is considering undergoing breast implant surgery.