Breast augmentation remains one of the most popular body contouring procedures. Between the many choices of implant options, incision locations, implant placement and size considerations, there are many decisions that a women has to make before her breast implant surgery. Women will also have other questions that relate to their recovery and the long-term effects of their implants. To help women organize their thoughts and make sure they ask all the right questions, I have prepared a checklist they can bring to their consultation to make sure they don’t miss any important breast augmentation question.
My Breast Augmentation Checklist
1) Do you need a breast lift with your augmentation?
Have you had children?
Do your breasts currently sag?
Are your nipples positioned at or below the lower breast crease or fold?
2) Have you decided on saline or silicone implants?
Saline
– Bag of saline liquid that will one day experience catastrophic failure. (i.e. it will get a hole in it and deflate)
– Costs less than silicone
Silicone
– “Gummy bear” implants – if they get a hole in them there is no deflation. (silent rupture)
– Cost more than saline implants
– Cannot be used in women under 22 years old
3) What shape do you want your breast augmentation to look like?
Round
– Produces more upper pull fullness
– Saline implants will produce a rounder breast shape.
– Silicone implants can be selected to create a round breast shape.
Teardrop (Anatomic)
– Produces less upper pull fullness, considered a more “natural” look.
– Saline implants cannot produce a teardrop shape.
– Silicone implants can be selected in a textured covering that is shaped to provide a more “natural” appearance.
4) What size are your breasts now and what size do you want your breasts to be?
Bringing in photos of breast sizes and shapes you would like to be will help us to accurately select the right size implant for you.
I want to be a B, C, D, or DD cup size breasts. (circle one)
5) Will my implants be above or below the muscle?
Implants are almost always best placed below the muscle (subpectoral) unless special circumstances require them to be placed above. (subglandular)
Implants below the muscle have better blood supply, decreasing the risk of infection and long-term capsular contracture.
Implants below the muscle have a more natural look to the upper pole of the breast.
6) How long is my recovery?
What type of work do you do?
– Desk/computer job
– Physical labor
How do you define recovery?
– When can I go back to work?
– When can I start working out at the gym again?
Dr. Barry Eppleuy
Indianapolis, Indiana