Are you a good candidate for breast implant surgery?
In this day and age, there is an increased desire for physical improvement without showing the signs of having any procedures performed. In previous decades, there seemed to be a number of obvious breast enhancements [think Pamela Anderson in the Baywatch heyday, Victoria Beckham in the late 90’s, and Katie Price AKA Jordan, Britain’s famous Page 3 model] that impacted how the public felt about breast implants. In more recent years, however, the trend seems to be for a much more natural silhouette in line with one’s proportions, where you may not be able to easily tell if the bust has been augmented (for example, Hayden Panettierre, Nicole Ritchie, and Kate Hudson).
Regardless of whether you wish your breasts to be enhanced by multiple cup sizes or just by one, there are many factors to take into account when considering having breast implant surgery (also known as breast augmentation or mammoplasty). It pays to remember how important it is that advice should only be sought from a qualified plastic surgeon, such as Mr David Morgan, who is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon. Your surgeon should outline and discuss the benefits, risks and costs in detail, along with other aspects of the procedure. Mr Morgan has a high degree of experience in performing the breast implant procedure and will be there to guide you through the process from the first consultation.
Breast implant surgery has emotional implications
The decision to undergo breast augmentation is not one that should be taken lightly or on a spur-of-the-moment whim. The outcome from surgery may be disappointing if you don’t have a realistic expectation of what the surgery can achieve, or if you haven’t fully thought through the pros and cons, and whether the end result will make you truly happy. The reasoning behind going for breast implant surgery should not be due to a personal or professional crisis, where a relationship is at stake or at the request of someone else, as they are not the person who will go through the procedure.
Individual outcomes will vary, and you have to be realistic not only about the initial result but also the fact that breast implants are a life-long decision.
It is best that you make an informed decision, and Mr Morgan is able to help you along the way with honest and important information to aid your decision making.
Physical considerations for breast implant surgery candidates
Ideally, to be a good candidate for breast implants to start off with, you need to be in a state of fair general health and fitness. If you are a smoker and decide to have the procedure, it is recommended that you quit beforehand, as there is increased risk of complication during and after the surgical procedure. If you are taking medications, they may have an impact on the surgery and this would be discussed in the consultation.
Experienced surgeons in this field would not recommend that breast augmentation be performed on someone whose breasts are still developing or who is still in puberty. There could be disruption to the breasts maturing naturally, which may in turn change breast size, shape and position therefore possibly affecting the desired results.
Broad age guideline for someone considering breast implant surgery
There is no definite age at which you can say your body has stopped developing, as it is different for all of us. For one person, it may be 16 years old yet for another, the breasts may have not matured until age 25. Due to this, your surgeon will not be able to exactly pinpoint whether your breasts are fully developed, but would have a general idea after asking you some questions. In some circumstances, the candidate’s age may impact which type of implant is chosen; but in most cases qualified plastic surgeons prefer not to operate on patients who are younger than 18 years of age.
A common myth that can sometimes affect a woman’s decision to have breast augmentation is that she cannot breastfeed her baby after this type of surgery, which may affect at what age she feels comfortable or ready to have the procedure. It is true that one of the choices for the procedure may result in a slightly reduced amount of milk being produced (one of the possible incision locations is around the nipple, which will cut a small number of milk ducts) but individual results will vary. There are other options, however, for where the incision is made that will not affect the milk ducts and milk production at all (in the crease of the armpit, at the very base of the breast in the crease where it meets the chest, and through the navel). Naturally, your surgeon would be able to discuss any concerns you may have in this area. Therefore it’s not necessary to hold off having breast surgery simply based on plans to have a family in the future.
What next?
If this article has got you thinking about whether you’d be a good candidate for breast implant surgery, and you’d like to discuss your options or seek further information, contact us on 03 9591 0422 to make a consultation appointment with Mr David Morgan. You might also like to read the next blogs in this series.