Deciding to Undergo a Breast Procedure Tips

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Should I ask to see before and after breast implant photos before selecting a surgeon?

The Importance of Before and After Breast Implant Photos in Selecting a Surgeon

Patients who neglect to ask potential plastic surgeons to provide before and after breast implant photos run the risk of selecting a subpar surgeon who is not capable of producing the high quality results the patient is seeking. A well-qualified and skillful breast augmentation surgeon will likely be extremely eager to show before and after breast implant photos to patients who are considering breast augmentation surgery. For these surgeons, the before and after photos of previous patients are a visual resume which potential patients can use to evaluate the skill level of the surgeon.

If possible, patients should also ask to see after photos taken during the recovery process and after the breasts have fully recovered from the procedure. This is important because it will provide information into how long the healing process will take and how much swelling and bruising is involved. Some plastic surgeons may take after photos when the compression bandages are removed and about midway through the recovery process in addition to taking photos after the patient has fully recovered from the procedure.

   
What should I look for when consulting with a cosmetic surgeon before a breast procedure?

Consulting with a Cosmetic Surgeon before a Breast Procedure

The initial consultation with a cosmetic surgeon before a breast procedure such as a breast augmentation, a breast reduction, a breast lift or breast reconstruction is extremely important. Some may argue this initial consultation is even more important than the actual day of the surgery. During the initial consultation the patient will not only learn about the available options, but will also have the opportunity to learn more about the surgeon's qualifications to perform the procedure.

During the initial consultation with a cosmetic surgeon, the patient will be examined to determine which procedures will most likely be able to produce the desired results. Additionally, the patient will be examined and will answer a series of questions that will demonstrate whether the patient is an ideal candidate for the particular breast procedures required.

   
Should I ask for personal referrals when selecting a cosmetic surgeon?

Seeking Advice when Deciding on a Cosmetic Surgeon for a Breast Augmentation Procedure

Patients who are considering a breast augmentation procedure may consider asking a trusted friend or family member for recommendations for a cosmetic surgeon. Potential patients who have a trusted friend or family member who has previously undergone a breast augmentation surgery may feel comfortable using the same cosmetic surgeon. This is especially useful if the patient believes the outcome of the procedure was a huge success for the friend or family member. While most surgeons will provide before-and-after photos to potential patients, these photos are not as useful as seeing a former patient in person.

A friend or family member can also provide useful information about the surgeon's demeanor and ability to listen to the patient's questions and concerns. This is especially important because the patient will likely want to select a surgeon who they trust and who they will be comfortable talking to about their desired results. Patients who do not have a recommendation from a friend or family member will have to make assumptions about the type of relationship they may have with the surgeon based on first impressions, while those who have recommendations from friends or family members can be more confident about the surgeon's communications skills when selecting a cosmetic surgeon.

   
How can I avoid rushing into the decision to undergo breast augmentation?

Taking Time to Make your Breast Augmentation Decision

Patients who are considering breast augmentation should carefully consider all of their options and should research the procedure extensively before making a decision. This is extremely important because breast augmentation is a serious surgical procedure that involves a rather extensive recovery procedure and may require additional surgical procedures in the future to either correct surgical errors or maintain the appearance of the breasts.

Consulting with one or more breast augmentation surgeons is a very important step in the decision-making process. This is important because the surgeons will likely provide the most useful information about the procedure and the recovery period. The surgeons can also provide information on the types of results the patient can expect to receive and will likely be able to provide before-and-after photos which can help the patient evaluate the skill and experience of the surgeon.

The consultation with a breast augmentation surgeon is also important because the surgeon can examine the patient to determine whether the patient is an ideal candidate for breast augmentation. This can have a significant impact on the decision, especially if the surgeon determines it is not likely the patient will achieve the desired results or is not an ideal candidate for the procedure. However, if the patient confirms the patient is an ideal candidate for the procedure, it can validate the patient's desire to have the procedure performed.

Joining a breast augmentation forum on the Internet can also be very helpful for patients who are trying to decide whether to undergo breast augmentation surgery. Patients can communicate with others who are considering the procedure and with those who have already completed the procedure and may be in the process of recovering or may already be fully recovered. This type of information can be very useful because it gives the patient the opportunity to ask those who have been through the procedure about the pain during the recovery process and the satisfaction with the results.

Patients who are considering breast augmentation surgery may also seek out statistical information which might be useful in the decision making process. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons publishes statistics annually on the type of cosmetic procedures performed during the previous year. Patients may find information they consider useful such as the types of procedures being performed, the percentage of procedures performed for a particular age or ethnic group, the most popular procedures and the rise or decrease in a particular procedure from one year to the next.

   
How do I know if the information obtained on a breast augmentation forum is accurate?

Verifying Information Obtained in a Breast Augmentation Forum

Many patients who are considering a breast augmentation procedure turn to breast augmentation forums for both support and information while they are researching the procedure and throughout the process. They may even continue to use these forums even after they are fully recovered. While a breast augmentation forum can be a wonderful online resource for patients in terms of both information and support, patients should be careful not to accept all information on these forums as fact without investigating the information further.

A breast augmentation forum can be an excellent source of support for patients who are considering the procedure or are in the process of recovering from the procedure. Being able to communicate with others who are interested in the procedure and those who have already been through the procedure can be very comforting. However, it is important for users of these forums to realize there may be some information disseminated that is inaccurate or outdated. As a result, patients using an online breast augmentation forum should be careful to verify any information they obtain through a reputable resource.

Reputable resources for verifying this type of information may include the patient's plastic surgeon, published books on the subject of breast augmentation and even other Web sites operated by reputable and reliable individuals like government agencies or hospitals. Taking the time to verify the information will help to prevent the patient from making a potentially harmful mistake as a result of following inaccurate advice.

   
How important are breast augmentation photos in selecting a surgeon?

Using Breast Augmentation Photos to Decide to Undergo a Breast Augmentation Procedure

Patients who are considering a breast augmentation procedure should definitely ask to see breast augmentation photos depicting previous patients prior to surgery and after surgery. The patient should also specifically ask to see photos of patients who have similar physical characteristics and achieved results similar to those desired by the patient. This is important because it can help the patient to determine whether or not a particular surgeon is capable of producing the desired results and has a great deal of experience performing similar procedures.

Through viewing breast augmentation photos, the patient will get a good idea of the results of the surgery and the type of scarring that could occur. This type of visual information might be particularly useful if the patient is attempting to choose between two or more breast augmentation surgeons. In viewing the before-and-after photos of previous breast augmentation patients, the patient can select the surgeon who produces the results most similar to the patient's anticipated results.

   
Are there online forums available for patients who are considering breast augmentation?

Seeking Support from Breast Augmentation Forums

There are many breast augmentation forums available online for patients who are considering breast augmentation, patients who are recovering from breast augmentation, patients who are fully recovered from breast augmentation and even patients who are suffering from complications resulting from a breast augmentation procedure. For many patients, a breast augmentation forum is ideal because they can speak candidly to others who have shared their experience or who are considering a similar procedure. This gives the patient the opportunity to learn about the first-hand experiences of other patients while remaining relatively anonymous.

Through these online breast augmentation forums, the patients can not only learn more about the types of procedures available and hear first-hand accounts of those who have completed the procedure, but may also find a great deal of support from other members. This may come from people who encourage the patient to attend a consultation with a plastic surgeon or to discuss the desire to have a breast augmentation with family members.

While a breast augmentation forum can be a wonderful source of both support and information, patients should be aware that not all information found in the forum may be accurate. Members may post misinformation either intentionally or unintentionally and not having the facts straight can have an impact on the decisions the patient makes. For this reason, patients who turn to online breast augmentation forums for support and information are advised to verify any questionable information with a knowledgeable surgeon before making a final decision regarding a breast augmentation procedure.

   
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