There are very few procedures in plastic surgery that have as significant an impact on a woman's self image as breast augmentation.
Breast augmentation involves placing an implant behind each breast to increase its natural size and enhance its shape. Women who undergo breast augmentation feel that their breasts are too small and are not in proportion with the rest of their body.
Women who wish to have breast augmentation are often uncomfortable wearing certain clothing styles and may feel self-conscious in a bathing suit or tight-fitting top. Often, women want the procedure to restore their breast volume, which may have decreased due to pregnancy, weight loss or aging.
Choosing your Surgeon
One of the most important decisions that you will make is choosing your surgeon. Breast augmentation surgery should be performed by a plastic surgeon. There are several questions that you should ask at the time of your consultation to ensure that the person you are meeting with has the proper experience and credentials to perform your surgery.
1) Is the doctor a plastic surgeon?
To be a plastic surgeon, the doctor must have completed a five year residency program specifically in the field of plastic surgery at an accredited University.
2) Is the doctor certified by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in plastic surgery?
A plastic surgeon must have successfully completed examinations set by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, specifically in plastic surgery.
3) If the doctor performs surgery in a private surgical clinic, does the doctor also have privileges in a public hospital to perform breast augmentation surgery specifically?
For a surgeon to be able to perform a procedure in a public hospital, the credentialing committee at that hospital will have satisfied themselves that the surgeon has been adequately trained in this area.
4) Does the surgeon have a special area of interest?
Although plastic surgeons are trained to perform surgery on all areas of the body, it is common for a surgeon to develop certain areas of particular expertise. It is important to ask if your surgeon regularly performs a variety of breast procedures such as augmentation, reduction, lifts and reconstruction.
5) How many breast augmentation surgeries does he/she perform per year?
There is no critical number that will guarantee that your surgeon has adequate experience in this area, but it is important to be sure that breast augmentation surgery makes up a substantial portion of the surgeon's practice. Those surgeons specializing in breast surgery will perform well over 100 augmentations per year.
6) Will the surgeon show you representative before and after photos of his/her patients to help you with your expectations of size and shape?
It is always important for a surgeon to show you a portfolio of before and after photographs of his/her own patients. Not only will it help you in visualizing your potential result, it may be of great benefit when trying to select the right implant size.
For a printable list of questions to ask at the time of your consultation, click here.
About your Consultation
The consultation provides an opportunity for you to be certain that you are comfortable with and confident in the surgeon, and for the surgeon to decide whether or not you are a good candidate for surgery. Dr. Brown will evaluate your general health and explain which surgical approaches are best suited for you, based on your breast size, shape and skin tone. He will take this opportunity to fully inform you about the benefits as well as the risks and potential complications associated with breast surgery. This will allow you to make a well-informed decision as to whether or not breast augmentation is the right choice for you.
Prior to your appointment, it is a good idea to prepare a list of questions relating to credentials and the surgery itself (see questions above or click on this link for a complete list of possible questions). We encourage women to bring their spouse or significant other with them to the consultation. It is often helpful to have the input from those people close to you, whose opinions you might value. After the consultation, Dr Brown will encourage you to follow up with any questions that may subsequently arise.
