Picking The Right Bra After Breast Augmentation

There are few times in a woman’s life when a perfect fitting bra is an absolute must. After a boob job, however, the style and fit of a bra can make or break the recovery process. With this in mind, making sure a very good bra is selected should be a top priority following breast augmentation surgery.

There are a number of reasons why having the right bra can prove to be very important after surgery. They include:

• Comfort – While many women who go in for breast augmentation surgery have never before needed a bra for the “comfort factor,” this can become an issue with larger size and more bulk. After surgery, in particular, comfort can be a very big issue.
• Recovery – Wearing the right type of supportive bra can make the recovery process following breast enlargement surgery go much more smoothly. A good bra can also assist with the final shaping and help women avoid appearance complications.
• Prevention of rapid descent – When rapid descent occurs, the breast below the nipple is larger than the breast above the nipple line. While this can still give a woman a bigger, more “natural” appearance, the overall effect is unbecoming in the eyes of many women. It makes the breasts appear saggy and aged.

Avoiding potential problems following breast augmentation surgery is often quite achievable when the right bra is worn. The things to consider when picking out a bra following breast enlargement include:

• Timing – A well fitted bra should generally be picked out and worn on a regular basis starting at about two to three weeks following breast augmentation surgery.
• Wire fit – This should fall on the new breast crease exactly.
• The cup – This is very important when selecting a bra following a boob job. The cup itself should be firm and designed to evenly support the new breast. This means it should neither be too shallow, nor too deep.
• The straps – The vertical straps need to be strong enough to hold the breasts firmly in position. The back strap should also be firm, but do keep comfort in mind.

Some tips to help locate a perfect bra following augmentation that are well worth following include:

• Seek assistance – It is not a bad idea to go to a good department store and receive measurement and fit assistance from an experienced saleswoman. This can help insure a good fit.
• Double-check the bra with the surgeon – Do bring fitted bras to post surgical visits to allow the doctor to check the fit.
• Do not wear push-up bras – As flattering as these can be, they can cause improper positioning of the implant and can even cause breast deformities during healing.

Having the right bra following breast augmentation surgery is extremely important. Picking out the correct support can assist with healing, implant positioning and even increase comfort level in the days, weeks and months following the procedure. Women should take care when selecting a bra to make sure just the right fit is obtained.

Having A Support Person After Breast Surgery Is Important

Breast implant surgery is one of many procedures that can be performed on an outpatient basis. This doesn’t, however, mean that patients should take the procedure any less serious than they would other major operations. To this end, it is imperative for women to make certain they have a support person to help care for them in the immediate 24-hour period following breast augmentation surgery.

A support person plays a very important role in the healing process and can also be a vital safety net in the case of complications. A designated support person will need to be aware of the things to expect following a boob job and also what responsibilities they will assume and even warning signs to watch out for that might indicate complications.

What To Expect Following Breast Augmentation

A support person can expect a few things as quite “normal” following breast implant surgery. The woman will:

• Be in pain – This is an unavoidable side effect of breast implant surgery. Pain is caused not only by the incisions, but also due to the stretching of tissue by the implants. How a woman will react to the pain is impossible to tell prior to the surgery. Some patients only experience mild discomfort, but others face rather severe pain.
• Be rather drowsy – To head off problems with pain, most surgeons will make certain that women are sent home with painkillers to assist them over the first few rough days. It is best for the woman to rest as much as possible under the watchful eye of a support person.

The Responsibilities Of The Support Person

A designated support person will have a number of responsibilities following breast enhancement surgery. They include:

• Administering medicine – The support person should keep up with medicine dosing and be certain it is given to the patient on time and in the proper amount.
• Food preparation – The support person should make sure that meals are prepared, or arranged for, the patient and that other minor household chores are seen to.
• Basic supervision – The main role of a support person following breast implant surgery is simply watching out for the patient and making sure she is as comfortable as possible.

Signs To Watch Out For

Breast implant surgery is a very real, serious surgical procedure. Inasmuch, complications can arise in the post-operative period. Support people should watch out for:

• Fainting – This can occur after any surgical procedure. If a patient does faint, she should be made to lie flat on her back in a cool environment. Do call the doctor for further instructions. Generally, the patient will come around in a short time and be just fine.
• Bleeding – Support people should be watchful for any signs of excessive bleeding. The doctor should be notified.
• Infections – Any signs of infection should be reported to the doctor immediately.
• Other complications – If serious complications are expected, an ambulance should be called immediately.

A support person plays a very important role in the hours following breast implant surgery. Although this procedure does allow for an almost immediate discharge home, it does not mean that aftercare is not vital for healing.

Picking The Right Doctor For Breast Augmentation

When you decide to have a breast enlargement procedure done, you will need to decide which surgeon you should choose to perform the operation.

Needless to say this is one of the most important parts of the whole process. It is vital that you are 100% happy with the choice you make, and that you get on well with your surgeon.

How do I find a good surgeon?

The best route to finding a surgeon is to ask people you know. Even if the women you ask haven’t had breast implants themselves, they may know other women who have.

A personal recommendation is always far better than simply going by the promotional leaflets and literature offered by the practice, since you will be able to get a better insight into every stage of the procedure with a particular surgeon, from the initial consultation to the final result.

Should I see more than one?

Yes, it can be a good idea to see more than one surgeon initially, especially if you don’t have a recommendation from anyone. Even if you do it can still be worth seeing more than one.

Even though you may have spoken to a friend or relative who had a great success with one particular doctor, you may not gel with that person in quite the same way. That doesn’t mean they are any less a good surgeon of course, it simply means that different people get on in different ways.

It is very important that you should be able to get on well with the doctor you choose to perform the procedure, since you need to be clear on everything that will happen. You shouldn’t feel as though you don’t have the courage to speak up and ask any questions you may have, as it is very important to come away from the consultation knowing everything you need to know before going ahead with the breast implants.

How long should I take to make my decision?

You should take as long as is necessary. Deciding to have a boob job is a major decision, and you need to feel comfortable with what you have discussed with your doctor, and feel able to ask anything else as and when necessary.

It may be that you know immediately which surgeon is the right one for you; on the other hand it might take a few days or longer. Remember that at the end of the day this is your body and your decision, and you need to feel confident with a surgeon that you click with.

Finding the right doctor for you is the first stage of a process that has the potential to change your life for the better. If you make the right choice for you and you get on well with that particular person, then the rest of the process should be made much easier, as they will be able to support you by sharing their knowledge and skills when you most need them.

Deciding If Breast Augmentation Is Right For You

Thousands of breast enhancement surgeries are undertaken every year all over the world, but there are a number of steps to go through before you reach the point of actually having the procedure done.

The most important step of all is the first one – deciding whether it is in fact the right thing to do for you. All women are different, and they may have very different reasons for considering the procedure in the first place. Some may have had a mastectomy following cancer of the breast, or perhaps even a car accident that has left them scarred.

Many others are simply unhappy with how their breasts look both to themselves and others, and it is this reason which underlies the thoughts of every single woman who goes ahead with the procedure – the fact that they are not happy with the size or shape of their breasts.

How to work out if breast augmentation is right for you

While breasts are an extremely important and feminine part of being a woman, it is vital to understand your feelings about your own breasts before you decide whether or not to go ahead with a boob job.

Many women – especially younger women – feel inadequate because they constantly compare themselves to other women whom they believe have better breasts than they do. However that does not mean their own breasts are sub-standard, nor does it mean they should have a breast augmentation to try and solve the problem.

If you feel insecure about your own breasts and you constantly find you are comparing yourself to other women, it’s a good idea to consider counselling before you do anything else. Even with surgery you may never achieve the ‘perfect’ breasts you have pictured in your head, since you will always find something better in someone else than you see in yourself.

Are you ready for a permanent solution?

Surgery is also something you won’t be able to go back on – at least not easily. How would you feel about having permanently larger breasts? Some women find that when they think about it in this way, they don’t want the surgery after all. For some women it is enough to wear a well padded bra when they want that extra fullness, without having it all the time.

Bearing the cost in mind

As with any cosmetic surgical procedure, a breast augmentation does cost a reasonable amount of money. You need to ask yourself whether that cost is worth it to you.

Many women are happy to pay for a breast enlargement and are delighted with the results, but those women who think they are keen to have it done but shy away from the cost are less likely to make good candidates as they aren’t as determined to find the money they need.

In the end only you know whether breast augmentation is right for you. But whether you decide to go through with the procedure or not, it is well worth giving yourself enough time to really think about the long term consequences of enlarging your breasts.

Day Surgery Makes Sense For Breast Augmentation Procedures

Many women are surprised when they discover that there is usually no need to stay in hospital overnight after having a breast augmentation procedure performed.

In the past many doctors would have deemed it necessary to stay in hospital after having an operation of this nature, but as time goes on and the world of medicine and healing becomes more knowledgeable and advanced, many more doctors are realising that an overnight stay simply isn’t required in many cases. This applies to many operations, and not just those of a cosmetic nature. Even when a stay in hospital is necessary it is usually much shorter in duration than it would have been a few years ago.

Will I definitely be able to go home on the same day I have the operation?

There is a very good chance that you will. Normally breast augmentation surgery is done with the intention that you will go home a few hours after the surgery has been performed, provided you have come round properly from the anaesthetic and there are no complications afterwards.

You should speak to your doctor to confirm the time that you can expect to have the surgery done, and the time you will be able to leave. This will at least give you a rough idea of what to expect.

Is there anything I should do afterwards?

It is a very good idea to arrange for someone to pick you up when you leave to go home. If you live alone you should definitely arrange for someone to stay with you (or to stay with a friend or relative) for at least twenty four hours after you leave hospital.

This is one of the reasons why more people go home from hospital earlier after a procedure like breast augmentation, since it is widely accepted now that people recover better and faster if they are in their own home or familiar environment, rather than being in hospital.

Does it make any difference to the cost of the surgery?

It can do. Be sure to check before you have your surgery what is included in the price you are paying. If you need to stay in overnight for any reason you may need to pay more, so be sure you know whether any extra costs would be payable before you go ahead.

Are day surgery centres really the best choice for breast augmentation procedures?

In short, yes. They are well equipped for procedures such as this and they make a convenient and much easier alternative to having to plan for a longer hospital stay.

When you go for your initial consultation with your doctor, make sure you find out exactly where the procedure will be performed, and how long you can expect it to take.

One final point though – day surgery procedures are still done with the same care and attention as all other procedures, and as such they are no more casual than any other type of operation which requires a hospital stay. Provided you take the proper steps to look after yourself afterwards, you will be back on your feet in no time.

Reducing The Risks Of Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast augmentation is a serious surgical procedure that does have its share of risks. Like all surgical procedures, it should not be entered into lightly. With this in mind, there are things women and their doctors can do to minimize the chances of complications arising during and after surgery.

A LOOK AT THE RISKS
Even if breast augmentation is performed for purely cosmetic reasons, it is still a surgical procedure. During this operation, patients are generally put under anesthesia or given twilight sedation medication and local anesthesia. The procedure itself does involve incisions and the implantation of medical-grade devices. Inasmuch, complications can sometimes arise.

The most common risks associated with breast augmentation and other surgical procedures include:

• Infection – Any time a surgical procedure is performed, there is a risk of infection in the post-operative days.
• Pain – This is the most common “side effect” of surgery, no matter its type or purpose.
• Bleeding – Some minor bleeding in the surgical site is expected, but heavy bleeding is not. If heavy bleeding occurs, it is a reason to contact a doctor.
• Fainting – Lightheadedness, dizziness and even fainting are not at all uncommon following any surgical procedure.
• Allergic reactions – Allergies to medications, surgical equipment and even reactions to anesthesia are possible with any surgical procedure.
• Capsular contracture which is reported in the literature in the order of 5 – 7 %.

HOW YOU CAN HELP MINIMIZE THE RISKS
There are things women and their doctors can do to help minimize the risks of breast augmentation surgery. Some of the most proactive steps women can take to lower their chances of complications include:

• Selecting a skilled doctor – This should be the first and foremost concern. When a skilled doctor with a reputation and track record of safe surgical outcomes is selected to perform the operation, he or she will do everything necessary to prevent complications and risks from presenting.
• Being very honest with the doctor in the pre-surgical days – Doctors need to be apprised of such things as allergies, illnesses and medical history. It is imperative that patients share their histories and any problems they have had in the past with surgical procedures, medications and even common operating room gear, such as latex gloves.
• Selecting a doctor that uses twilight sedation – This is an alternative to general anesthesia that can reduce the risks of being put under in the traditional fashion. When used in conjunction with local anesthesia, patients are properly safeguarded from surgical pain without the potential complications of going under general anesthesia.
• Following all pre- and post-surgical orders – It is very important for women to follow pre-operative instructions and post-operative instructions, as well. These are designed to reduce risks and make the surgery and recovery period flow as smoothly as possible.
• Reporting any concerns immediately – One of the biggest things women can do to help themselves is to keep the lines of communication open with their doctors in the days following surgery. If questions or concerns arise, call. It is better to err on the side of caution than to worry about “bothering” a doctor.

Breast augmentation surgeries are performed all over the world with few complications. There are, however, some risks associated with this procedure. Taking the right steps to minimize risks can greatly improve the outcome and ease the recovery period.