What I Wish I Knew Before My Breast Augmentation

August 12, 2022

The decision to have a procedure like a breast augmentation is a big one. Maybe you’re just starting to think about it, maybe you’ve been mulling it over for a long time now, or maybe you’ve already decided to take the plunge. No matter which stage you’re at, wouldn’t it be great to know what it’s like to be on the other side of the process?

Wouldn’t it be so helpful if your future self could give you all the answers you need now about what it’s like to have the surgery?

While we have the most advanced, cutting-edge technology available at our clinic, we do not yet have access to a time machine, so unfortunately a chat with future you is not in the cards for now. Instead, we talked to our amazing and brilliant patients and staff to find out what other prospective patients absolutely need to know before undergoing a breast augmentation. Here’s what they had to say.

My breast augmentation was basically painless.

Like… actually, though. This one seems hard to believe but we heard it time and time again. Most of our breast augmentation patients say that they use their prescribed narcotic pain medication for only a day or two, or not at all—they’ve stayed comfortable with their regular over the counter pain relievers like Tylenol.

Another contributor here is subfascial breast implant placement. We are huge fans of this surgical approach thanks to the really natural look and feel that it creates, and we also love that it provides a more comfortable recovery for our patients.

Some patients even find recovery so much easier than they expected that they’re tempted to do too much too soon, when they really just need to be resting in order to achieve the best result possible. It can be really hard to take it easy when you’re used to taking charge and getting things done, especially when you feel back to your old self soon after surgery. Just remember that your recovery is your time for guilt-free rest and relaxation to ensure that you don’t compromise your surgical outcome.

All in all, you might be surprised to discover that you’re more bothered by back pain from having to sleep exclusively on your back for a period of time than you are by post-operative pain.

I’m glad I went with the bigger breast implant.

During your free consultation, your surgeon will give you a range of breast implants to choose from based on the measurements of your body and your specific goals. You’ll have a chance to try them on to get an idea of what your result might look like. This part can be super fun! But it can also lead to indecision.

Many of our patients end up feeling torn between two (or even three) different sizes because they’re concerned they might be going too big. Ultimately the difference between implant sizes equates to only a teaspoon of volume, but it’s easy to get hyper focused on the numbers, especially when you’re going for a really natural-looking result.

In cases like these, our legendary perioperative nurse Lori says that the best thing to do is forget about the numbers and keep coming back to try on the sizers under tank tops or t-shirts to get a sense of the look and feel. “You should be confident with your implant size decision on the day of the procedure. Most patients end up choosing the larger implant and are so relieved they did.”

I wish I had my breast augmentation sooner.

This is one we hear pretty often. We meet breast augmentation patients from all walks of life at all ages, including in their 60s and older. It’s never too late to do that thing for yourself that you’ve always wanted. We love to see it!

One thing that many patients seem to have in common is that, knowing what they know post-op, they wish they had not been quite so scared of the surgery for so long. Other patients wish they had not been so hard on themselves in the past for wanting to have a cosmetic procedure to begin with, which prevented them from taking their first steps even though they were curious.

At the end of the day, everyone is on their own journey and their own timeline. It’s important to have all the information you need to make the right decision for you, which is why our consultations are always free and you’re always welcome to come back to speak more with our surgeons.

I’m happy I took my time to choose the right clinic.

We don’t mean to brag, but we’re really just super proud that so many of our patients tell us “I’m so glad I chose Dr. Lista/Dr. Ahmad/Dr. Austin.” This is not only thanks to a great looking result, but also because of the level of information and care they receive each step of the way from the entire team.

Nurse Lori explains that our perioperative routine is quite strict. “Some patients might call it anal and picky with all the steps and checklists,” she says, “but afterward they understand the method to our madness. They tell me their friend got her implants with Dr. Other Guy and he didn’t tell her to do the pre-op cleansing routine, or someone else didn’t even see her surgeon at all afterward. Meanwhile our surgeons are calling patients to check in on them in the evening after their surgery. Don’t you want your surgeon to be picky and meticulous and super involved?”

Seriously… take that bowel medication after surgery.

Surgery has a big impact on your body, and not just at the surgical site. Anesthesia can be really draining and cause a lot of fatigue in the beginning of your recovery, and it also contributes to constipation. Some patients won’t poop for a week after surgery. Frustrating!

Some patients think they can solve the problem with coffee or diet. Unfortunately, they’re always wrong (sorry). Save yourself the hassle and frustration by taking the recommended bowel medication as prescribed in your post-op medication routine.