Whether you undergo breast augmentation, mastopexy, breast reduction, implant exchange, or implant removal, choosing to have breast surgery is a significant decision. Finding the right plastic surgeon takes patience, commitment, and resourcefulness. Below we will explore several important factors to consider when meeting with prospective providers.
Credentials and training
Board certification in plastic surgery along with fellowship training ensures that your chosen surgeon has undergone extensive written and oral examinations as well as in-depth clinical education. Vetting a surgeon in this manner can give you more peace of mind that the artistry of your results as well as your safety will be prioritized. You might also look for awards and honors achieved that differentiate and distinguish the surgeon. Additionally, you might investigate whether your surgeon has a research background and has contributed to peer-reviewed literature and presentations.
Experience
As a next step, you will want to explore your surgeon’s experience. What breast procedures do they perform most often? How many breast augmentations, breast lifts, or breast reductions have they completed in total? Some common questions to ask are:
- How many years have you devoted to breast surgery?
- How many breast augmentations/breast lifts/breast reductions/implant exchanges/implant removals do you perform annually?
- What hospital privileges do you have?
Results
This aspect of choosing a plastic surgeon depends on your personal aesthetic sensibilities. Even if a surgeon has the training background, credentials, and expertise that you would like to see, that doesn’t guarantee that you will like their outcomes. To help determine if your expectations and your surgeon’s results are aligned, you might ask the following questions:
- Can I see before and after photos for previous breast augmentation/breast lift/breast reduction/implant exchange/implant removal clients?
- Can you show me photos of patients with similar concerns to mine?
- For breast augmentation, what kind of implants will you use?
- What is your complication/revision rate?
Rapport
Your ability to communicate well with your surgeon and maintain an atmosphere of trust and transparency is critical to successful results. It’s important your surgeon listens carefully to your goals and creates a treatment plan according to your wishes rather than seeking to impose their opinion or upsell you on procedures you don’t want or need. You might ask yourself:
- Do I feel comfortable expressing my thoughts and opinions to this doctor?
- Do I feel like this doctor is honest and straightforward with me?
- Is my surgeon guided by my aesthetic wishes and my vision for my results?
Costs
Last but not least, pricing is an important factor for many patients. A higher surgical cost does not always guarantee better results. This is why it’s so essential to consider all the factors that go into choosing a surgeon, not just the expense. Before you choose to spend outside your budget on a plastic surgeon, make sure they have the other qualities that you seek – experience, credentials, compassion, and natural-looking results. Questions to ask might include:
- What is included with the cost of surgery?
- Are there any other unexpected fees that might arise?
- Do you offer payment plans?
- Do you work with financing?
Not every breast surgery is the same
Depending on your exact breast procedure, it’s important to ask treatment-specific questions. What experience does your provider have with your unique concerns? What special techniques have they mastered that they will utilize during your surgery? Have they performed combination surgeries before, for instance, pairing breast augmentation with mastopexy? Getting into specifics with your surgeon will give you the peace of mind and confidence to move forward, knowing all your questions have been answered. You might target your questions as they relate to the following options:
Breast augmentation – Breast augmentation is performed to enhance the breast shape and size. It involves a unique set of choices when it comes to selecting the right implant type, incision pattern, and implant placement. Your surgeon should be able to explain the pros and cons of each choice and help you make informed, educated decisions that support your well-being and future.
Breast lift – A breast lift procedure focuses on removing excess sagging skin that makes the breasts droop and repositioning downward-facing nipples for a more youthful, perky breast profile. You should discuss which incision pattern your surgeon will choose, as this determines the appearance of your postoperative scars. You might also ask your doctor about combining breast lift surgery with other options, such as breast augmentation or breast reduction.
Breast reduction – With breast reduction, it’s important that your surgeon is transparent about how much breast tissue can be safely removed and what the tradeoffs are for going down in cup size. Postoperative scarring, future breastfeeding, and loss of nipple sensation are all important topics to delve into during your private consultation. Here, it may be comforting to review your surgeon’s before and after photos to see what is possible for your body type.
Breast implant exchange – Breast revision, like rhinoplasty revision, demands a surgeon with specialized expertise, as these surgeries are often more complex and delicate than their primary counterparts. Ask about possible complications and make sure your expectations are realistic. A surgeon of integrity is generous with their time and won’t balk at an exhaustive question and answer session.
Breast implant removal – Breast implant removal is often recommended after Breast Implant Illness (BII) or complications such as capsular contracture. In this case, you will want to choose a compassionate provider who understands your trepidation and concerns. Your surgeon should have verified expertise in breast revision techniques, including total, partial, and en bloc capsulectomies.
The bottom line
The bottom line is that finding the right plastic surgeon is a process for which you should allow ample time and energy. You want to find a provider who ticks all your boxes and with whom you feel confident, secure, and excited for your results. And you need not go through the process alone. Feel free to include your loved ones, who can come to consultations with you and ask questions that you might not have considered. By investing in the selection process with honesty, patience, and an open mind, you will soon be well on your way to choosing your surgeon and experiencing the lasting, transformative changes that will make your confidence soar.
