Consultations are key for patients considering breast augmentation. Once you’re set on pursuing the surgery and have an idea of the results you’d like to achieve, it’s time to talk to a plastic surgeon about the details. During this appointment, you can ask specific questions and receive personalized information in a private, supportive setting.
While you can ask anything at your consultation, these 5 questions can start a helpful and informative conversation.
1. Are you a board-certified plastic surgeon?
It’s important to choose a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a credential that requires rigorous training and testing to earn. Working with a board-certified surgeon minimizes your risk of complications and ensures you’re receiving the highest possible quality of care.
A qualified surgeon will be happy to discuss their credentials with you before moving forward. You can learn more about what you should look for in a potential surgeon on our Choosing a Plastic Surgeon page.
2. Can I See Before-and-After Photos?
When considering breast augmentation, before-and-after pictures are invaluable tools that can give you a sense of a surgeon’s expertise and aesthetic style. They offer a visual narrative of patient transformations, helping you gauge whether a particular surgeon can meet your personal goals. But not all photos are created equal. Here are some guidelines on hat to look for:
- Examine multiple sets of photos for different patients. You want to ensure that the surgeon consistently delivers quality results across various body types and aesthetic preferences.
- The pictures should be high-resolution and well-lit, capturing the contours and shape of the breasts clearly. Blurry or poorly lit images might mask important details.
- Before and after pictures should be standardized to show the true results. Patients should be in similar poses in both pictures to enable an accurate comparison.
- Note whether the “after” pictures reflect a natural-looking enhancement. The best outcomes complement the patient’s overall body shape, maintaining proportion and symmetry.
- If possible, examine how well incisions have healed in the “after” photos. While some scarring is inevitable, skilled surgeons will place incisions strategically to minimize visible scarring.
- Pay attention to patients who have similar body types and aesthetic goals to yours. This can offer a more realistic expectation of your potential outcome.
By thoughtfully examining before-and-after pictures, you’ll be better equipped to assess a surgeon’s capabilities and visualize your potential results, making for a more informed decision about your breast augmentation.
3. Which breast implants are right for me?
My St. Petersburg patients often find that choosing implants can be both exciting and a little stressful. A consultation gives you the opportunity to discuss your goals and gives your surgeon the chance to provide accurate information about the implant material, size, and shape that can best help you achieve your ideal results. At my consultations, I provide implant sizers that allow patients to “try on” potential sizes. I also like to discuss any lifestyle considerations that may influence implant selection.
4. Which incision is best for breast augmentation, and where will mine be?
The location of your incisions may depend on your implant choice, personal preferences, and anatomical considerations. During your consultation, you can ask your surgeon to point out where your potential incisions will be so you don’t have any uncertainty about this as you move forward.
5. How much time should I take off work after breast augmentation?
It’s important to know what you can expect immediately following your procedure. Most women can return to jobs that aren’t physically demanding within a few days to a week. If you have a physically demanding job, you may need a longer recovery period. Your surgeon will provide you with detailed information about your anticipated recovery time, outline steps you should take to ease your recovery, and discuss how soon you may return to exercise and other activities.
6. How much does breast augmentation cost?
The average breast augmentation cost is around $6,500, according to RealSelf. Once you know more about your implants, incisions, and other factors unique to your procedure, your surgeon will be able to give you more detailed information about pricing.
Check out our Breast Augmentation FAQ page to find more answers to your questions.
Taking the First Step
Your consultation is the exciting first step in your journey, and it should leave you feeling informed and empowered. My priority as a surgeon is to combine my credentials and experience with a compassionate approach to help the women I treat feel understood and secure from start to finish.
To see examples of the results I have achieved, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.
If you are considering breast augmentation and looking for plastic surgeons in St. Petersburg, FL, please contact us online or call (727) 289-7119 to request a consultation.
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