Feeling like you’re ready to get a boob job but unsure on whether or not it’s the right surgery for you to go through? Good news, you’ve come to the right place! Before going under the knife it’s so important to ask all the right questions and we’ve come up with a list of things that you should know before getting a boob job.
First things first though, it’s really important to figure out why you really want breast implants. If it’s a snap decision or just a sudden urge to transform your breasts due to a relationship or because of a career move then you might want to stop and have a real think about it first. The same rules apply for if you’re looking to change your appearance for an upcoming holiday or event (because if any of these are the reason to undergo surgery then a surgeon may not operate on you).
On the flip side though, if your desire for new boobs (whether they are larger or smaller) stems from you wanting to feel more confident and comfortable within your own body then you’re in the clear to get booked in. Assuming that you fall into thus category, then your next major step is ensuring that you have done all your research and prepared your questions before booking a consultation. So, without further ado, here’s our list of things you should know before having a boob job;
Beware of procedures that market themselves as “less invasive”
Although it may be tempting to go for a procedure that is non-surgical or less invasive, the results are often much harder to predict and you may end up getting nowhere near your desired results.
Find out what kind of incision the surgeon will use
There are a number of different kinds of incision that can be used when it comes to boob job surgery and each has its own positives and negatives. These mainly affect the kind of scar you have after the surgery and where it will be located, but they can also affect certain things such as ability to breastfeed in future or your confidence to wear a bikini on the beach.
Don’t increase your size too much
One of the most important things to do is to make sure that your implants are not too big for your anatomy or frame. While there are some outliers, the vast majority of patients want their new breasts to look completely natural and your surgeon should discuss this with you to help find the perfect size for you.
Your first boob job is highly unlikely to be your last
Breast implants just don’t last forever and the majority of them need to be changed or replaced approximately 10 to 15 years after the initial surgery. Certain factors such as weight fluctuation, breastfeeding and even gravity can affect the way that your new breasts look.
A boob job can impact your ability to breastfeed
We touched on this earlier, but it is possible that undergoing a boob job can negatively impact on your ability to breastfeed. By changing the natural anatomy of the breast, you are directly affecting the amount of breast tissue that is able to produce milk and this is why it’s important to discuss the type of incision with your surgeon, as well as if you are planning on having children in future.
You may lose feeling in your nipples
During a boob job, the nerves within your nipples are affected during surgery, it’s entirely possible that they may become numb. This in the vast majority of cases is completely temporary and the feeling will return, but it is possible (although incredibly rare) to lose sensitivity in them completely.
What you see the next day isn’t going to be your final results
Immediately after a boob job surgery, your chest is going to have a lot of swelling and bruising so it isn’t going to provide you with an accurate idea of how your new breasts will look. Your new implants will need some time to settle into their natural positions, so your true results should show around four to six weeks later.
Don’t do any strenuous exercise after the surgery
Following on from the surgery, your body will be healing so you’re going to want to avoid exercise in any form for up around four to six weeks. After this period, you should be safe to begin your regular exercise regime again although you are welcome to discuss this with your surgeon if you have any questions.
You may need a breast lift surgery as well
Just by increasing your cup size, doesn’t mean that you will automatically make your chest perkier. If you’re combatting gravity in your fight to get the breasts that you want then it’s possible to combine a boob job and a breast lift into one procedure.
A boob job won’t affect a breast cancer screening
There is a theory that having breast implants can affect the results of, and make it harder to accurately undergo, a breast cancer screening. This is a complete myth and radiologists know how to manoeuvre the implants to get an accurate reading during a mammogram.
You’re going to need some help for a few days
After your surgery, especially if you live alone, you’re going to need a friend or family member to give you a helping hand with tasks that are fairly routine. You will likely be sore and taking pain medication which can make everything a little fuzzy, so having someone around to help out is strongly advised.
So there you have our list of top tips before you decide you want to go under the knife for a boob job. Hopefully that has answered a lot of your questions but if you have any more, or would like to book yourself in for a consultation, take a look at our cosmetic surgery for women pages to find out more information on the steps you need to take next.