Breast Augmentation: Part 1—How to Prepare for Your Breast Augmentation

Posted November 21, 2019 in Breast Augmentation

4 Min Read

Even with the countless benefits of breast augmentation, women still have to deal with the negatives that come from the surgery day and the recovery that comes afterward.

Women should prepare themselves for a few days of discomfort. Your breast augmentation recovery will not happen overnight. Instead, it will occur over weeks and months.

Women considering her options before her breast augmentation.

While most women feel “recovered” after one week, it will take significantly longer for the swelling to subside and for the implants to settle.

Being prepared is crucial to successful breast augmentation. And women can accomplish that by following this breast augmentation preparation list.

1. Stay Informed About Your Procedure

It is important to ask all the questions that you may have during your consultation. That way, you will know what to expect for the day of your procedure and the recovery that follows.

While the recovery period for breast augmentation is usually well-handled, you will still experience bruising, swelling, and soreness. Being prepared for these effects will help you through the process.

2. Get in Good Physical Shape

It is recommended that patients be near their ideal weight before undergoing plastic surgery. This is due to a few reasons.

First, the healthier you are, the faster you will recover and the sooner you will be able to return to your daily routine.

Secondly, any adjustment in your weight can have an impact on your natural breast tissue and fat. During weight fluctuations, many women see the decrease or increase in their breasts before any other body region.

This natural adjustment may influence the way your implants settle and look on your chest.

3. Prepare Emotionally

Preparing for plastic surgery is not just about physical readiness. The emotional aspect is just as important.

Regardless of whether you are opting for a subtle enhancement or a significant enlargement, your results will be readily visible.

You must be sure that you are emotionally ready to see such a change in your body.

Your breasts will feel different, your clothes will fit differently, and you will see your physique in a new light.

Even though the desire for a larger bust is what convinces women to get breast augmentation, it can still be an emotional shock to see the physical change.

4. Adjust Your Medications and Supplements

Medications like Advil®, ibuprofen, NSAIDs, vitamin E, fish oil, omega 3, tumeric, aspirin and other dietary supplements are blood thinners.

These increase your risk of bleeding during and immediately following your breast augmentation.

You should talk to Dr. Chin about any medications you are taking to see if you should stop using them in the weeks leading up to your procedure.

5. Stop Smoking

Smoking and other tobacco use must be stopped before and after your breast augmentation.

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor. This means that it inhibits blood flow. Carbon monoxide decreases oxygenation in the blood required for optimal healing.

Blood flow is essential to wound healing and recovery. Impaired blood flow causes incisions to take longer to heal, and this increases your risk of infection and other complications.

Smoking before your augmentation also puts you at higher risk for heart attack or stroke during your operation.

6. Make Arrangements for After the Surgery

You will be bruised, sore, and swollen following your breast augmentation.

Preparing for your recovery before your surgery is the first step for a successful healing process.

Before your day of surgery, be sure to:

Ask someone to drive you to and from the procedure. Breast augmentation is performed with general anesthesia. Therefore, you cannot drive yourself home from your breast augmentation.
Fill your prescriptions. If you are planning on taking prescription medications—some women choose to rely on over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol—you should fill your prescription before your surgery.
Set up a recovery zone. Much of your initial recovery will be spent resting. You should have an established recovery space that is comfortable, stress-free, and has easy access to anything that you may need.
Have pre-made food or someone present to prepare food for you. Your upper body will be sore, and you will not want to put any force on it. This soreness makes activities like cooking a challenge. It is smart to have easy-to-prepare food or someone to help prepare food for you during your initial recovery while maintaining hydration.
Take time off of work. Most women find that they need one to two weeks to recover from breast augmentation. Make sure you have that amount of time to take off for your recovery

Be sure to stay tuned for our next blog on breast augmentation recovery.

Find Out More

For more information about breast augmentation or to find breast augmentation in Fresno, California, contact Dr. Chin by calling (559) 435-9646 or by filling out our online contact form.