Before you are all in the clear to undergo a procedure, you will need to be deemed a suitable candidate, to ensure that you have chosen the right surgery to suit your needs. When it comes to being a suitable breast augmentation surgery candidate, a variety of factors would need to be considered.
Let’s delve into some of the most important factors, so that you can get an idea of what your surgeon will be taking into consideration during your consultation.
Personal needs and desired results
To be an ideal breast augmentation surgery candidate, you may wish to enhance the volume or improve the shape of your breasts, with breast implants and surgical techniques that can make the changes you want.
First, have a think about the results you hope to achieve, and have a read about the details of breast augmentation surgery to see if you are choosing the right procedure.
When you come in for your consultation, you can talk about your ideal results in-depth, with a surgeon that can take you through all of the options associated with a breast augmentation. Based on your needs, you can choose your breast implant size, shape and material, as well as discuss the techniques that can be used during the procedure.
Your surgeon will discuss the potential outcome of the procedure to see if it lines up with your expectations. To set yourself up for success, we recommend learning a bit about how a breast augmentation is performed to have realistic expectations for the procedure.
If it does turn out that another procedure may be a more suitable choice for you, your surgeon can take all of your needs and your desired results into consideration and make recommendations. This can be done during a breast augmentation consultation, so if you want to make some changes to your breasts but aren’t confident about your procedure choice, we recommend booking a consultation anyway to discuss the changes you want in person.
Current health and medications
A suitable breast augmentation surgery candidate should be in good general health, without any serious conditions that could be impacted by surgery.
Your surgeon will always want to lower the chances of any complications occurring during and after the procedure, and having any serious health issues or being in poor general health can be a risk. You might need to undergo some general health tests, such as a blood test, before your procedure if your surgeon thinks that it is necessary.
Certain medications, such as blood thinning medications, may raise the chance of encountering complications. At your consultation, you will need to provide your surgeon with a list of any medications you are taking, to make sure that you don’t need to make any changes. If you are taking certain medication that can be a contraindication to surgery, you may be advised to pause or switch the medication, if medically possible.
Lifestyle habits and factors
Adding to poor general health and certain medications, smoking is another contraindication to surgery. To be an ideal breast augmentation surgery candidate, you will need to be a non-smoker, or willing to quit for enough time before your procedure.
Smokers are at a higher risk for certain complications, such as impaired lung functioning, delayed or insufficient wound healing, and infection. If you are set on undergoing a breast augmentation and want to quit for at least eight weeks before surgery, you can discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation.
Candidates for any surgical procedure should feel that they will be able to make any changes needed to accommodate their recovery. It should be the right time to take some time off from work, take a break from strenuous exercise, follow some important aftercare instructions such as performing proper wound care and wearing a postoperative bra, and have someone around to help you when you need it.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
To be a suitable candidate for a breast augmentation, you should not currently be pregnant or breastfeeding.
Pregnancy can raise your risks of anaesthesia complications and post-procedure side effects. As well as also putting you at a higher risk for complications, plastic surgery performed on the breasts can interfere with the nerves and ducts that affect lactation.
If you have recently had a child, your surgeon can recommend how long to wait before undergoing the procedure.
Find out if you are a suitable candidate at Sydney’s Form and Face
If you’re ready and it’s time to book your breast augmentation consultation, you are welcome to contact our team at Form and Face in Sydney.
With over 20 years of training, the essential qualifications needed and international experience, Dr Norris is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who aims to maintain a high standard of care for every patient. You can learn more about Dr Norris here.
Consultations can be a bit daunting, so it can be helpful to know that we take a supportive, patient-centred approach at our clinic. From your first visit to support during recovery, we want you to feel comfortable and happy with your experience.