Preparation for breast augmentation

The surgeon will provide very specific instructions prior to surgery so you will have an optimal and safe experience. These include what medications to avoid to prevent excessive bleeding and bruising, required medical exams, what to eat and drink prior to surgery, and the prescription of an anti-nausea pill to take on the morning of the surgery.

What will the breast surgery be like?

Your breast augmentation surgery may be performed in a hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite. Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Frequently, local anesthesia and intravenous sedation are used for patients undergoing breast augmentation, although general anesthesia may be desirable in some instances. When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. Your breasts will be wrapped in gauze dressings or a surgical bra. You may be permitted to go home after a few hours, unless you and your plastic surgeon have determined that you will stay in the hospital or surgical facility overnight.

When can I resume normal activities?

While it will take several days to return to more normal activities after your breast augmentation, it is important to your recovery that you get up and move around. After breast augmentation, it is often possible to return to work within just a few days or a week, depending on the type of activities that are required at your job. Physical activity should be avoided for at least the first couple of weeks following surgery. After that, care must be taken to be extremely gentle with your breasts for at least the next month.

The differences between saline and silicone implants

The two types of breast implants differ in material and consistency. Saline-filled breast implants consist of a silicone shell that's filled with saline during implant surgery, after the shell has been inserted and is in place. Silicone gel implants also consist of a silicone outer shell, but they're pre-filled with a silicone gel rather than saline. Silicone gel has a viscosity a thick, sticky fluid consistency that closely mimics human fat, which is a large component of female breast tissue. Saline, on the other hand, isn't compressible and gives a more firm impression. Some women claim that silicone gel-filled breast implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue. Saline-filled implants have been criticized for feeling hard or unnatural, although improved surgical techniques such as placing the implant behind the chest muscle and slightly overfilling it have lessened these complaints.