There is a lot of anticipation that goes into the process of breast augmentation surgery, so the disappointment you may feel post-surgery if you don’t receive the results you want can be great.
But once you realize that the breast augmentation you received isn’t the one you actually desired, what do you do about it?
We lay out some steps you can take to correct the mistakes, however since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, we first provide ways you can prevent an undesirable breast augmentation, and how to actively assure that you will receive the look you want.
Preventing an undesirable breast augmentation
Preventing an undesirable breast augmentation goes beyond choosing the right surgeon.
While that may be the most important factor in determining your outcome, you must also keep your expectations realistic both before and after your surgery.
Also, after your augmentation has been performed, you have to understand the recovery process and give yourself time to mentally, emotionally and physically adjust to the body modification.
Start with the right surgeon
Perhaps the most important thing you can do when planning your breast augmentation is to choose the right surgeon.
This is not a case where one size fits all. There isn’t one right surgeon for everyone, so the person who did your friend’s breast augmentation may not be the best choice for you, even if they do good work.
- First and foremost, it’s important to feel comfortable with the doctor. They should put you at ease about the procedure, and be willing to answer any and all questions you may have about the process. You should feel like they are taking the necessary time to establish the best procedure and implants for your body and desires, and not that they are treating you like another patient on their to-do list. Therefore, shop around. Meet with more than one doctor to get a better sense of who’s out there and what your options are. This is the one of the best ways to ensure that you will get the results you want.
- While you’re consulting with doctors, make sure that they are certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Even though this is a voluntary credential, it’s the only way you can be assured that your doctor is skilled enough to perform your breast augmentation, since doctors may claim they can do the procedure without actually having any experience with it.
- Consultations are also a good time to see photos of the doctor’s work. Do the breasts in the “after” photos look like your desired results? Though you cannot expect to receive the same look, you can get an idea of how skilled your surgeon is based on the before and after photos. He or she can also help you get as close to that look while still abiding to your body's limitations and capabilities.
Keep your expectations reasonable
While it can be helpful to use photos of your doctor’s work to assist in your decision making, it’s also important to keep in mind that results will vary from person to person.
You cannot exactly replicate another woman’s breasts, because her body will inherently be different than yours, from the shape of her breasts before to the span of her chest and the length of her torso. Keeping your expectations in check will go a long way towards preventing any disappointment in your outcome.
Know what’s normal for recovery
It will take a while after surgery for your breasts to look the way you envision. There will be swelling, and it will take some time, possibly even months, for your breasts to “settle” into position.
Do not expect to be satisfied with the results immediately after surgery. The entire recovery process can be anywhere from a week to several months before your breasts will appear “normal,” so give your body time to heal before you decide you are unsatisfied with the results.
Dealing with an unsatisfactory breast augmentation
Despite your best efforts, there are times when an unsatisfactory breast augmentation can occur, and this could be for a variety of reasons, including miscommunication between you and your surgeon. When this happens, what do you do?
Contact your surgeon if you want a change
If, however, after you have given your body time to heal and for the breasts to settle you decide that the results are not satisfactory, it’s important to reach out to the doctor and their office immediately to resolve the problem.
Don’t take to posting on their social media pages or bashing them online. Reaching out in person will provide the best basis for correction, and if the doctor is reasonable, he or she will want to work with you to correct the problem.
Of course, be prepared that this will involve further surgery and another period of healing and recovery for your body, but your satisfaction and safety at the end of the procedure should be of utmost importance.
Updated December 2016
