The Evaluation

A breast augmentation consultation is your opportunity to learn about the procedure, its recovery period, implant sizing, surgical risks, and more, directly from a plastic surgeon. Evaluating the current size and shape of your breasts is also a large part of the consultation. Your surgeon will likely take several measurements, as well as \”before\” pictures. This process is not meant to criticize you or make you feel self-conscious, but merely to help you formulate realistic expectations for your augmentation procedure based on your anatomy.

While carefully recording measurements, your breast surgeon will take into account several attributes, including the amount of existing breast tissue, any asymmetry, the degree of ptosis (sagging), and the size of the breast base. This information will play a crucial role in several decisions you\’ll make about your procedure with the guidance of your surgeon.

Assessing Breast Tissue and Symmetry

The amount of breast tissue you have will help your breast augmentation surgeon determine what your options will be for implant type, size, and placement. If you have full breasts, you\’ll have greater flexibility in choosing the type of implant you\’d like as well as whether it\’s placed above or below the muscle. If you have little existing breast tissue, your implant choice and placement may be more limited. If you have any breast asymmetry, which is common among women, your surgeon will determine whether or not it can be minimized with implants. While breast augmentation can improve symmetry in some cases, it\’s important to keep in mind that there will still be subtle differences between each breast.

Measuring Ptosis

During your consultation, your breast augmentation surgeon will also measure how much your breasts sag. This is generally determined by how far your nipples fall below your inframammary folds, or the horizontal line where the bottom of your breasts meet your chest. If you have significant ptosis and excess loose skin, your plastic surgeon may suggest that you supplement your enlargement with a breast lift procedure, or mastopexy. A breast lift removes lax skin, and lifts and reshapes the breasts to improve contouring.

Measuring Breast Base

Your breast augmentation surgeon will also measure the width of your breast base, which is the area that your breast takes up on your chest wall. This measurement is particularly important, as it can give the surgeon an idea of what implant size will work best for you. If you have a wide breast base, the breast pocket can likely accommodate a wide range of implant sizes. A smaller breast base may restrict the use of larger implants.

Making Decisions

There are many decisions you will have to make prior to undergoing breast augmentation surgery. Make the most of your consultation time by asking as many questions as you need so you fully understand your options, as well as the risks and benefits associated with the procedure. With that information in hand you can make the right choices about size, shape, and type of implant, and you’ll have a better chance of being happy with your implants for years to come.

Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including breast augmentation, breast implants, and more.

Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including http://www.bayshoreplasticsurgery.com/index.html, breast implants, and more.

Author Bio: Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including breast augmentation, breast implants, and more.

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