The rate of cosmetic surgical procedures is growing every year, and breast augmentation is no exception. What used to be a rare occurrence reserved for the wealthy and famous is now common.
One cause for this growth is that these procedures are more affordable than ever before. Due to technological progress, they are also safer. Overall, cosmetic surgery seems more reasonable than it did in the past.
Of course, cosmetic surgery is not for everyone. To find out if you are a good candidate, check out the information below.
General Health Condition
Like all surgeries, cosmetic surgery carries risks. These are minimal for a healthy patient. For those with serious health problems, like diabetes or heart disease, however, the risks are far greater.
Other serious health conditions that pose a risk are:
- Alcoholism
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Bleeding disorders
- Depression
A cosmetic surgeon may even ask smoking patients to quit for a few weeks leading up to the surgery and for a few weeks afterwards. Nicotine restricts blood vessels and may even sabotage a surgical procedure of any kind.
Breasts that Develop Abnormally
Breast hypertrophy and hyperplasia are two conditions that affect breast development. Breast hypertrophy causes an overdevelopment of breast tissue that may cause back, neck, and shoulder pain. Conversely, breast hyperplasia causes underdevelopment, and breasts fail to develop.
These conditions are usually corrected with breast augmentation.
Breasts of Different Shapes or Sizes
Most women have two breasts that vary slightly from one another. An extreme variance, however, is undesirable for some women. Breast augmentation is a good solution for that.
The Effects of Weight Loss, Age, and Pregnancy
Perhaps one of the more common reasons for breast augmentation is the desire to combat the effects of weight loss, age, and pregnancy. All of these things are common occurrences in a woman’s life, and all of them affect the breasts.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate?
Other than a serious health problem, there are other factors that affect candidacy for breast augmentation.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women are obviously not eligible for breast augmentation. Mothers should wait at least six months after breastfeeding is complete and milk production stops. If not, the breasts may leak milk inside breast tissue during surgery and this can cause infection.
Women with an abnormal mammogram or active breast cancer are also ineligible for breast augmentation. Women with cancer need the full strength of their immune system to fight it, and recovering from surgery will detract from that.
Planning for Breast Augmentation
Before deciding on breast augmentation, it’s important to know what to expect. Take time to do some research on implant size, incision options, and implant placement. Additionally, think about how to manage work commitments and the extra help you may need during the recovery process.
If you’re thinking about breast augmentation, the first step is a consultation with a licensed and experienced plastic surgeon. Contact us today to set up an appointment.
