Tip #1: Find a Great Plastic Surgeon
If there’s one tip above all, it would have to be: Choose a reputable, skilled, and trustworthy plastic surgeon.
Getting the most natural and beautiful results after breast augmentation requires a surgeon to have a deep understanding and respect for a woman's form, as well as technical finesse and an artistic eye.
How do you evaluate for these qualities?
First, look at “Before and After” photo galleries.
Look closely at the photos. Do the enhanced breasts look shapely, full, and natural? Some surgeons have a knack and taste for producing consistently beautiful results, while others are more pedestrian or have a less refined aesthetic. You can discern these differences in ability if you look closely at each surgeon's results. It can be helpful to view photographs of previous patients whose age, body type, and breast implant goals closely resemble yours. One caveat: Some patients actually desire XL breast augmentation that was never meant to look natural, so don't be alarmed if you see a few over-the-top photos in a surgeon's gallery.
Second, take notes during your consultation
Did the surgeon take the time to learn about your goals, to educate you about your options, and to answer all of your questions? Did the surgeon perform a thorough assessment including a detailed physical exam? There are pros and cons to every choice you have to make before surgery. You want to find a surgeon who will help you weigh your options and provide expert advice along the way. You also want to find a surgeon who is thoughtful and detail oriented. Producing great results requires attention to detail. Be wary of surgeons who seem evasive or shy away from telling you the truth.
Ultimately, listen to your gut.
Does your surgeon seem caring and trustworthy? If something feels off about a plastic surgeon, look for a second (or third) opinion. Ultimately, when you have surgery, you need to have absolute confidence in your surgeon.
We've written a helpful guide on choosing a plastic surgeon: 14 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Plastic Surgeon
2. Choose the Right Size Implant For Your Breasts
The reality is that every woman has an ideal implant size based on her body. If you want a natural result, it's critical to choose an implant size that fits within your body and the elasticity of your tissues.
A common temptation—or pitfall—is to choose an implant that is too large for your body. If you choose an implant that is too large, the end result can look fake, often overly firm and bulging, like having two coconuts pasted onto your chest. There is also an increased risk of long-term complications such as "rippling" and "bottoming out."
Similarly, choosing an implant that is too small for body body is also a potential pitfall. If you choose an implant that is too small, your breasts will remain under-filled and can appear shrunken, misshapen, or even droopy.
Noteworthy: Despite recommendations to the contrary, some women still choose to have overly large (or small) implants put in. After all, it's your body and your right to choose. But this is one of the situations where choosing a good (and honest!) surgeon is even more critical. A good surgeon will make sure that you're well-informed about the potential tradeoffs and consequences of making such a choice. Overly large implants, for example, will look less "natural" (in some cases, obviously augmented) and be at higher risk of developing complications.
A good surgeon should help you choose the right size for your body and goals based on a thorough evaluation. Some plastic surgeons use visual aids, like 3D computer simulations, to give you a picture of what different sizes will look like on you.
Read More: Choosing the Right Size Breast Implant for Your Frame
3. Choose the Right Type of Implant
Breast implants come in a variety of types including saline implants, round silicone implants, and teardrop shaped implants.
Silicone implants tend to produce a softer, more natural look and feel compared to saline.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Breast Implant Types
4. Consider Under-the-Muscle Placement
Breast implants can be placed either over the muscle or under the muscle. While multiple factors play a role in the determining placement, implants placed under the muscle, usually in the dual plane, have the advantage of muscle tissue on top of the implant. This looks and feels more natural than implants placed over the muscle and also reduces the risks of rippling and encapsulation (capsular contracture).
5. Choose the Right Incision Location
In breast augmentation surgery, incisions are made and closed with sutures. It typically heals into a subtle scar in the months following the procedure.
The common incision locations are:
- In the lower crease beneath the breast (inframammary crease incision)
- Along the lowest border of the nipple (periareolar incision)
- Through the underarm (transaxillary incision)
- Through the navel (transumbilical or TUBA)
We don’t recommend TUBA incisions, because control over implant pocket formation is compromised, often resulting in below-average results.
The other three incision locations each have their own pros and cons. Depending on your anatomy and implant type, one incision technique may be better for you than the others. An experienced plastic surgeon can give you advice on which incision will be best for your particular surgery.
Read More: Breast Implant Incisions: What You Should Know
6. Ask If You Need A Breast Lift
Some women have droopy breasts, usually due to having kids, getting older, or just plain genetics. If you have significant drooping, a breast may also be needed in addition to implants. While implants alone can help boost breast size, opting for breast augmentation without a lift can lead to poor results such as a "rock-in-a-sock" deformity in which the drooping natural breast tissue hangs below an implant that sits above.
An experienced plastic surgeon should be able to tell you if you need a breast lift as well.
7. Consider Breast Enlargement with Fat Transfer
Breast augmentation via fat transfer is a safe way to add natural volume without the need for implants. Fat can be harvested from your own thighs, tummy, or hips via liposuction and injected into breasts using a needle.
While this procedure is far less common than breast implants, it does boast its own set of advantages. For one, the procedure is completely natural and avoids the need for implants. Second, the liposuction will also slim down the areas from where the fat is harvested, killing two birds with the same stone.
A Final Tip For Avoiding "Fake" Looking Implants
Our last tip: Avoid "fake" plastic surgeons.
The "Real" Plastic Surgeons:
Board certified plastic surgeons are the only surgeons who are qualified to perform breast augmentation surgery. To become a board certified plastic surgeon, a surgeon must successfully complete several years of training specifically in plastic surgery, pass a rigorous series of plastic surgery exams, successfully perform hundreds of plastic surgery procedures, and adhere to a high standard of professional ethics.
You can find out if your surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons here.
The "Fake" Plastic Surgeons:
We don't like to speak ill of others, but in the name of public safety we will give you a few clues about whom to avoid:
The "fake" plastic surgeons often call themselves "cosmetic surgeons." They are doctors who were originally trained in specialties such as general surgery, gynecology, emergency room medicine, family practice, and even general practice. They may have "learned" to perform breast augmentation during a weekend course. They may join special groups with fancy names such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery to give the impression of being qualified. They often offer procedures at a price that is well below average.
Just as you shouldn't want your plastic surgeon delivering your baby, you shouldn't want your general surgeon or ER doctor performing your breast augmentation.
Consider yourself warned.
Your Next Step to Getting Beautiful and Natural Results
Are you ready to fill out that bikini top?
A face-to-face consultation with Dr. Fan is the next step. He will perform a thorough evaluation and develop a customized treatment plan to meet your goals.
Get the ball rolling by taking this online self-evaluation quiz to see if you're a good candidate for breast augmentation.
