By Katie Perry

As with any surgical procedure, the choice to undergo a breast augmentation is a serious decision. Additionally, the plastic surgeon you choose to perform the procedure can have a significant effect on the outcome. Finding the right doctor – one with ample experience and with whom you feel comfortable – is the most important step toward ensuring a breast enlargement procedure that produces the results you desire. For this reason, the time you spend with a plastic surgeon during an initial consultation is critical. The consultation gives you the opportunity to ask any number of questions regarding breast augmentation and the surgeon’s approach toward the procedure.

Confirm Board Certification

The first question you should ask any breast augmentation surgeon is whether he or she is Board Certified through the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Board certification is awarded to plastic surgeons who have met a strict set of educational and surgical training requirements. A Board Certified surgeon is more likely to have the extensive experience necessary to successfully complete breast augmentation procedures. You should also find out how long the surgeon you are considering has been certified.

Years of Experience

Another critical question to ask a plastic surgeon during an initial consultation is how long he or she has been performing breast augmentations. More specifically, find out how many breast implant procedures he or she performs each year. This is an important distinction to make, as a surgeon who averages 50 breast augmentations per year over 30 years may not be as experienced as a surgeon averaging hundreds of breast surgeries over 10 years.

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Specializations

While most plastic surgeons have performed a variety of cosmetic procedures throughout their careers, many prefer to specialize in one or more types of surgeries or specific techniques. You may increase your chances of a successful breast augmentation by selecting a surgeon who not only has many years of experience as a plastic surgeon, but also focuses mainly on breast implant procedures.

Additional Questions to Ask

Before choosing a plastic surgeon, don’t be afraid to ask the following additional questions:

–Where do you perform breast augmentation procedures: at your own surgical suite, a hospital, or an ambulatory (outpatient) surgical center? Is the facility accredited?

–Do you use a Board Certified anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist?

–What is the most common complication that arises among your breast augmentation patients?

–What type of incision do you prefer to use (inframammary crease, periareolar, trans-axillary, or trans-umbilical) and what incision would you recommend for me?

–Where do you prefer to place implants (subglandular, submuscular, or dual plane) and what placement would you recommend for me?

–Can you provide me with a list of your former patients who are willing to discuss their experience?

–What can I expect during the entire recovery process, from immediately following the procedure until I’m completely healed?

Finalize Your Decision

You should feel completely comfortable with the surgeon you’ve interviewed and trust his or her level of experience before you sign a consent form. Do ample research, talk to other women who have undergone breast augmentation, and, above all, avoid being pressured into choosing a surgeon that’s not right for you.

About the Author: 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.

Source:

isnare.com

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