Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
It’s not uncommon for people to desire better body proportions. As beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, personal preferences of the ideal body also differ from person to person. In 2020 alone, more than 190,000 Americans underwent breast augmentation surgery. From A-cup breasts to DD breasts, women find themselves more comfortable having their preferred breast implant sizes. The procedure makes them feel more confident and helps them enjoy better feminine curves and improved clothing fit.
Yet similar to any plastic surgery procedure, breast augmentation is life-changing surgery. The procedure brings big changes and big responsibilities. Naturally, getting implants may be one of the best decisions one could ever make. Still, it could also be one of the worst if one rushes into getting them without carefully examining all available options.
Before you go and get the biggest breast implants available, it’s best to know whether you’re a good fit to go under the knife. Read on.
Signs You are a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation
- You have good physical and mental health.
Breast augmentation isn’t a simple procedure. While it remains a low-risk one, there are still possible complications during and after surgery, such as infection and capsular contracture. Hence, the person going for breast augmentation must be physically and mentally prepared for the operation.
This means that you must be free from any infection, not suffering from serious medical conditions, such as cancer, and without any undiagnosed breast condition.
This is necessary regardless of the breast implant size that you’re aiming for. A person who wants to achieve B cup breasts must be as healthy as someone who desires for D cup or Double D breasts.
Surgeons must conduct a thorough examination of your physical and mental health as well as your medical history to determine whether you’re fit for a surgical procedure.
- You are unhappy with the size and shape of your breasts
Breast augmentation is the surgical procedure conducted to increase a person’s breast size and shape. To do so, surgeons insert breast implants under the person’s breast tissue to achieve larger, fuller breasts. Naturally, people who are not satisfied with their current breast size or shape are the perfect candidates for breast augmentation.
These include those who have naturally smaller breasts or simply think that their breasts are too small, women who have lost breast volume following weight loss or pregnancy, and people who have asymmetrical or uneven breasts.
- You have fully developed breasts
The person to undergo breast augmentation must have fully developed breasts. Otherwise, the implants might get displaced, and the breasts may become deformed if the breasts continue to develop after surgery.
Typically, a girl’s breasts become fully developed when she reaches the age of 17 or 18. In some cases, breast development may extend beyond the age of 20. Hence, there is no definite rule as to the age where boobs are to be said to have fully developed. As a rule, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides minimum age requirements for people to get breast implants. You must be 18 and above to get saline-filled breast implants and 22 or older if you opt for silicone gel-filled breast implants.
Here at Guerra Plastic Surgery Center, we only provide Mentor implants, one of the top breast implant brands available in the market. Most of our customers choose silicone MemoryShape breast implants and silicone MemoryGel breast implants, but we also offer saline breast implants for those interested.
An experienced surgeon, such as Dr. Aldo Guerra M.D., can examine your body and assess your situation to know whether your breasts are fully developed and ready to undergo the procedure.
- You don’t smoke or have at least stopped smoking
If you’re a smoker and want to undergo breast augmentation, you might want to give yourself some time to finally drop the sticks before going for the operation. Specifically, you should be smoke-free three weeks before and three weeks after the procedure.
Smoking has long been linked with various surgery complications. Since nicotine and carbon monoxide weaken the heart and lungs, smokers are likely to experience breathing problems during and after surgery. Smoking also restricts blood flow, resulting in possible wound healing problems. Consequently, the longer the wound stays, the higher the chance of getting infected. Such infection can affect your implants, which would require another replacement.
Signs You are Not Yet Ready for Breast Augmentation
- You are under the age of 18
- Your breasts aren’t fully developed
- You are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- You have an active infection
- You are diagnosed with a serious medical condition
- You smoke
- You are unsure on whether you truly want implants or not
Talk to a doctor today
Did you pass the criteria discussed above? It’s best to set an appointment with an experienced surgeon to know whether you’re fit for the operation. A qualified surgeon will also tell you the appropriate implant options that are best for your current condition.