Breast augmentation surgery remains one of the most requested cosmetic procedures performed worldwide. In fact, nearly 1.5 million breast augmentation surgeries were performed globally in 2015—a 10 percent increase from the year before.
If you’re looking to have this life-changing cosmetic procedure in the near or distant future, first off, congratulations! You’ll soon join the list of millions of patients who’ve already undergone this life-changing surgery and are happy with their results.
Of course, prior to even stepping foot into the surgeon’s office, you’ll likely feel both very excited yet anxious at the same time. Don’t worry, though. Those feelings are perfectly normal. A fear of the unknown can always make one a bit nervous. Before meeting with your cosmetic surgeon, you’ll likely be filled with lots of questions.
In an effort to answer many of those questions and help you be fully informed about the operation, we’ve created this helpful guide. It will provide you with just about everything you’ve ever wanted to know about breast augmentation surgery.
What is breast augmentation surgery?
Breast augmentation surgery, sometimes referred to as augmentation mammoplasty, involves using breast implants to increase the size of a patient’s breasts or restore breast volume that has been lost after weight loss or pregnancy.
If you’re considering breast augmentation surgery, it may be an ideal procedure if you are looking to:
Increase the size of your breasts
Improve the balance of your figure
Boost your self-confidence
Four common myths
The internet can be a scary place. While it’s an excellent tool for truthful, accurate information, bad content is alive and well in the search engines. All you have to do is Google it and just click on the many results. In order to dispel fact from fiction, we’re addressing four of the biggest myths regarding breast augmentation surgery:
Myth: Breast implants last forever.
While breast implants are quite safe, they do not last forever. How long they last depends on the patient. After all, everyone is different. As a general rule, patients should expect to replace their implants at least once in their lifetime. After breast augmentation surgery, a lot of patients can go up to 20 years, sometimes even longer, without needing a revision.
Myth: Breast augmentation surgery leaves no scars.
All types of plastic surgery will leave some degree of scarring. Fortunately, most incisions heal to a fine line, and most surgeons, including an experienced surgeon like Dr. Bernard Beldholm with Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, do an excellent job to strategically make cuts on the body that minimise the appearance of scarring.
Myth: Breast implants will make you look “fake.”
Patients who choose an unnatural implant size that isn’t proportionate to their body increase their chance for looking fake. However, any good cosmetic surgeon aims to avoid this–and generally discourages this look. There are also many implant options, including teardrop shaped implants, that strive to give patients a more natural look. In fact, if you talk to many surgeons, their goal is always to give patients a natural (yet improved) look–this includes Dr. Beldholm.
Women who have breast augmentation surgery are self-absorbed.
This is definitely a myth. Just because someone has cosmetic surgery doesn’t meant they’re obsessed with their looks. If that belief were true, critics could say the same about women who wear makeup. For most people, getting breast implants aren’t about vanity but self-confidence instead. Like the popular saying goes, ‘when you look good, you feel good. In other instances, people seek breast augmentation surgery to correct defects stemming from birth or an injury that cannot be fixed in any other way.
Correcting sagging: what implants won’t do
Many patients assume that breast implants will correct drooping breasts. Unfortunately, that’s also a huge myth. While breast implants can correct minor sagging, most patients will also need a breast lift. Breast augmentation surgery primarily corrects volume loss. However, this surgery along with a breast lift can be performed in one surgery. During your consultation, your surgeon will listen carefully to your expectations to help you achieve your desired look.
There are a number of factors that will determine if a patient needs just a breast lift, breast augmentation or both. During your consultation with a skilled cosmetic surgeon, he or she will let you know what procedure(s) will help you achieve your desired look.
Breast Lift + Implants: Who benefits
As a general guide, if woman’s breasts sag and are also too small, both a breast lift and augmentation are usually needed. Often a lift without adding implants leaves the upper part of the breast too flat after the swelling has subsided. Frequently an uplift is accompanied with a small implant to solve this problem.
Implants alone: Who benefits
Breast implants alone can correct a woman’s sagging breasts if the drooping is mild, and the nipple still sits near the center of the breast and doesn’t point downward. As long as the patient is okay with increasing their breast size by at least one cup size, a lift is usually not needed.
Breast lift alone: Who benefits
If the patient is already a C or D with good tissue volume still intact, a patient may benefit from a lift alone. This procedure by itself works well for women who experience moderate to severe drooping, and the nipple is at the bottom of the breasts, pointing down.
The history of breast augmentation surgery
In order to understand how far this life-changing procedure has come, you need to understand its origins. Breast augmentation surgery has actually been around a lot longer than most people realise.
In fact, the very first implant surgery was performed in 1895 at the University of Heidelberg in Germany! The surgeon, Vincent Czerny, took fat from a female patient’s hip and implanted it into her breast, which needed reconstruction after the removal of a massive benign tumor.
After World War II in Japan, prostitutes catering to the tastes of the U.S. military, begin injecting industrial silicone directly into their breasts–which is definitely risky to say the least. They previously tried goats’ milk and paraffin. Looking back, it’s pretty shocking the length some women would go in order to achieve the “perfect chest.”
By the 1950s, doctors started inserting sponge implants into women’s breasts. One was the Ivalon sponge, made of polyvinyl; another was polyethylene tape wound into a ball and encased in fabric or more polyethylene.
In 1962, Timmie Jean Lindsey, who hails from the state of Texas in the United States, became the very first woman to receive silicone breast implants. She went from a B to a C cup, in an operation that made history.
“I thought they came out just perfect. They felt soft and just like real breasts,” she told the BBC in 2012. “I don’t think I got the full results of them until I went out in public and men on the street would whistle at me.”
Fast forward to today and breast implants have fortunately come a long way—and that’s definitely a good thing. Today, the material implants are made from has greatly improved, the technique has improved and now more than ever woman have lots of options. Interested in learning what those options are? Keep reading.
Candidates for breast augmentation surgery
Unfortunately, not everyone interested in increasing their breast size will qualify for surgery. It’s important to understand that breast augmentation is a very serious procedure with long-lasting results. Because of this, you should make sure you’re doing this for you–rather than doing it to please someone else. You may be a candidate for breast augmentation surgery if:
You are physically healthy
You’re not a great candidate for breast augmentation surgery if you have a strong family history of breast cancer, are obese or smoke. Along with being healthy, prior to having the procedure, your surgeon may require you to have a mammogram to make sure there is no tissue that needs to be biopsied. If a suspicious mass needs further evaluation, it’s best to find out before your breast augmentation surgery rather than afterwards.
You have realistic expectations
If you’re thinking breast implants will help you look more like your favorite celebrity, become instantly popular or more desirable by the opposite sex, breast augmentation surgery may not be right for you. Happiness starts with you, not the moment implants are inserted.
Your breasts have fully developed
In the United States, you must be at least 18 years old for saline implants or 22 for silicone implants. In Queensland, Australia, the law requires patients to be at least 18 years old for breast implants. In other Australian states, there is no age limit. However, because breast development usually ends around 17-21 years old, you’re not likely to find cosmetic surgeons in Australia performing this procedure on anyone under the age of 17.
You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small, asymmetrical or appear “empty”
If your current breast size prevents you from wearing the type of tops you’d love to wear, makes you insecure to be in a swimsuit or be intimate with your significant other, you may benefit from breast augmentation surgery. Studies have shown that this procedure can greatly boost a patient’s confidence and self-esteem.
You are dissatisfied with your breasts losing shape and volume
Unfortunately, pregnancy, massive weight loss and ageing can all impact the look and feel of your breast. No miracle cream, exercise or fancy gimmick will repair them to their natural state–only cosmetic surgery will.
One or both breasts failed to develop normally or have an elongated shape
This would fall under reconstructive surgery which restores a patient’s breast to near normal shape, appearance and size following a mastectomy, lumpectomy or other trauma.
What happens during the procedure
When you are finally on the operating table under anesthesia, your surgeon will make a single cut (incision) in one of three places in order to insert the breast implants:
Under your arm
In the crease under your breast
Around your nipple
After making the appropriate cuts, your surgeon will separate your breast tissue from the muscles and connective tissue of your chest. By doing this, a pocket forms either behind or in front of the outermost muscle of the chest wall. This lets the surgeon easily insert the implant into the proper place while carefully centering it behind the nipple.
Saline implants are inserted empty and then filled with sterile salt water once they’re in place. Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel. When the implant is in place, the incision will be closed with sutures and bandaged with skin adhesive and surgical tape.
Breast implant shapes: What you should know
When opting for breast augmentation surgery, you’ll have several decisions to make. Along with choosing the size of your implant, you’ll have to decide the shape of your implant, too. The implant shape you pick ultimate depends on your unique aesthetic goals, preferred incision location and implant placement. Your individual anatomy — including body type, sternum width, chest-wall contour, and existing breast tissue — also plays a role in this decision. Below, we’ve included some additional info you should know about implant shapes:
Implants come in two common shapes: round and teardrop.
They are available in both saline and silicone fillers. However, very few surgeons use saline to fill the implant these days. Silicone tends to be the preferred choice by many surgeons—including Dr. Beldholm. Most surgeons will tell you that silicone feels and looks more natural and tends to ripple less.
Round implants make the breasts project more
Round implants are also good for those who want more fullness in the upper part of the breast. They are usually placed under the muscle. Since round implants don’t move much, they almost always keep their round shape.
Teardrop-shaped implants provide a more natural look
Teardrop implants tend not to be as full as a round implant. However, because of their shape, teardrop implants may provide better projection and a more natural look for some patients. They can potentially rotate, which may cause an unnatural distortion.
Round implants are the preferred shape by many women
Many women prefer a smooth, round implant because of the added fullness, lift, and cleavage it gives them. They tend to resemble a compressed ball.
Round implants are less likely to wrinkle
If it rotates or shifts out of position, it is less noticeable and causes fewer difficulties. In terms of safety, round implants have caused fewer complications than teardrop implants.
Teardrop implants can be ideal for women with mild sagging
Because the breast implant shape and material alone can elevate the breasts, it can eliminate the need for breast lift surgery. Smooth implants do not attach to the surrounding body tissue and are usually freely moveable within a tissue membrane or sac that forms around the implant and is called a capsule.
Neither the shape nor size of your implant will correct major sagging
We’ve already touched on this earlier. Again, patients with significant sagging will require a combined breast lift and breast augmentation for a youthful, lifted
appearance.
Both breast implant shapes come in a variety of sizes and profiles
The term, profile, refers to how far the breast projects forward from the chest wall. A high-profile breast implant has the smallest base width and produces the most pronounced silhouette. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a moderate-profile implant features a wider base width and a more natural-looking forward projection from the chest.
Round and teardrop implants can either be textured or smooth
Texture allows the implant to attach itself to the muscle and tissue wall. Textured implants are also firmer to the touch than smooth implants.
10. Teardrop implants tend to cost more
If cost is an issue for you, you may want to take this into consideration when choosing the shape of your implant. Because breast augmentation surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure, insurance rarely covers the total cost, if any, at all.
Your chest and shoulder width can limit the size of your implants
Fortunately, implants come in different base widths so you can get a size and shape that works well with your frame.
Your current breast size can limit how big you go
This matters because you’ve got to have enough existing breast tissue to cover the implant–no matter what the shape might be. If you don’t have a lot to spare, some implants may just be too big to fit.
*NOTE: For additional information on breast implant sizing, please check out our informative article here.
Low, Moderate, High, and Extra High Implants
There are different projection types of implants, ranging from high profile breast implants to low profile breast implants. In a nutshell, an implant’s profile describes how far the implant projects off the chest wall. Below we explain the different profiles in a little more detail:
Low Profile: The first profile type is the low profile breast implant. These are the implants with the smallest forward projection. They are usually a good fit for wider framed patients because they have the widest base.
Moderate Profile: This was once considered the standard size before additional profiles were introduced. These create what’s usually considered to be a normal profile, with a round fullness that still adds plenty of volume to the breast. Women with a narrow chest may prefer this, as it can create the appearance of a wider chest. This profile also doesn’t create excessive width on the side.
High Profile: These are perfect for women with a narrower chest frame and who still want a considerable size increase during their breast augmentation surgery. This profile also has a decreased chance of rippling. It also provides ample projection and fullness.
Extra High Profile: The width of this profile is obviously
much less than the previous profiles. It’s also narrower. This profile works
best for patients who desire a very full and increased projection with the most narrow based possible. This profile may not be for every women. Some patients tend to think this profile looks too artificial.
Matching implants to chest wall and patient style
Prior to breast augmentation surgery, the implant type will be determined by the width of the patient’s chest wall and how much projection the patient wants. The bigger the implant, the more projection a patient will obviously have. With a wider implant, good cleavage can easily be achieved.
In Dr. Beldholm’s experience, some ladies have a very strong breast fold, making them at risk for a double fold. As a result, Dr. Beldholm prefers to use the appropriate type of implant to reduce the chances of this happening.
Types of Implant Surfaces
Prior to surgery, you and your surgeon will also determine the surface texture of your implants. You’ll have three choices: smooth, textured or polyurethane implants. Until 2008, women in Australia could only choose from the first two options. However, the Australian Department of Therapeutic Goods changed that with the third addition.
Polyurethane Foam-Covered Silicone Implants still have silicone gel as their filler material but the implant wall is coated with a fine, 1-2mm layer of polyurethane foam. Manufactured to the highest quality in Germany by Polytech for over 25 years and used in over 60 countries worldwide, the foam coating gives them a ‘furry-feel.’ Because of this, you may hear them referred to as “furries.”
Because picking the right surface texture for your implants may feel like a daunting task, we’ve attempted to make it easier for you by offering a comparison of each:
Smooth Breast Implants: Smooth implants refer to the surface of the actual implant – it’s completely smooth. This coating is made of silicone elastomer. This smooth surface means that the implant doesn’t stick to the surrounding tissues within the breast, and the implant can move around a bit in the cavity created. While this is more similar to how a natural breast behaves, some smooth implants can either move too much, or permanently, or rotate around in their pocket – which can lead to the breasts looking unnatural. Over time especially, people with smooth implants can notice implant drift – either to the sides of the body or further down the chest. Smooth breast implants can have an inner core of either saline or silicone gel. They are the traditional type of breast implants – they were the first type available for consumers on a large scale.
Textured (a.k.a.—“Rough”) Breast Implants: Textured implants have – you
guessed it – a textured surface rather than a smooth one. The textured surface (made of silicone elastomer) adheres to the surrounding tissue in the breast which means that your breasts are less likely to travel, and won’t rotate about unlike the smooth implants. They were designed to eliminate the rotation and movement associated with getting smooth implants. The difference in textures varies a lot from manufacturer to manufacturer. Textured breast implants can have either a silicone gel or saline inner. They are probably the most popular form of breast implants globally at the moment.
Polyurethane Foam-Covered Implants: Polyurethane implants are silicone gel implants coated with a type of polyurethane foam. They were developed to decrease the likelihood of capsular contracture occurring. These type of implants are similar to textured implants as they adhere to the surrounding tissue in the breast, and so will not travel over time, and don’t rotate within the cavity. Different manufacturers each have different widths of the coating on the implant. These type of breast implants have been called “Furry Brazilians” by many plastic surgeons in Newcastle. This is due to the “furry” coating of the implant, and the fact that Silimed, a Brazilian manufacturer, is one of the largest producers of these type of implants. Although the implants are not available in the US under the FDA guidelines, they are approved for use in Australia, and are popular in Europe, too.
*Note: Polyurethane implants were discontinued in the United States in the early 1990s due to the risk of developing cancer. However, the implant’s “reported carcinogenic effects” were never fully substantiated. In fact, in 1995, the Food and Drug Administration stated that “the risk of developing cancer from polyurethane-coated implants is negligible.” It is assumed that polyurethane implants will be reinstated for use at some point in the US, and there are many people actively waiting for this to happen!
Breast Implant Brands
There are more than a dozen companies worldwide that specialise in the manufacturing of breast implants. Some of the giant brands of implants include:
Allergan Inc. (Actavis)
Establishment Labs
GC Aesthetics
Ideal Implant
Mentor Worldwide LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
One brand is not necessarily better than the other. It ultimately comes down to surgeon preference. There are instances, however, where some manufacturers of breast implants may not meet a country’s health and regulation requirements. This is currently the case with Silimed implants.
Presently, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has suspended implants made by this company. According to the TGA’s website, “the sponsor cannot currently demonstrate that the devices meet the necessary requirements for safety and quality.” In 2015, Silimed’s CE certificate was suspended after German health officials inspected the manufacturing plant and found that the surfaces of some devices were contaminated with unknown particles.
At Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, we personally prefer polyurethane breast implants made by the German company, Polytech. So far, the brand’s manufacturer has not faced scrutiny or regulations by the TGA. According to the company’s reps, they tout that their coating, made of a plastic called micropolyurethane, reduces the risk of capsular contraction, a common complication of breast surgery which can lead to the formation of lumps or tissue hardening around the implant.
While capsular contraction the most common complication after breast augmentation surgery, resulting in a great deal of pain and discomfort. Polyurethane reduces the risk of this occurring to just one percent over the course of a 16-year-period. Compared to other types of implants, the risk for capsular contracture can be as high as 20 percent.
Breast Implant Size: Think CC, Not A, B, C
While it’s important to listen to your surgeon’s recommendations, ultimately you must choose size that makes you feel happy. After all, this operation is for your happiness and the final results will last for many years.
Women at Specialist Cosmetic Surgery often tell us that they want something natural and want to avoid looking fake. Many patients stress that they don’t want anyone to know they have even had surgery. Instead, they want to be conservative with their implant size for fear over how they will possibly be perceived by loved ones.
However, some women are quite the opposite. For them, the bigger the better. At our facility, a “D” cup is one of our most requested sizes. And most surgeons, including Dr. Beldholm, strive to give patients natural results. Unusually large implants are generally discouraged. The reason is simple: WE WANT TO MAKE YOU LOOK GREAT!
Speaking of sizes, although bra cups are sized A, B, C, D and up, breast implants definitely are not. Instead, they are measured in cubic centimeters or CC for short.
Cubic centimeters are the metric volume measurement used to define the capacity of a breast implant. One cubic centimeter equals a milliliter, which is the volume measurement used in the medical world. Breast implant sizes for both saline and silicone range from 120cc to 850cc. Obviously, the larger the implant size, the more CCs you’ll need.
The Rice Test
The rice test is a simple and easy way to get a general idea of how you would look with different sizes of breast implants. However, it should really only be considered as a way to begin educating yourself about breast implants while preparing for your cosmetic surgery consultation with a cosmetic surgeon experienced with breast augmentation surgery.
Begin by fashioning a substitute implant out of a 12-inch length and a supply of uncooked rice. A good size to start with is 300cc (30cc = 30 grams, so 300cc = 300 grams).
Using a measuring cup, portion out approximately 285 grams of rice, pour it into the stocking and tie off the top. Place the stocking inside your non-padded bra and try it on for size. You can easily add or subtract rice to try on different sizes.
Try on different shirts, blouses and swimsuit tops with the rice substitutes in place to get an idea of how you’ll look with larger breasts. Make sure you pay close attention to how the fuller bustline looks compared to the rest of your figure. It should be in proportion. If not, add some more rice if it appears too small. If your breasts appear to overwhelm the rest of your body, be realistic about whether that’s the look you really want and can live with for the rest of your life.
After you finish the rice test, you’ll have a better idea of a starting size for your implants. When you go to a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon, he or she, of course, will have actual breast implants that you can try on during your visit.
Remember that breast implant volumes don’t necessarily equal a certain bra cup size. For example, a “D” cup for one woman could be a “C” cup for someone else.
Additional tips for choosing your implant’s size
Breast implant size ultimately depends on a variety of factors – no one size fits all. However, a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon can help with your decision. When choosing the size of your implant, here are some things to consider:
Start by looking at before and after images on the website of a cosmetic surgeon you are considering. At Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, our before and after image gallery can give you an idea of what to expect with your own procedure.
Bring your husband/significant other or friend with you to your consultation. This can also be a big help with your decision. Of course, don’t feel pressured to make a decision on the spot.
Choose a surgeon who has access to a computer-imaging device to help patients visualize what certain-size implants will look like on them. At Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, we use the Crisalix 3D breast augmentation simulator to let patients pre-visualise the results of their surgery.
As you try on the sizers, don’t just think about how you will look in a swimsuit or low-cut top, but think about your physical activities as well as the kind of clothes that you will wear every day. After all, this is going to be a decision with long-lasting consequences. You want to avoid a re-operation just because you have found out after surgery that the size as not right for you.
During your consultation with your cosmetic surgeon, be ready to clearly communicate what your goals are. When you can tell you surgeon exactly what your expectations are and the look you’re hoping to achieve, the more likely you’ll be happy with the end results.
Placing implants over or under the breast muscles
Whether you decide to place your implants over or under the muscle is a decision you and your surgeon will have to make. Both have pros and cons. Most plastic surgeons today commonly place implants under the muscle.
Under the Muscle: Pros
Less risk for capsular contracture which is the hardening of the breast around the implant.
Provides better implant coverage with less wrinkling and palpability.
Easier to read mammograms
Better upper pole contour.
Over the Muscle: Pros
Polyurethane implants reduce capsular contracture rate
Shaped implants have less wrinkles.
Less chance for abnormal muscle motion.
Method for faster recovery following surgery
In the past, breast augmentation often resulted in scarring, bleeding, bruising, and swelling that required weeks to recover from, impacting a patient’s daily life for an
extended period of time.
In fact, for decades, the norm for patients was prolonged recovery with restrictive bandaging, special bras, drain tubes, pain pumps, nerve blocks, narcotic pain medications, and other annoying aides.
The rapid recovery technique, however, has since changed that by allowing patients to return home the same day after the operation and return to non-manual work within five days, instead of five weeks, with less pain and scarring that’s almost undetectable.
The term ‘rapid recovery technique’ was originally coined by plastic surgeon Dr. John Tebbetts of Dallas, Texas (USA). In practice since 1979, he’s seen his field of breast augmentations change dramatically over the years, and he’s been key in many of the advancements.
“If we’re going to improve patient experience, we have to in every part of it. And when thinking about recovery, the obvious thought is that the more drugs a patient receives, the drowsier she’s going to be, the more nauseated she’s going to be. If we can shorten the length of the plastic surgery, the patient can get less drugs,” Dr. Tebbetts has stated.
According to Dr. Tebbetts, surgical techniques involving this recovery method were refined to dramatically reduce trauma to tissues and ribs, and to virtually eliminate bleeding and blood soaking into tissues, causing pain and inflammation and increasing risks of capsular contracture.
Today, he says he can literally see a patient the morning of their surgery and then see them go shopping or out to dinner that very same night.
“It truly is amazing,” he’s stated.
For the record, while many patients can go out to dinner, shopping, dancing, etc.—at Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, we advise our patients to go home, rest and take it easy for the remainder of the day.
The general goal of the rapid recovery technique is to minimise the trauma of surgery and the use of strong pain medications and medical devices such as drainage tubes or pain pumps. This will allow patients to get back to their normal lives much quicker. Some of the other benefits of this technique include:
Less pain
For the most part, a simple over-the-counter pain medication and some ice packs is all a patient will usually need to feel comfortable. At Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, to ease the discomfort following surgery, patients are injected with long acting local anesthesia which provides them pain relief for 10+ hours. This means that the first day after the procedure patients typically experience minimal pain.
Less downtime
At Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, our patients are generally able to shower and walk the day following the surgery. Most patients are also able to go back to fully exercising within four weeks following breast augmentation surgery. We also incorporate LED light treatment along with the rapid recovery technique to promote faster recovery times.
Fewer risks involved
Because the rapid recovery technique significantly reduces
inflammation of the tissue, generally all bruising and swelling is settled within two weeks after a patient’s breast augmentation surgery.
Less complicated recovery
Typically, patients won’t need to follow a strict medication schedule or worry about special, restrictive garments. For most patients, they will only need a few bandages over their incisions. We do provide our patients with a special support bra. Stitches from the surgery will dissolve on their own.
The rapid recovery technique is truly designed to be as worry-free and pain-free as possible. Cosmetic surgeons all over the world have been using the technique for almost 20 years now with much success. While many patients will benefit from this revolutionary technique used during breast augmentation surgery, there are some patients who will not.
Patients with tuberous or constricted breasts, significant asymmetry, or who need a lift are not ideal candidates for the procedure. Also, patients that want unrealistically large breasts are also not really good candidates.
The only way to know for sure if you will qualify for the rapid recovery technique is to meet with a qualified, experienced surgeon like Dr. Beldholm FRACS. During your consultation, your surgeon will let you know your options and explain what to expect before, during and after surgery.
View your results prior to surgery
Wouldn’t it be great if you could see exactly what you’d look like with your breast implants before the actual surgery? Thanks to advances in technology, you can! To help patients easily visualise their results, many plastic surgeons utilise a software simulator called Crisalix.
It enables doctors and their patients around the world to answer the common question “how might I look after the procedure?” Through its unique online technology, patient satisfaction is improved, both during the consultation and post-surgery.
Crisalix is the leader in web-based 3D simulation for plastic surgery and aesthetic procedures. As a pioneer in its field, it has developed a unique solution for creating the patient’s body in 3D from 2D images.
Crisalix: What to expect
Upload your photos
Your surgeon will take several pictures of your chest area with a mobile phone or camera and securely upload them to the Crisalix program.
Simulate and see the result of your desired surgery
While there is no perfect way to predict breast size or shape, Crislix gives patients a good idea of the expected outcome. It should be used as a guide only.
Get advice & support from real people
Get feedback from your friends or family to help you make the right decision. You can also share your simulation anonymously on the only before and after 3D community where fellow patients will advise you.
Paying for the procedure
The cost of breast augmentation surgery truly varies from surgeon to surgeon. In Australia, the cost of this procedure typically ranges anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000. Be very wary of surgeons who charge significantly less. Remember the old saying, “you get what you pay for.” Cheap prices often come with increased risks or could be a sign that the surgeon is inexperienced.
Because this procedure is largely deemed cosmetic in nature, unfortunately, Medicare will not cover the costs. Cosmetic surgery is typically defined by an absence of medical necessity.
According to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgery is an operation, treatment or procedure undertaken to improve appearance where no prior injury from trauma, disease, congenital disorder, congenital or acquired deformity exists.
If there is a medical reason for the surgery such as breast reconstruction following mastectomy, Medicare will cover some of the costs. Another example is breast augmentation for asymmetrical breasts. A Medicare item number is available for this type of reconstruction surgery, too, but it is limited to surgery that is performed on one breast only.
Depending on the type of policy you have, your private insurance fund may cover some of the costs such as hospital fees, anesthesia, etc. However, medical expenses not covered by your plan once the procedure is complete will be your responsibility to pay. That’s why it’s important to contact your insurance provider if you have any questions about what your policy will or won’t pay. After all, you don’t want there to be any surprises when the bill finally arrives in the mail.
Because cosmetic surgery is largely paid for out-of-pocket, many people assume that they cannot afford it. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. The reality is you do have options. Many cosmetic surgeons offer flexible payment plans. Some patients may also qualify for MAC Credit. It offers flexible payment plans for cosmetic, medical and dental procedures.
To learn more about our pricing for breast implant surgery at Specialist Cosmetic Surgery, click here.
<img width="1698" height="1131" src="http://specialistcosmeticsurgery.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/best-breast-implants.jpg" class="vc_single_image-img attachment-full" alt="" srcset="http://specialistcosmeticsurgery.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/best-breast-implants.jpg 1698w, http://specialistcosmeticsurgery.com.au/wp-content/uploads/201