Asking questions is one of the best ways to make sure you have all of the information you need to make the best decision for your body. When it comes to breast augmentation, many questions can be answered on sites like RealSelf.Com or the website of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, though these can only take you so far.
Various online resources can provide information about visualizing breast augmentation results through the “rice test” and similar at-home tools, which may prove useful when considering the procedure. But the only way to get personalized information about what breast augmentation can do for you is through a one-on-one consultation with an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon.
Five Important Questions to Ask Your Breast Augmentation Surgeon
Here are five questions you should ask of any surgeon you are interviewing for the honor of performing your breast augmentation surgery:
- Are you board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? Anyone with a medical degree can perform breast augmentation. Only a board-certified plastic surgeon will have undergone the training, education, and residencies necessary to perform this or any other cosmetic surgery procedure safely and well.
- Where will my breast augmentation be performed? While not a terribly risky procedure, breast augmentation is a surgery and should only be performed in an accredited surgical facility.
- What types of breast implants do you offer? Saline and silicone breast implants look and feel different, and both have certain benefits and limitations. Choose a plastic surgeon who offers a range of implant options including silicone and saline, form-stable (gummy bear), textured, rounded, and teardrop shaped to help ensure the right type will be used for your breast enlargement procedure.
- Which breast augmentation incision option do you prefer? Traditional incisions can be made around the nipple (periareolar), underneath the breast (inframammary), and in the armpit (transaxilary). A fourth option, TUBA (transumbilical breast augmentation) uses the navel as an insertion point. The closer the insertion of implants to the breasts themselves, the less risk for aesthetic complications, making TUBA a poor choice for many people.
- Where will my breast implants be placed? The three placement options for breast implants are above the muscles in the chest (subglandular), below the muscles in the chest (submuscular), or partly above, partly below (dual-plane). Where your implants will be placed depends on how much breast tissue is naturally present along with several other individual factors.
Because breast augmentation needs to be customized for each woman, the best way to learn how it can work for you and what it can help you accomplish is through a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
About Dr. George Chatson
Dr. George Chatson is a board-certified plastic surgeon with offices in Andover, MA and Nashua, NH. In practice for over 30 years, Dr. Chatson is a former president of the New England Society of Plastic Surgeons and an active member of both the ASPS and the ASAPS.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Chatson is on staff and able to perform breast augmentation surgery at Orchard Surgical Center, Holy Family Hospital, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, and Saint Joseph Hospital. This helps protect your comfort and safety.
Committed to patient satisfaction, Dr. Chatson offers a full range of breast implant types and can place those either above or below chest muscles through any of the three primary incisions. Having these options enables Dr. Chatson to truly personalize each augmentation he performs, helping our patients feel comfortable and confident in their appearances.
If you are considering breast augmentation in New England, call our Andover, Massachusetts office at 978-687-1151 or our Nashua, New Hampshire office at 603-882-2103 to schedule your consultation today.