One of the most common questions during a breast augmentation consult for breast enhancement is 'What should I expect to happen?' A typical experience for breast augmentation starts with research being done by a woman who is considering breast implants for breast enhancement. After the research and a decision to proceed onward is made, the selection of a plastic surgeon is next. Selecting a board certified plastic surgeon is a minimum requirement. It is best to select a plastic surgeon who has a special interest in breast augmentation and at least few years (preferably more) of documented experience. The plastic surgery consult will involve answering questions, and the plastic surgeon will perform a history and physical exam. During the physical exam, the attributes of the woman will be discussed so that she has a realistic expectation for her breast enhancement plastic surgery. Having realistic expectations is one of the most important aspects of the plastic surgery consult.

After agreement to schedule breast augmentation plastic surgery and a breast implant size has been selected, the logistics of where, when, and the expense of the plastic surgery are discussed. Usually consent forms, medications to avoid, and pre-operative and post-operative instructions are given to the woman to take home and read. She then will return to the plastic surgery office for her pre-operative visit to sign her consent forms, be given prescriptions, make payment, and meet with the plastic surgeon again, if necessary, to answer any remaining or newly discovered questions. Photographs are usually taken during this pre-operataive plastic surgery visit.

The woman is instructed to not eat or drink after midnight on the night before breast augmentation surgery for breast enhancement. She will go to the certified surgi-center, or hospital to have her plastic surgery. She will see the plastic surgeon before the breast augmentation surgery, have any last questions answered and her operative plan will be reinforced to her. She will have her plastic surgery operative markings made, meet with the nurses and anesthesiologists and then be taken to the operating room.

The breast augmentation surgery for breast enhancement should last less than an hour, usually 30-40 minutes. She will awaken from anesthesia and then be brought back to the recovery room. She will then fully awaken, and be discharged in someone elses care to leave the hospital. The night of the operation and the following day are usually associated with the most pain. Ice packs to the upper breast area, above the nipples usually are of great help. Pain medications may be used to help control the pain. Nothing will make the pain go away completely, pain medications just make it more tolerable. The great majority of the pain is from the chest muscle being stretched. Long acting numbing medication is placed at the time of surgery to prevent this pain from occuring at first, but over that first night and next day the pain is the worst. It will usually be very tolerable throughout the experience. A phone call check of the woman on the night of the breast augmentation usually will find her awake, walking around, and talking on the phone. Some nausea may occur which usually subsides within the first 24 hours. Anti-nausea medications and techniques are used during the breast augmentation surgery to prevent this nausea from occuring. Extra anti-nausea medications can be prescribed if a woman has a history of post-operative nausea and vomiting, or motion sickness, or requests them. Breast augmentation patients are at higher risk than other surgeries to experience post operative nausea and vomiting.

On the first postoperative morning, she may sponge bath, or immerse her lower half in a tub. On the morning of the second postoperative day, she may take a shower. The woman's mobility will usually improve quickly. It it the norm that most women undergoing breast augmention for breast enhancement will be able to go back to work on post operative day 5 depending on the job. The woman will see the plastic surgeon on or about post operative day 4-6, to have her stitches removed and to learn how to move or massage the breast implants. She will do this for the next month.

She may begin regular activity as tolerated and beging exercising on day 10. She will not hurt her result by exercising or lifting. It may hurt her chest muscles but this will not hurt her result. If she resumes physical activity sooner than recommended, then the elevated blood pressure may cause bleeding. If bleeding occurs, she may require a second surgery to remove or drain out the blood. If this occurs, the breast implants may have to be broken to control the bleeding. If this does occur, then she will need to buy new breast implants to be replaced.

Usually by day 10, her range of motion is full and it is safe to do all exercises. Push ups can be attempted at that time, but usually are not able to be performed successfully until approximately one month after surgery. Lifting a one year old baby (20 lbs) is not recommended until the woman has little pain, usually 10 days. If the child wants to be held, it is recommended to have the baby climb into the woman's lap and hug the baby. Lifting heavy objects like luggage, babies to car seats, closing airplane doors, or playing tennis, etc may all be performed as tolerated. Sun bathing is permitted as long as the scar is covered. No special creams, vitamins, oils, or lotions is necessary to aide in scar healing. They may be applied if the woman desires.

The breast implants will settle over a period to weeks to a few months. The amount of time required for this to occur depends on the woman individual circumstances.

The second post operative visit is usually about one month after the surgery, and then at 3-6 months, one year, and then every year after that. Post operative breast augmentation photographs are usually taken at six months, and yearly. Out of town patients typically stay in town for 4 days and leave after their first visit. Some will return at one month, but most elect to use emails as their means of follow.