Breast Augmentation: How Big Should You Go?

Breast augmentation (augmentation mammaplasty) has helped numerous women fulfill their dreams of a larger, more feminine bustline. In fact, it is the most popular aesthetic plastic surgery procedure in the United States, sought by nearly 300,000 women annually.

However, to achieve the best possible results, prospective patients should approach this treatment as a serious surgical procedure that requires extensive research and numerous important decisions. These decisions include the type, shape and texture of prostheses, the location of the incisions and the placement of the devices in relation to the chest tissue and muscles. In addition, one of the more crucial decisions regarding breast augmentation surgery is how big to go. This article offers suggestions on how to choose the most appropriate size of implants.

Ask Your Surgeon for a Candid Opinion

Chances are, the plastic surgeon who will perform your surgery has performed hundreds of similar procedures. As a result, he or she has seen numerous women representing various age groups, body types and lifestyles. Your surgeon has also seen what looks good and what does not, and he or she has followed up with patients to learn how happy they are with the size of their enhancement. Ask your surgeon to share some of this knowledge, and also ask for a candid opinion about the size that would look good on you. In addition, many surgeons have tools that allow you to test different sizes or see digitally altered photos to help you visualize potential outcomes.

Review Numerous Before and After Photos

In addition, ask your surgeon to show you the breast implants before and after photos of former patients. By browsing a variety of photos, you will be able to learn whether you prefer the look of silicone or saline breast implants, whether you like the above-the-muscle or under-the-muscle placement, whether you should consider augmentation in conjunction with breast lift surgery, and what sizes appeal to you. Look for pictures of women who have a similar body frame and bust size to yours, as their "after" photos will be the closest approximation of what you will look like after surgery.

Talk With Actual Patients

If you want to learn how actual patients feel about their size choices, ask your plastic surgeon to put you in contact with several of his or her former patients. Talk to these women and discuss your desires and concerns frankly with them. In response, you will hear their honest opinion about whether they are happy with their new breast size or wish they went smaller or larger.

Consider Your Lifestyle

In addition to thinking about your ideal appearance, also take into account your lifestyle when selecting your implants. If you are very physically active and enjoy running, boxing or other contact sports, very large prostheses might make these activities more difficult.

Ask Your Significant Other

Finally, you might also seek the input of your significant other. However, you should not undergo bustline enhancement simply because you want to make your boyfriend or husband happy. Similarly, you should not choose a particular size only because that is the preference of your significant other. The decision to undergo augmentation mammoplasty is yours alone; you should be the person who makes the final decision whether the risks of breast surgery are worth the rewards and, if so, how big to go.