By Dr. Killeen, published on January 25, 2023
4 Tips I've learned as a Plastic Surgeon, who was also a patient with a Breast Augmentation.
As a plastic surgeon who has also undergone breast augmentation surgery, there are a few things I have learned.
Firstly, it's important for patients to advocate for themselves and choose the size of implant they want, rather than allowing the surgeon to make the decision. I learned this lesson the hard way, as I allowed my first surgeon to choose the size for me and wasn't happy with the result. However, the second time around, I was clear about my desired size and ended up with the results I wanted.
Secondly, I personally prefer over the muscle placement of implants, as it feels more natural to me. I had my first set of implants over the muscle, but my second set was placed under the muscle. However, I switched back to over the muscle placement for my third set and am much happier with the results.
Next, I found that silicone implants are much better than saline implants. They feel more natural and look more natural.
Lastly, I recommend routine changing of implants as they age. Studies have shown that implants weaken over time and typically fail between 10 and 14 years. I regret not being more diligent with breast implant imaging and monitoring in the past, as it could have led to a less risky surgery.