by Terrye Tebbetts
I am constantly amazed by how ladies who decide to have a breast augmentation will research endlessly how they can help themselves recover and have a better experience – yet they inevitablly miss the importance of researching and understanding one of the most important aspects of the entire operation – the surgeon and the surgical procedures/techniques that will be used during the operation. I guess some of it goes back to that inherent “trust” we have of our doctors? I don’t know. But I hate to see women try to FIX it all on the back end – after the surgery – thinking that if they take a certain vitamin or supplement that it can fix what could have been done better in the OR. Here is a conversation between two women that is very common about the use of vitamins pre and post op to help in their BA process….
Hi Ladies! I will be getting my BA in about 4 weeks and wanted to see if anyone has recommendations of what vitamins I should start taking to prepare for my surgery.. Thanks!
Hello, my BA is in 2 days - From what i’ve read, as well as what my PS told me, to STOP taking all vitamins and minerals, herbs, etc… the only one that I was recommended to try is Arnica Montana (ask your PS about it) It’s supposed to help with brusing and swelling after the surgery…. i’ll let you know if it does work! 
I haven’t found out any more info on vitamins, but i’m just following what my PS says. Oh and they also told me not to start taking any vitamins etc until 4-5 days after the surgery. Hope that helps?!
Here is my response to both ladies…….
What you experience post op and how you heal over time is effected by a combination of things – but the two primary factors are how you heal as an individual and how the surgery was done to begin with.
Vitamins can help how you heal as an individual a little – but honestly, your genetics are going to rule over what you take by mouth pre and post op. And what you take by mouth pre and post op could possible impact your recovery negatively (which is why they ask you to stop a lot of things pre and post op) – vitamins and supplements are not regulated as closely as medications and although most see them as natural and good for you – they can really be problematic in and around surgery.
How the surgery is done is really the most important factor here – you, as the patient, should not have to take a bunch of vitamins and supplements to compensate for what happens in an operating room. Breast augmentation is an elective procedure that you do when there is NOTHING else going on in your system. So the ps gets the best of circumstances in the OR. There are surgical techniques that the surgeon can use to prevent, limit, eliminate bleeding during the proceedure. See, the more you bleed, the more inflamation, trauma to tissue and increased need for bras, bandages, straps, drains and pain meds or pain pumps. If there is blood, then there is bruising. If you can dissect the pocket with no blood – guess what? No bruising. So why should you have to take Arnika and whatever else to help reduce something that could have been prevented during surgery?
We know in our 24 Hour Recovery papers and studies that when we eliminate blood, recovery and healing improve, and the incidence of capsular contracture is reduced dramatically.
Having a BA is a team effort between you and your ps – but how you heal is only part of the equation. Newer, better surgical processes exist to help both members of this team achieve better short term experiences and long term results!
About the Author: Terrye Tebbetts is one of the most knowledgeable women in the world about breast implants, with 27 years of experience educating patients and 11 years as a patient herself. For more information about breast implants or breast augmentation Dallas surgeons, please visit www.thebestbreast.com.
I’m really affraid I made a big mistake. I just underwent BA 4 days ago and I told my surgeon that I wanted to be a modest c cup. I was a B cup and I explained to him I did not want to be large but a size that looked good on me with a little cleavage. After coming out of surgery he put to 302cc instead of the 260cc bc he recalled me saying cleavage. I’m disappointed in my results because my breast looks really big. I’m wanting them out and made smaller. What would be your recommendation. I’m 5’1 121lbs and very narrow. My husband isn’t crazy about breast and he said that “this wasn’t the body i married 10yrs ago.” I just wanted a more youthfull breast and not big perky breast. Is it to soon to go smaller or is it to risky.
Joy – please, don’t rush into any decisions just 4 days post op! I know you are scared, but perhaps with a little time, it will all be ok. Your case, though, is exactly why we stress not making operative plans and decisions about breast augmentation based on a measurement that has no standard or clinical definition! When you and your surgeon talk cup size – neither one of you, honestly, know what you are talking about and then you end up with this situation. Secondly, you and your surgeon have to be knowledgable about what an implant will and won’t do. Implants don’t make cleavage – BRAS do. So here again, when communication is off before the operation, you know expectations will be off and then the end result it kind of screwed from the beginning because you really did not know what you were asking for.
Terrye
If you had had access to The Best Breast 2 before surgery, I think you would have avoided all the pre – op cup size discussion and made decisions based on your body. But just as importantly, you would have known that most breast augmentation patients feel that their implants are too high, too tight, too swollen and too big for the first 4 – 6 weeks. If your surgeon had warned you and prepared you for this – perhaps even shown you a 2-3 day post op of one of his or her patients, then perhaps you would not be so scared right now and would know that what you are feeling is normal and will probably pass.
With all of this said and done, honestly, the difference betwen a 302 and a 260 is really not that much and having sat in my chair for 21 years, I believe in 6 weeks, you will be fine and happy with them. Write me back in six weeks and let me know – in the mean time, I will be thinking good thoughts for you. And hope that no other patient has to be in this situation – - education preoperatively is key to getting a good, long term result.
Thank you so much for your speedy yet very informative feedback. I feel so much better because you have truly validated my feelings. I’m looking a bit smaller and I’m thinking this size is going to be ok. My true concern at this point is when my sister see’s me half dressed(because in my house, girl’s have no privacy)is she going to say girl you look like you have fake breast!I look really round and inflated right now and I’m hoping with time, I will just look good and natural, without someone thinking/knowing I have implants. I don’t want my secret out although, I want to look good. I realize I have to much pride and I must get over it. On a serious note. I have the natralle silicone implants and just the other day I felt something pop and a warm gush. I actually had to look in the mirror at my breast because I thought my nipples were leaking. So, to list my other fear, I’m affraid of my implant leaking. Do you think prehaps I could have applied to much pressure with my bando, which caused a rupture? Please, advise. I thank God that I came through sugery and I just do want to leave this world 6mths from now because silcone have caused my breast tissue to die and silicone in my lungs
I truly,appreciate you
Sincerely,
Joy