by Terrye Tebbetts

Once you have made that initial call to several surgeon’s offices, it will be interesting to see what type of materials you receive from their office about breast augmentation and breast implants.   It will range widely depending on the depth of experience and level of specialization in breast augmentation and breast implants that the surgeon and the staff have.

Now, it’s easy for me to discuss this topic with you because if you call Dr. Tebbetts, you are going to get a 543 page book with removable cards that help you interview surgeons.  However, that is usually not the level of material you will receive from an office, so you may prefer to have done much more research on your own to help you evaluate the services offered. 

If you get the stock pamphlet from our national societies – honestly, I would see that is a red flag.  If you get nothing but demographic and medical history sheets emailed to you to fill out before your visit……that would be troublesome – efficient for check in but what does it tell you about how breast augmentation is approached?

If you are seeking breast implant surgeons that specialize in breast augmentation, then when you find one, their materials should be specialized too.  Information that affords you an opportunity to see how they approach the procedure, how they make surgical decisions and what your recovery will be like under their care.  If they truly do a lot of breast augmentation then those materials will reflect many different options – implant choices, incision options and pocket locations.  No two patients are the same, so how can every operation be done the same way with the same choices?

With experience comes ease and comfort with many different surgical options and choices.  Now, the options you think you want may not be what is right for your body but with a well versed and experienced surgeon, you will be able to discuss WHY your choices may need to be changed.

Educational materials for breast implant surgery should be highly specialized.  The procedure is.  The choices and options are.  The recovery can be – the materials should follow suit.

In addition, if you can find a surgeon that has published clinical, scientific papers on breast augmentation – any aspect of it, that is a level of educational material that really will set that surgeon apart from the rest!  Although you may not want to read the science behind the papers, at least you will know that the surgeon’s peers respect his or her research and dedication to advancing techniques and  broadening the horizons of breast augmentation.  You can ask the office about scientific publications or check the resources page of their web sites to see where there interests and achievements in breast surgery lie.

Educational materials and the willingness to share knowledge with patients is crucial.  The more interaction you have with your surgeon and their staff preoperatively – they get to know you and you truly get to understand their level of expertise in the procedure you want – by developing that bond, trust and knowledge BEFORE surgery, gives you insight into how you will be treated during and after surgery too!

Remember, your consults, your decisions and ultimately, your results, can only be as good as your knowledge base will allow.

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.