by Terrye Tebbetts
I want to thank all of you for your comments and questions about this topic of traveling to have a breast augmentation! After careful review, it all comes down to two basic issues – - recovery and risk of reoperation/complications.
When trying to decide whether it is worth it to travel outside your town let alone your comfort zone of family and friends to have an elective procedure, you must weight the benefits and risks involved.
Over 50% of Dr. Tebbetts’ patients travel from around the nation to experience our 24 Hour Recovery for the immediate benefits as well as the long term benefits of a better, more efficient recovery ~ a much lower (less than 3%) risk of reoperation long term for any reason!
It makes sense to travel for 24 Hour Recovery because there is no post operative maintenance. In other words, your post op instructions are to resume normal activity immediately. There are no bras, bandages, drains or stitches to be removed. The surgical techniques are precise and they allow you to return to normal activity two hours after you leave the center. There are no narcotics – no pain meds – only ibuprofen. So movement is not only encouraged but mandatory. Thus the need to get up and go out – shopping or to dinner or taking care of the kids – - it all boils down to being normal immediately. There are very few surgeons that can produce this level of recovery – so if you don’t want the down time and pain of traditional methods – - it is worth traveling for 24 Hour Recovery.
But how will you know if a surgeon’s recovery is truly better than anything right in your back yard? Ask HARD questions and demand proof! Ask for a copy of your post op instructions. Ask the surgeon directly what type of surgical dissection he or she will use. Ask if you will have any post operative adjucts to deal with like drains, pain meds, straps or bands or special bras. Ask how long your procedure will be (the longer the procedure, the harder your recovery will be). Ask to speak with three patients that have used the surgeon – some immediately post op and some further out from surgery. Ask to speak with patients that used the surgeon that travled to have their breast augmentation done. Ask about follow up visits and what the required maintenance will be – ie suture removal, drains, pain pumps etc.
A surgeon can’t just advertise or promote a “rapid recovery” – - there has to literally be a better recovery not just verbage. For example, I looked at a “rapid recovery” website, but when you get right down to it, they still recommend that you limit activity for two to three days and send you home on narcotics. Ladies, that is not rapid and it certainly isn’t 24 Hour Recovery!
If you are going to travel, you are looking for a the best breast augmentation surgeons who can truly offer you a unique experience that allows a totally different recovery experience. Dr. Tebbetts consistantly, predictably delivers 24 Hour Recovery to our patients and has for over 15 years! If you think about it, we actually wrote the book on it, right? So use the book, use our scientific resources and experience to research surgeons on you list to be sure that the recovery you are traveling for is truly a better, 24 Hour Recovery that will deliver the immediate benefits – of returning to normal and facilitating the travel but also the long term benefits of 24 Hour Recovery – a lower reoperation/risk rate long term – - making your result last as long as possible.
How does 24 Hour Recovery reduce your reop risk long term and why would that make you get on a plane for it? We will tackle that subject tomorrow!
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.