by Terrye Tebbetts
Through the years, there have been major improvements in implant design and safety. There have been significant advances in breast augmentation recovery – ie 24 Hour Recovery – being able to return patients to full normal activity the day of their surgery is a huge advance for patients and surgeons! Enormous strides have been made in surgical techniques – precise dissection that allows no bleeding during surgery. How to determine size – the High Five System – finds the perfect size breast implant for each patient every time. But have we done anything to help patients manage expectations? Dr. Tebbetts and I have tried through our patient education efforts resulting in our book , The Best Breast. It was written with patients in mind so that if they know what surgeons know – then we can all make better decisions.
Despite our best efforts, the strange phenomenon, thought, theory or fantasy pervades our specialty – breast augmentation – that you can order up any size breast you want, any shape breast you want and bigger is better! Read this post from a forum that I found today….”My surgery is in less than 2 days and I am not even remotely scared. I foresee that changing when I arrive at the surgery center. The only thing I’m thinking about is that I have chosen too small of a size…shaving off 25 cc’s less than I originally chose (not that much I know)…bringing me to 375cc. I understand the High Five Method and how it’s important to not go too big for your body type but I’m am so anxious about waking up and thinking…”that’s it? I will barely be a C”. I guess I should just chill out about it and wait and see how things turn out. I will sincerely miss running for awhile but will not miss wearing an “A” sports bra. I might just burn it. Ha.”
What are her expectations exactly? Does she even really know what she is expecting? What in the world is a “barely C cup”? What if the got the bigger implants – would 25 cc jump her into the dream cup size she has in mind?
First, let me just say it and get it off my chest – shame on any surgeon who tells you everything you want to hear or promises you anything you want! They took a Hippocratic oath for goodness sake! And shame on any patient who thinks they can order up their new breast like it was a WhatABurger order!
We all have certain attributes and limitations we bring to the table – the OR table – that is. Are you forty, had 3 babies, nursed them all and about 15 lbs over weight? Do you have thin, stretchy tissue and tons of stretch marks? Or are you the one that has always felt more like a boy and that God missed you when handing out the good “boob” genes? All breasts have a certain parameters – width, stretch, amount of tissue, placement on the chest wall etc. Breast implants must work within those parameters – they cannot change them. Honestly, breast implants really do just make you a bigger version of what you are now. Which is something you cannot do on your own any other way – there is no way to diet and exercise your way to a fuller firmer breast! So breast implants certainly have a wonderful role to play in the scenario – they can do something for you that you cannot – understanding what they can do, and understanding your limitations goes a long way to making you happy with your end result.
An augmented breast is fuller, firmer, more youthful and bigger than what you started with, right? Then why torture yourself agonizing over whether 25 cc’s will determine your happiness with your result? A breast that is full and firm is pretty and safe. When a breast is pretty, do you really care if it’s a full C or a barely C? You shouldn’t – a pretty breast is a pretty breast that you couldn’t get without that implant. Patients should be honest about their expectations – but should be rational and logical about the limits they bring to the operation. Surgeons should be honest with patients about what they and the breast implants can do given the limits the patient brings. And BOTH parties should NEVER utter the word cup size ever again.
When you get to the place in your life where you have done all you can do to be the best you you can be, but your breasts still really bug you – then looking into breast surgery is a good option. When you reach a comfort level with your research and your choice of surgeon where you believe – anything is better than what I have now – - then you can really effectively communicate with your surgeon and the two of you can make good decisions and plans to get you a beautiful result you will LOVE and be happy with long term. Balancing expectations is always a challenge – but there is a balance that can be achieved between what you want and what your body will allow you to have. Finding that balance makes happy patients who don’t care what cup size they wear!
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.