When preparing for your surgery it may help for you to get some tips from surgeons or women
that have already been through surgery. In this section we will bring you some suggestions to
hopefully help you before and after your surgery.

• Try to meet with your plastic surgeon on two occasions prior to surgery. This will give you ample
opportunity to review your decision and to discuss implant type and size.

• Purchase a couple of comfortable cotton sports bras without underwire. You will find these
comfortable and supportive during the first few weeks after surgery.

• Think in advance of any things in your house that you may need in the first week that are high up in a
cupboard or on a top shelf. Take these down in advance and place them on a countertop because
reaching far over your head in the first week after surgery will be uncomfortable.

• Remember that although results of breast augmentation are certainly evident immediately, it may take
up to six months for you to be able to appreciate the true final appearance and feel of your breasts.
Dr. Mitchell Brown, B.Sc., M.D., M.Ed., F.R.C.S.C
www.torontobreastimplant.com
Click here for Dr. Mitchell Brown's profile

• Two weeks before surgery do not take any aspirin-containing products, anti-inflammatories, blood
thinners , or vitamin E for 14 days prior to your operation. These medications thin the blood and
greatly increase the risk of bleeding. Tylenol can be taken safely.

• Stop taking any herbal, natural, diet, or alternative drugs 14 days prior to your surgery (e.g. ginkgo
biloba, ginseng, St. John's wort).

• A few patients react to the anesthetic after surgery with nausea and vomiting. This usually lasts less
than 24 hours and should be treated with lots of fluids, Gravol and rest.

• You may begin your regular exercise routine 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, except upper body weight
training. Upper body weight training and push-ups should not be done until 6 weeks. Particularly
when implants are placed under the chest muscle, upper body weight training before 6 weeks could
cause the implants to be pushed upwards.
Dr. Jerome Edelstein M.D., F.R.C.S.C
www.plastic-surgery.yourmd.com
Click here for Dr. Jerome Edelstein's profile

• One of the important questions to decide before surgery is the size and shape you want to achieve
with breast augmentation. A 'C' cup in one type of bra might be a 'D' cup in another type, so a choice
of cup size gives your plastic surgeon only an approximate picture of your goal. Picking a 320 cc
implant based on a result someone else got with a 320 cc implant won't work unless you are the
same size and shape as that person, and having the same operation (over/under muscle).
What to do? Buy a brassiere you would like to be able to fill, add some rice to plastic bags, and
determine how many ccs of rice you need to fill the brassiere cup. The actual volume your plastic
surgeon will choose for you will probably be somewhat larger (the implants get squashed down
when they are under your skin), but this is a good way to make a first estimate.

• Please consider also whether twenty years from now you will regret an over-size augmentation.
Changing to a smaller implant at that time may leave you with stretched out breast skin and the
need for a breast lift.

• The choice of shape is also very important. An augmentation result in which the top part of the breast
curves outward (convex) is not very natural, and is generally avoided by plastic surgeons. Yet a recent
study showed that women undergoing breast augmentation actually preferred this look over a more
'natural' look. This illustrates the importance of good communication with your plastic surgeon as to
what appearance you hope to achieve.
Dr. Michael Kreidstein, MD, MSc, F.R.C.S.C
www.drkreidstein.com
Click here for Dr. Michael Kreidstein's profile

• Before your surgery make sure you research as much as possible so you are fully aware of all
aspects of the surgery. Also, don't feel you have to tell everyone about your surgery, as you may
regret this after when you realize people might not have noticed.

• Have some spare pillows on your bed. After my BA I found it hard to sleep on my back all the time
so I would fall alseep hugging a pillow and rolling sideways onto it.

• Be prepared that you may feel a little 'down' after surgery which is apparantly quite common. The
surgery, medication and not being able to sleep as well as normal can catch up with you. And even if
you feel fine weeks after, do not exert yourself as you are still healing.

• Even months after you will feel different sensations in your breasts, especially when your nerves
start to regenerate. My breasts were extremely itchy about 2 - 3 months post and drove me crazy!
Sarah, 6 months post

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