After you and Dr. John LeRoy have carefully planned your breast augmentation, we will schedule a date for your surgery. Thus, when you arrive at our Atlanta, Georgia practice for breast implant surgery, you will be well prepared. Before surgery, Dr. LeRoy will give you a thorough overview of all aspects of the breast implant procedure, and he will give you detailed instructions on how to prepare, as well as the steps you will need to take afterwards to ensure a successful recovery. Following is an overview of what to expect before, during, and after surgery.
Before you arrive at our Atlanta, Georgia practice for breast implant surgery, you will be asked to refrain from taking aspirin or other ant-inflammatory medications for at least 10 days. If you smoke, you will be asked to stop smoking for at least two months leading up to surgery, since smoking can greatly inhibit the healing process. On the day of your breast implant surgery, you should wear loose-fitting clothing that can easily be removed. Be sure to have a spouse, family member, or friend present to drive you home after the operation and remain with you for at least one to four days while you recover. Depending on your medical history, Dr. John LeRoy’s individual instructions may vary; always be sure to follow your individual preoperative instructions to avoid any complications during and after breast implant surgery.
Breast augmentation is an outpatient procedure that usually requires a one to two hour operation. Although breast Implant surgery is a short procedure, you will want to devote your entire day to the operation and allow yourself ample recovery time. Breast Implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and you will be sedated for the duration of the procedure.
During the surgery, Dr. John LeRoy will make an incision in the location you will have decided on during your consultation (along the crease of the breast, in the armpit, through the navel, or around the areola) and then place the implant either in front of or behind the chest muscle according to your prior selection. After the breast implant has been placed, Dr. LeRoy will carefully close the incision using sutures, making them as discreet as possible. Your breasts will be wrapped in gauze for support, then fitted with a surgical bra that you will wear for the first few weeks following surgery.
After your breast implant surgery, you will need to get plenty of rest and strictly limit your activity. During the first one to two days, you will likely experience some pain and discomfort, which can be managed with a prescription pain medication. Again, it is highly advisable to have a friend or relative to care for you during the first few days of healing, as you will be very tired and sore. Your breasts will be very sensitive for several weeks after breast implant surgery and may remain swollen for up to five weeks. It is very important to refrain from strenuous activity such as lifting and bending until you are fully healed.
The scars left by the incisions through which the breast implant are inserted will remain pink for the first six weeks or so and then fade significantly over the following months. Although your scars will never disappear completely, they will be very difficult to detect. See our breast augmentation before-and-after photos to get an idea of how subtle post surgical scarring usually is.
In the years following your breast Implant surgery, you will need to take special precautions when having your annual mammograms (recommended for women over 40). You should be sure to have your mammograms performed at a radiology center that is specially equipped to perform mammograms on women with breast implant. If special precautions are not taken, breast implant can affect the accuracy of the mammogram. For more information about post-surgical precautions, see our answers to frequently asked questions about breast enlargement.
Contact our cosmetic surgery office in Atlanta, Georgia for more information about breast implant surgery. Dr. John LeRoy will be happy to meet with you to discuss your concerns about surgery benefits, risks, and recovery.