After Breast Augmentation: Knowing Your New Normal

Breasts. If you have generous ones, you probably don’t think too much about surgery. But, for many women, breast augmentation is a serious concern, and one of the ways women find a renewed sense of self-esteem. Augmentation doesn’t have to be just for vanity, either. Cancer survivors often turn to breast augmentation as a way to “normalise” from their condition.

But, augmentation isn’t a simple outpatient procedure. Here’s what you need to find your new normal.

Your Breasts Will Be “Too High” Initially

Initially, right after surgery, your breasts will seem too high. They’re going to sit up high on your chest until the existing skin and tissue adjusts around the implant. You’ll also experience normal post-op swelling, which may exacerbate the problem.

Don’t worry, it will subside and your breasts will drop. Dr Robert Goldman is a skilled breast implant surgeon in Perth Western Australia, and even his patients experience this. It’s absolutely normal and nothing to worry about. Every woman experiences this.

Your Nipples Will Feel Prickly

Because breast augmentation involves surgery, it’s going to affect your nerves, muscles, and surrounding tissue. You’ll get random prickliness and tingling. You’ll also get short bouts of  pulsating throughout your breast area. This is normal. It’s part of the healing process

Your nipples may feel sore or numb for a bit. They won’t fall off. It will pass.

Your Implants Will Move

One of the more “freaky” things that happens to women post-op is that their implants start moving around with muscle movement. This is especially true if you had them placed submuscularly (underneath the muscle tissue). This will subside once the body adjusts to the implants. No one will see or notice this but you.

You May Have Buyer’s Remorse

It’s also common for women to regret the implants, especially given the side-effects after surgery. It may feel like you’ve undergone major surgery. You may be black and blue, you may have seemingly “never-ending” pain or numbness or tingling, or you may end up on an emotional roller-coaster.

You’ve just made major changes to your body. It’s normal to second guess yourself. In a few months, you’ll probably forget about the changes because you won’t be able to feel them – you won’t be hyper-aware of the augmentation since the side-effects of the surgery will have gone away.

You May Experience “Boob Greed”

Sometimes, women wonder if they went big enough. This is often referred to as “boob greed.” If you spend enough time planning for your augmentation, and objectively assessing your need or want for the surgery, this shouldn’t become a major issue.

You’ll Normalise

Eventually, you’ll normalise. You’ll settle into your new look. It’ll suddenly “hit” you – you made the right move. You’ll love the way you look, and the friends you have that can’t stop talking about their implants? Yeah, you’ll become one of them.

Don’t be afraid of it. Choose a good surgeon, research the size you want and need to look good, and go for it. It’s your body. You should have what you want.

Dr Robert Goldman is a Cosmetic Surgeon with a practice in Perth Western Australia and Cairns Queensland. Follow Dr Goldman on Google+.