Breast Augmentation Candidacy

If you are unhappy with the appearance of your breasts, you may be wondering, am I a candidate for breast augmentation? Most women in good general health and of an appropriate age are candidates for breast augmentation if they are looking to increase the size and improve the shape of their breasts.

This page provides some general background information on who is a good candidate for breast augmentation. The best way to learn if you are a candidate for the procedure is to schedule a consultation with Phoenix, Arizona board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John J. Corey today.

The Ideal Breast Augmentation Candidate

The ideal candidate for breast augmentation:

• Has aesthetic goals that breast augmentation can meet
• Is 18 or older (22 or older for silicone gel breast implants)
• Is in good general health
• Is prepared to make an informed decision
• Can afford the procedure

These characteristics are described in more detail below.

Aesthetic Goals for Breast Augmentation

If you are considering breast augmentation, it's important to make sure it's the procedure that will give you the results you desire. Breast augmentation can achieve:

• Larger breasts
• Firmer breasts
• More even breasts
• Breasts with a more attractive shape
• Breasts with less sagging caused by lost volume
• Better overall body proportion
• Better fitting clothing

Although breast augmentation can correct sagging due to volume lost in the breast, it is not a good procedure for correcting significant sagging of the breasts. If your breasts have significant sagging, a breast lift may be recommended.

Breast Augmentation and Age

Breast augmentation is not generally recommended for teens, even with parental consent. Saline-filled breast implants are only approved for women age 18 or older. Silicone filled breast implants are recommended for women age 22 or older.

Health for Breast Augmentation

Being healthy before having breast augmentation is crucial to reducing your risks from the procedure. Being in good general health means that you do not have any untreated infections or breast cancer. If you are close to 40 years old, it's often recommended that you have a mammogram before your breast augmentation to eliminate the possibility of undetected breast tumors. You should not be pregnant or nursing, and it should be at least six months after the birth of your child or when you stopped nursing. This will ensure your breasts have stabilized after the effects of pregnancy and nursing.

You should also be at or near your ideal weight, eating a balanced, healthy diet, and have a relatively active lifestyle to reduce risks from the procedure. Non-smokers have fewer complications after breast augmentation, and if you are a smoker you will be expected to quit smoking for several weeks before and after the procedure to reduce risks of complications.

Informed Decisions about Breast Augmentation

Making an informed decision about breast augmentation means being prepared to understand the benefits and risks of the procedure. During your consultation, you will be given documents that will help you understand the procedure in detail--if you're not prepared to read and fully understand these documents, then you're not a good candidate for the procedure.

You should also consider your motivation and recent track-record in making decisions. Do you tend to be happy with your decisions, or are you more likely to regret them? Do you desire this for you or are other people or recent events having an impact. Breast augmentation is a big decision, and you want to be sure you're prepared to make it.

Affordability of Breast Augmentation

The cost of breast augmentation is an important consideration in determining whether you are a candidate but cost should not be the number one factor in which doctor to choose. We can  give you an exact cost for your procedure, and there are many ways to find an average cost for breast augmentation in the Phoenix area. You don't have to be able to afford the entire cost up-front, since financing for breast augmentation is available, but you should have a reliable income that would enable you to make regular payments.

To talk about these issues in person with Phoenix, Arizona board certified plastic surgeon Dr. John J. Corey, please schedule your breast augmentation consultation today.  Also serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, and Tempe.