7) Can you explain the process of the breast implant procedure?
This is actually a fairly common plastic surgery procedure in today’s society.
Typically, breast augmentation procedures are done on an outpatient basis,
which means that the surgery can be performed in an accredited office-based
surgical center, outpatient ambulatory surgical center or a hospital. One of
the most important decisions to be made between you and your doctor is perhaps
the location of the incision. There are three types of incisions that may be
used in breast augmentation procedures: under the crease of the breast, through
the nipple or under the arm pit. Breast Implants may be placed above the
pectoral muscle or below the muscle. This incision is usually done with minimal
visible scarring. Another important decision is the type and size of your
implants, depending on your desired breast size and shape. The most common
types of implants are saline-filled and silicone-filled.
One thing I learned fairly
quickly as I progressed through my physical changes----the doctors do not do
this sort of thing on credit. Insurance does not generally provide any coverage
for this procedure, or the subsequent sex reassignment surgery . That means you
have to pay the doctor cash up front………………….. The major reason for this is that
in the early days of the Sex Reassignment Surgery, there were no guidelines on
who was a good candidate for procedures such as this, and there were certainly
those who had such surgeries, and then decided they were nott happy as a girl.
Oh, well…….. In the case of breast implants, it isn’t that complicated to
remove them……but when one goes a little further, you get into a “no deposit, no
return” situation.
On the day of the surgery, you normally report to the hospital outpatient
surgery department and check in. You change into a gown, and the area of the
incision is marked and cleaned. An IV line is inserted. Your doctor and/or
anesthesiologist may come in and visit with you about the procedure. As the
time for the surgery approaches, you are given an anesthetic to allow you to
sleep through the procedure. The surgery lasts perhaps 30 – 45 minutes and you
then are taken to the recovery room until you awaken. You then are returned to
the surgical prep area where you are observed for a few hours until you are able
to get up, walk on your own, and use the restroom. After 5 or 6 hours, the area
is wrapped tightly with an elastic bandage of sorts which stays on 4-5 days,
and you are discharged and sent home. You are normally off work for 4-5 days,
the pain is minimal, but you need to be careful of your activities so as not to
pull the stitches out. The normal time off work is 4-5 days, so I had my
procedure done on a Wednesday to take advantage of the weekend.
In retrospect, however, I
believe that most plastic surgeons overlook the psychological aspects of the
surgery. The procedure itself is explained, as are any potential risks. Yet I
do know that for some reason I had a major psychological shock when I took the
wrapping off and looked in the mirror for the first time after the surgery. My
first thoughts actually were “OMG, what did I do to myself.” I am not totally
sure why I felt like that, since I knew I wanted the implants. I think it was
the realization that I was now no longer going to be able to take them off
anymore…….but that feeling didn’t last long. Today, I wish I would have gone
with somewhat bigger implants…….not a whole lot, but enough to make them more
obvious.
