The search for a plastic surgeon

I spent a lot of time searching for a plastic surgeon who would listen to me and not give me huge breasts because that is what he wanted. I made sure my surgeon was board certified and was willing to listen in the initial consultation. In this area, $5000-$6000 is a typical price for a good surgeon although I have seen surgeons charge on $3000 for the same work but I was very weary of the price. I wanted to have natural breasts and I looked all over the internet for what I liked and didn't like. I wanted natural but I knew I'd have some look of being "fake".

I finally decided on Raleigh Plastic Surgery. I like Dr. Lyle philosophy and trusted him on his judgements. I like to know where my doctor went to graduate school. So often there are schools out there that will make ANYONE a doctor. The whole practice of doctors at Raleigh Plastic Surgery seemed very knowledgeable and from a reputable background of practices and residencies. They had their own anesthesiologist so everything was "in house".

The next month before my surgery I would spend making sure I picked the right doctor, going to my regular doctor to make sure I was fit for surgery and getting second opinions from friends and family. I was finally ready to make the jump and finally put away all my self consciousness. I was doing this for ME! That was very important to me.

The Top 10 Breast Augmentation Problems, and How YOU Can Avoid Them!

by: Karen Beaumont

1. Your reason for wanting Breast Surgery is the right one.

The only person you must be having your Breast Augmentation operation is for YOU, and nobody else. It must not be for your boyfriend, husband or because of peer pressure. It is not anyone else who must live with the end results - it is YOU!

2. You have spent time choosing the Plastic Surgeon that understands YOUR needs.
Do not choose the first surgeon you see (unless they have come highly personally recommended and you hit it off straight away). Research and meet more than one, even if there is a small consultation fee involved - better to spend a small amount up front than spend more money resolving any problems!

Make sure they listen to everything you are saying, and are sympathetic to your needs and answer all your questions to your satisfaction. If you feel a good rapport with the surgeon, this is a good indication that they are in touch with you.

Get to know what to look for, what credentials your surgeon has and verify them.

3. Your chosen surgeon has outlined what they will do in the case of problems.

Your chosen surgeon may well be able to perform your surgery to your satisfaction, but what will they do if you do encounter unforeseen problems? Problems can happen, although rarely, so know that they are available on constant emergency call-out, and get a feeling for how they care about you post-operatively. The last thing you want is a “here today, gone tomorrow” type of surgeon.

4. You know what size implants are right for you.

The general requirement is to “go bigger”, but how big is bigger? There are several ways you can check just what final size will suit you:

a. The rice test

Fill plastic bags with dry rice, place the filled bags into the desired bra size, then try on your clothes. Walk around and generally get a feel for how it looks and feels for you. Try adding more or less rice until you are totally happy. You will need to weigh the rice, and convert this into CC or ML to get a direct representation of how it relates to implants.

b. The water test

Similar to the rice test, but place (warm!) water into plastic bags and perform the same tests. It is easier than the rice test as once you are happy with the size, the amount of water can be poured into a measuring container, and the CC or ML amount relates directly to the method of measuring implants.

c. Implant sizers

Your surgeon will have implant sizers in various sizes for you to try and get a feel for what you will look like. This is not as ideal as the rice or water tests, as unless you can take them home, you cannot try on a different selection of clothing and take your time to get used to the “new you”.

5. You fully understand the type of implants that are right for you.

a. Saline or silicone b. Textured or smooth c. Round or shaped
What you need is to do your homework, talk to your surgeon, and decide on what is right for you to meet your own personal needs.

Understand the implant manufacturers guarantee for their product.

6. You know what type of implant placement you need.

There are really 2 type of things to consider here:

a. Under the pectoral muscle or over it. b. High or low profile
Again, do your homework by researching the Internet which is full of this type of information, and discuss with your surgeon, as each person has different needs. Be aware of the advantages and risks involved in your choice.

7. You know what type of incision that will be used.

There are 4 main choices:

a. Underneath the breast in the breast crease. b. An incision in the nipple. c. An incision in the armpit. d. An incision in the navel.

Each has its advantages and risks, plus each surgeon has their own experience and choices. Understand what will be best for you, and balance this with the risks and your surgeon's experience with each type of incision.

8. You understand the risks, and are comfortable with them.

All surgery involves risks, which there is no getting away from. These risks are minimal, but still exist. Understand the risks by researching them and talking to your surgeon. Give your surgeon all the information you possibly can about your own medical history, and that of your immediate family.

You must be happy that the risks are so small that you are prepared to accept them, and that if anything does happen, your surgeon is fully equipped to deal with them.

9. Your partner understands what is involved.

Although your Breast Augmentation is being done for reasons that satisfy your own personal needs, if you have a partner, then he will be involved in helping you through your recovery. Let him know what is involved, and what he can and cannot do, and the timeframes involved, i.e. resuming sex, how much and how hard any touch you will be able to bear and for how long, the fact that you will need to wear a support bra day and night for 6 weeks, etc.
The last thing you want is a freaked-out partner when you are feeling less than your normal self. Six weeks can be a long wait, which may not be the case for you, but they must understand the full implications.

10. You know what will be required for your recovery post-operatively.

If you want to recover from your operation in as relaxed and comfortable way as possible, then BE PREPARED! This means both mentally, and practically.

Ensure you have a good support team around you to help with any children, household chores, transport, work, etc.

Make sure where you will be recovering for the first few days will be equipped with everything you will need, not excluding any pain medication you may need (which should be recommended and/or provided by your surgeon, but check).

Prepare yourself by having at least 2 good support bras in your new size, along with lose fitting clothing, preferably that does up at the front and does not require any arm lifting to put on/take off (any stretching will be out for at least a few days).

About The Author
Karen Beaumont is the author of the best-selling book "Boob Job Secrets". Download the first 2 chapters for free, from this link: http://www.BoobJobSecrets.com

What Does Breast Augmentation Cost? This is the Only Painful Bit!

by: Karen Beaumont

There is no getting away from it - new bodies do not come cheap! However, looking at this in a positive way, I am pleased about that, because I am a great believer that “You gets what you pays for” in life! If it was cheap, then I would worry about the level of qualifications of the surgeon, and would they still be around if problems developed, or had they moved on without leaving any tracks?

Rather than get bogged down thinking about the cost, view it as a long term value-add to your life. It may well give you increased quality to your life over many, many years. These are years that you can never claim back. If you delay, then it is only yourself that has to live with that regret. You need to calculate in your mind how to make it happen. In the words of Yoda “You Do or you Do Not, there is no Try” - a positive thinker!

Also, from a personal perspective, once I had the operation, the results were what I would class as “priceless”, my partner being so pleased that he remarked that it was the best $6,000 anyone had ever spent!

It does not take much surfing around the Internet to find out the average costs of each type of Breast Surgery. It does, however vary according to which U.S. state you have the operation in, or where in the world the surgery is performed.

The following are a good general guide for Breast Augmentation:

Cost Range: $5,000-$7,000 Average Total Cost : $6,000 Surgeons fee: $3,050 Anesthesiologist: $700 Facility fee: $950 Implant fee: $1,300
Insurance will not generally cover breast augmentation unless you have a mastectomy. If you are having silicone replaced due to adverse reactions, check with your insurance company.

Questions to ask your insurance:
1. Does my policy cover the costs of the implant surgery, the implant, the anesthesia, and other related hospital costs?
2. Does it cover removal and/or replacement of the implants if this becomes necessary?
3. Does it cover the cost of detecting or treating a complication as a result of either the implant or the reconstruction?
4. Will there be an increase in my insurance premium?
5. Will future cover be affected?
6. What manufacturer warranty exists for the implants themselves?

Revision or Replacement Cost:
Before your operation I cannot emphasize the importance of being happy with the size implants you want, and not least of all to avoid additional cost due to having your implants redone or replaced.

Please be sure to find out in advance what provisions will be made if you are unhappy. Will a revision or replacement be done for full, partial or no discount? How much of a replacement and under what conditions are they covered by a manufacturer's warranty are questions that need to be asked of each surgeon.

Multiple Procedures:
If you are considerating having more than one surgery at a time (i.e. Breast Uplift as well as Breast Implants) this can reduce the overall cost. Be sure to check with your doctor about the options available and the risks of combining more than one procedure.

Additional Costs:
One other additional cost that needs to be remembered is that you will need new clothes - notably underwear! Think about this when deciding how large you want to go. Be careful to try on various clothes that you know you want to keep with your new size bra padded out prior to the operation. The clothes will need to comfortably cope with an increase of 2 - 3 cup sizes and still look good. It is only your cup size that will change, not your under breast measurement.
There is no getting away from the fact that you must bid a fond farewell to those old bras! After your 6 week wait wearing only support bras, you will be very eager to buy your new size in more feminine and flattering lingerie. How easy it is to blow $200 in one hit! It's a great feeling, but do bear this in mind when considering the “hidden” costs of your operation!

Now you know what is involved, as long as your bank account can take the hit, what are you waiting for?

About The Author
Karen Beaumont tells you the things you need to know before considering Breast Augmentation in her best-selling eBook "Boob Job Secrets". Read the book online from this link: http://www.BoobJobSecrets.com.

A search for a non surgical enhancement

I always preferred a non surgical way to enhance myself I never tried pills as I take other daily medication and did not trust interactions. Yet, I was watching on TV (the news channel) and saw how people were "pumping" up themselves to increase their tissues. I learned all I could on the internet and it seemed safe. I got my pumps in and to my surprise they were really big. I was glad I was staying at home at the time because these things CANNOT be worn in public. I have a little frame and I was even embarassed to go out to the mailbox. Then, came the problems. It started with a small rash. Then, I kept loosing suction as well as sleep. I did faithfully keep the domes on and I was happy with what I did gain. I took them off, and three months later... I was back to my old size. Not even a little bit of a gain. Nothing.

I'm not sure if Brava works on other people. I faithfully wore these domes and while I was wearing them, it was nice. But, I felt like a vein person. How can a person do this to themselves day in and day out? I felt like hiding all the time. I felt like I was breastfeeding without the beautiful child to show for it. It wasn't worth trying it again. I gave up and sold the domes on Ebay. At least I got a little bit of my money back.

I'm not out to say people cannot get larger from these items. They didn't work for me and, in the end, made my self esteem even lower. I started wearing t-shirts to bed and keeping away from public scrutiny. I had to hide myself away from my children when I was wearing the domes for fear my young son's would ask me what was going on.

For the next two years, I because certain that having nice breasts was not in the cards for me. For awhile, I was fine knowing I had tried something....

Plastic Surgery How it started...

Well, of course, it all started when I was around 15. Other kids got them, I didn't! I had already been self conscious when I turned 16 because I had suffered from Scoliosis and had to have surgery (which put me in a body cast for 6 months).

I was used to the jokes already. Being little in stature, I heard all of them. "Little Bit", "spider bites"... All of them! Yet, my breasts were really not that small in high school and most of my friends would agree that I was "proportional".

When I reached mhy 20's all was going well. I was a 32B (maybe a little less). I got married, had children, and everything was great. I breastfed my first child and loved the look of my newfound additions! If only they wouldn't leak too! Yet, a few months after breastfeeding.... They were worse! I still tried to get into the old bras but I was now more close to a 32A then I was a 32B. Maybe even less than a 32A. I was afraid to measure. It was then, at 28 years of age, that I began to look at plastic surgery. Always wanting to, always thinking it was vain and I only "models" or "strippers" do those kind of things. Not Accounting-type moms...

And I contemplated.... Was I up for plastic surgery?