Your Breast Augmentation Consultation

Items to Bring to Your Consultation

• Your list of questions for the plastic surgeon.
• A list of the medications you currently take.
• A list of your prior surgeries, including any procedures involving the breasts.
• Photos to illustrate your size goal, notes from your rice test, bras you would like to wear.

Consultation Fee

Find out in advance if the plastic surgeon charges for a consultation. Prices can vary from free to about $500. Some doctors refund the consultation fee if surgery is scheduled.

Discussing Your Goals and Medical History

You and the plastic surgeon will discuss your goals and expectations, your overall health and any personal factors that could affect the surgery.

• Your size goal — Much of the discussion will be about your goals and expectations for your target breast size. The surgeon will perform an examination and also review other aspects of your breasts, such as cleavage. You will probably be given actual breast implants to touch and feel, and will have the opportunity see how you look with different sizes. For much more about sizing, please see our section on choosing your new size.
• Your health and medical history — Be prepared to discuss your overall health and medical history. Bring a list of all of your current medications — prescription, over-the-counter and herbal. Include any vitamins you take. Also remember to bring a list of previous surgeries, and include any type of procedure involving the breasts.
• Your personal factors — Tell the doctor about other personal factors such as a family history of breast cancer or plans to lose weight or become pregnant. Also let the doctor know if you smoke, drink or have any allergies.

Be sure to ask to see before and after photos of the doctor's work and ask for patient referrals. You should also address costs and financing, risks and possible complications, the types of breast implants, surgery details such as anesthesia and the details of the recovery process.

Breast Examination

The plastic surgeon will examine your breasts and note the size and shape of your breasts, the amount of cleavage (the distance between the breasts) and the symmetry of your breasts. He or she will also assess the characteristics of your skin and other physical factors that could affect the surgery.

The plastic surgeon will evaluate your personal factors and the results of the examination to determine if your desired result can be realistically achieved. He or she will explain your options regarding the types of breast implants, incision types, implant placement and more. The doctor may also advise as to if a breast lift would be beneficial in addition to breast augmentation.

Moving Forward

As the consultation concludes, you may wish to schedule your surgery date, take some time to think or schedule a consultation with a different plastic surgeon. The doctor should leave the final decision to you. Listen to your intuition, follow up on patient references and check the doctor's credentials if you haven't done so (see our section on researching your plastic surgeon).