FAQs: Breast Augmentation & Breast Implant Consultation Checklist

Breast Augmentation Consultation Checklist from a Visitor

This consultation checklist overlaps much of the other checklists, but you may use it to customize your own. Print it out and bring it to your breast augmentation consultation, or just download our customized version.

A. Doctor’s experience/background:

1. What are your credentials?
2. Are you board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (http://www.plasticsurgery.org)?
3. How long have you been practicing plastic surgery?
4. Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, or suspended
5. How long have you done BAs and how many BAs did you do last year?
6. Any complaints?

B. Cost for surgery, complications, and follow-ups:

How much is the surgery and does that include your fee, implants, anesthesia, hospital charges and follow up visits?

• Surgeon’s fee
• Implant cost
• Anesthesia
• Hospital Charges
• Prescriptions
• Follow up visits
• Tax
• Other

1. If the surgery takes longer than expected and the above are charged by the hour, who pays the extra cost?
2. If I’m not satisfied with my surgery (revision surgery), or there are complications, what is my recourse with you?
3. What’s covered financially and for how long?
4. In the event that a second procedure is needed, does the original cost cover the additional expense?
5. When is payment due, at pre-op visit?
6. What is your policy if I chicken out? Refund!?
7. If doc charged consultation fee, can it be deducted from the cost of my surgery?

• Note: If you wait longer than 30 minutes, ask the doctor to waive the consultation fee.

C. Questions about the surgery itself:

1. Where will the procedure be performed?
2. If at a hospital, at which ones can you perform the surgery? (call hospitals later to confirm privileges) May I take a tour of the facility at the hospital?
3. If at a surgical suite, is the office accredited for surgery and by which organization? (AAAASF, AAAHC, OR JCAHO) contact American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASPRS) to find out about the suite 800-635-0635
4. How long is the surgery, and how long do you estimate recovery time?
5. Who will be assisting the doctor during the surgery?
6. What are their qualifications?
7. Does the plastic surgeon perform the entire surgery?
8. What type of anesthesia will be used, and who will administer it? What are their qualifications?
9. How are emergencies handled if problems occur?
10. What about nipple size - is nipple reduction possible after surgery if I choose to do that?
11. How do you avoid the telltale signs of surgery (scarring, visible implants, symmastia (implants move together) etc)?
12. How soon can we do surgery?
13. Need for future operations?
14. Do you use the Mladick No Touch Technique? (implants are moved directly from a sealed package to antibiotic liquid. Pockets are made for implants and then the surgeon changes gloves, coats the gloves and instruments with antibiotic liquid. Pockets are washed out with antibiotic solution. Surgeon then puts the implants into the pocket, touching it only with gloves and instruments covered with antibiotic solution. Neither air not skin bacteria are allowed to touch the implants.) I’ve read that it greatly reduces infection and capsular contraction risks. If not, why?
15. Pre-op – what needs to be done? Cost?
16. Do you use drains – if so, why? If not, why?

D. Questions about implants:

1. Difference between silicone breast implants and saline breast implants?
   1. Which do you prefer?
   2. What’s required to get silicone?
2. What’s the difference between the implants you use and those from Dow that everyone claims to have gotten sick from (other than the silicone inside)?
   
3. Explain to me the difference between smooth and textured implants.
4. I have heard that smooth implants move more freely and act more like the natural breast, is this true?
5. Tell me the difference between round and anatomical (tear drop) implants.
6. Does the FDA approve the implant the doctor will be using?
7. What procedure is the doctor recommending and why? (Discuss different incision types, location of the implant, type of implant, and whether the doctor recommends a breast lift in addition to augmentation.)
8. Is there a warranty on the implants?
9. What is the warranty on the implants themselves? Will my surgery be covered given the methods you will be using?
10. What are the guidelines and recommendations for selecting the implant breast size?
11. Can you achieve my size goal? If not please explain to me why not.
12. How do you determine how many cc’s to use to achieve desired results?
13. How do you tell if the implants are in the right place, the right size, etc during surgery?
14. How long will it take the implants to soften and settle? In other words how long before what you see is what you get? I don’t want to droop to my knees!
15. I have had lower back problems in the past. How do I know that the implants won’t be too heavy and cause further back problems?
16. How will the breast implants affect the way my routine mammograms are performed?

E. Risks/side effects of the procedure:

1. Please explain the risks associated with the procedure, including:
   • Less improvement than expected from breast augmentation surgery
   • Hematoma (accumulation of blood at surgical site after skin incision is closed)
   • Seroma (collection of clear fluid that weeps into wound several days following surgery)
   • Capsular contracture (how common is it? What happens if I get? Is treatment for it covered as part of the original fee? Can it be avoided? If so, how?)
   • Skin death or skin breakdown (necrosis)
   • Granulomas (non-cancerous lumps)
   • Breast Asymmetry
   • Breast surgery Infection
   • Nipple sensitivity
   • What is rippling? Do you “overfill” or take other steps to avoid this?
   • Sloshing (will they make noises?)
   • Breast Implant Rupture
   • Breast Implant Displacement
   • Breast Implant Deflation
   • Symptoms of immune system disorders
   • Loss of feeling – numbness or tingling in breasts (how common is it?)
   • Breast feeding with breast implants
2. How do you respond to web sites that claim plastic surgeons tell us what we want to hear when it comes to the risks and dangers of implants?
3. Percent of patients who experienced any of the aforementioned risks?

F. Post-op questions/care:

1. I am currently taking “ “ medications. Will there be any problems with taking the medication immediately before and after surgery?
2. Will my medications interact with anything I will need to take during recovery?
3. What kind of pain medication will I be given to take at home? Muscle relaxers? I’m sensitive to pain meds. Anti-nausea?
4. How can I expect to feel after waking?
5. What should I expect post-operatively, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, bathing, and level of activity?
6. What will I need to buy for recovery? (sports bra, ice packs, etc.)
7. I’ve heard women mention that they have a hard time finding bras that fit well after Bas. Do you foresee this problem with the size I’m considering?
8. How long will I need help after surgery?
9. How long before I can lift?
10. How long before I can drive?
11. How long before I can go back to work?
12. Do you recommend massage? How is it done, and why?
13. What do you think about Vitamin E to reduce scarring?
14. I’ve read that my period cycle may be thrown off a month or two? True?

G. References/pictures:

1. Will the doctor provide references of patients who have had the same procedure? (The doctor should have a list of references available.)
2. Will the doctor provide before/after photographs of breast augmentations he/she has performed?
3. Do you have video of the breast surgery?

• Additional Note – Call your Insurance Company and ask what their policy is on Breast Augmentations. Most likely they will not cover the surgery itself, but I’ve read that some insurance companies may discontinue your policy completely. Also, ask what their policy is on complications that may result from Breast Augmentation.

H. My Breast Augmentation Preferences (fill in with yours before you go):

1. Breast Implant position:
2. Breast Implant surface:
3. Breast Implant shape:
4. Breast Implant volume:
5. Breast Implant fill:
6. Site of incision: