Find the best surgeon near you with our new surgery professional search.
Join our Breast Implants Discussion Forum to begin talking to real breast implant patients now!
See pictures of real people before and after a breast implantation.
Find all kinds of information about Breast Implantation to make your decision easier.
Preparing For Breast Augmentation FAQ
This section covers frequently asked questions (FAQ) about preparing for breast augmentation surgery. This section should cover the most common questions. If you have a suggestion for any additional questions, please let us know.
- What kind of lab work will I need done before my breast augmentation surgery?
- When should I stop taking aspirin or Vitamin E before my breast augmentation surgery? What about drinking alcohol?
- Should I quit smoking before my breast augmentation surgery? Can I use a nicotine patch or gum?
- Should I take bromelain or drink pineapple juice before my surgery to help with bruising and swelling?
- What is Arnica montana? I have heard that it can prevent/reduces bruising and swelling; which is the best kind to take?
- If I am pregnant will my breast augmentation surgery have to be canceled?
- What should I bring to my breast augmentation surgery consultation?
- How can I prepare my home for after my surgery?
- What about my birth control, I don't want to be on my period for surgery.
- How much time should I take off work to recover from my breast augmentation surgery?
- Do I need to buy a recliner?
- Do I need to follow a special diet in the weeks before and after my breast augmentation procedure?
- What do I need to bring to the hospital/surgery center or keep in the car for the ride home?
- I am so nervous! What can I do to ease my pre-operative fears?
1. What kind of lab work will I need done before my breast augmentation surgery?
You will need to have some blood tests done and these should be done no more than 2 weeks before your breast augmentation surgery so that the results are still current. Your surgeon will probably require tests including a complete blood count (CBC), which measures your levels of white and red blood cells, among other things. If your red blood cells are low, you could be anemic and not fit for surgery. If your white blood cells are too high, you could have an infection your body is trying to fight off. If you have too few white blood cells this may mean that your immune system is compromised and that you could be at greater risk for an infection. If you have too few cells called platelets, your ability to clot could mean that you may bleed excessively.
You will also probably to be asked to take a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant, you should put off having breast implant surgery until after the pregnancy.
Your surgeon may also ask you to have a complete physical with your regular doctor, who would perform many of these blood tests. This physical may include a chest x-ray to check your lungs and an electrocardiogram to check your heart. This physical will probably not be covered by the fee to the surgeon. Your health insurer may cover it however, since a general physical every few years is usually covered.
Understand that the results of these tests may show a problem that will have to be evaluated before your breast implant surgery and thus delay your augmentation. Your surgeon should not operate unless you are in good health.
Most surgeons will ask you to have preliminary blood work done, at the minimum. If your surgeon says it is not needed, ask why.
The usual advice is to stop taking aspiring, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and any other drug that could thin the blood or interfere with clotting at least a week before your breast augmentation surgery. Aspirin is an anticoagulant, as is ibuprofen to a lesser extent.
Make sure your plastic surgeon has a complete list of all medications that you take. This list must include any vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal remedies, or over-the-counter products that you take on a regular basis. Ask your surgeon for more specific information and see our Medications Page ,as well.
Alcohol is expelled relatively quickly from the body and you can probably have one or two alcoholic beverages up to 4 days before your surgery, but a week is better.
Some surgeons say to avoid vitamin E right before breast augmentation surgery, however others say a small amount before surgery is beneficial. Many special preoperative supplements contain a small amount of vitamin E, as well as vitamin K. Please discuss this with your surgeon, especially if you already have any clotting problems.
3. Should I quit smoking before my breast augmentation surgery? Can I use a nicotine patch or gum?
Stop smoking whether you are having surgery or not. Stop smoking as soon as possible before your breast augmentation surgery and also avoid nicotine products of any kind. Nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor and impedes blood flow by constricting blood vessels. This hinders proper circulation, which is paramount for good healing. If your body can't get oxygen-rich blood to your treatment area you won't heal well and your breast implant scars will look worse, and that assumes nothing worse happens. If tissue doesn't get oxygen, it can die and will need to be removed before it becomes infected. Is smoking worth that?
Quit smoking well before your surgery. I did and I have remained a non-smoker ever since. Sure, it was difficult but it is worth it!
Quit smoking marijuana, too, before your surgery. Marijuana can increase the effects of anesthesia. It is best to quit all recreational drugs.
This is up to you and your cosmetic surgeon. Many physicians and plastic surgeons believe that bromelain (which is derived from pineapple) can help decrease enzyme. Proteolytic enzymes dissolve proteins.
Other products or herbal supplements that are occasionally recommended after surgery include Arnica montana, vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin C.
Not all surgeons will agree that these remedies truly work. Do not go against your surgeon's wishes and obey his preoperative and postoperative instructions. Always ask your surgeon first before taking any medications.
5. What is Arnica montana? I’ve heard that it can prevent or reduce bruising and lessen soreness.
Arnica Montana (sometimes called just arnica) is an herbal remedy. Other names for the plant include mountain tobacco and leopard's bane. Arnica has been used in Europe for centuries to treat swelling, soreness, and bruising. There are many formulations of arnica from different companies. Sublingual (under the tongue) types are the most often recommended for plastic surgery.
6. If I am pregnant will my breast augmentation surgery have to be canceled?
Yes. Elective surgery like breast augmentation is rarely a good idea during pregnancy. Anesthesia and some of the drugs that are used during surgery may present a small risk to an unborn baby. Emergency surgery would offset this risk, but cosmetic surgery does not. In addition, your breasts go through changes during pregnancy, which would throw off the results of a breast augmentation. Wait until after the baby is born and after you are done breastfeeding.
7. What should I bring to my breast augmentation surgery consultation?
Bring with you:
- A list of questions you want to ask the plastic surgeon
- A list of the medications you take. This list should include everything you take, including vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal and homeopathic remedies.
- Some photos to give your plastic surgeon an idea of the results you want and the results you don’t want.
- A friend, family member or spouse for moral support
- Bathing suits, bras, tops to wear while you try on implants for size and to help your surgeon visualize what you want
8. How can I prepare my home for after my surgery?
- Clean your house, or have it cleaned
- Stock up on food and treats like pudding, Jell-O, canned or instant soup, frozen dinners; or cook some meals ahead of time and freeze them
- Take out the trash, recyclables, etc., so you don't have to worry about it
- Do all your laundry
- Make a "Honey Do" list (bills, thermostat settings, errands, whatever) for your significant other
- Purchase your medications, vitamin C, and bandaging beforehand so you have it ready
- Arrange your medications in a pill case or in labeled containers, by day and time if need be
- Stock up on movies, books, magazines, videogames, and whatever else helps you pass the time pleasantly
The above is just a partial list. See our Preparing For Breast Augmentation Section for more information and handy print-out checklists.
9. What about my birth control? I don't want to be on my period for surgery.
If you are on birth control pills, ask your gynecologist about continuing on to another pack of pills without taking the placebo pills or skipping 7 days. This will prevent your period. You may have a bit of a hormone fluctuation.
Your menstrual cycle may be off for a while regardless, since surgery can be a stress for the body. Antibiotics can interfere with birth control pills, so be cautious and use a condom if you actually feel up to having sex during your recovery.
10. How much time should I take off work to recover from my breast augmentation surgery?
Most people take off 5 days, if they have a sedentary job to recover after breast augmentation surgery Ask your surgeon about how long you should take off from work if you have a more active occupation that might include lifting heavy objects or bending over. You might need to wait 3 weeks before returning to work.
11. Do I need to buy a recliner?
Although a recliner is nice to have, you certainly don't need to go buy one if you don’t have one. Well, maybe if you were thinking of redecorating your living room anyway! You can recline on your bed with several pillows behind your back and maybe one on each side and one under your knees to keep you from rolling over.
Your sleep will be interrupted the first few days due to medications, discomfort, not being able to roll over during your sleep, and frequent bathroom trips from the saline and fluids you must drink.
You should definitely eat a healthy, well balanced diet with a lot of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Good nutrition is important. You might want to cut back or eliminate caffeine for a couple of weeks before your surgery and, if you eat a lot of garlic, papaya, ginger and cayenne, cut back on those, too, since they can interfere with blood clotting if you eat them a lot.
After your breast implant surgery, you might want to eat soft foods that are going to be easy to digest, since medications (pain relievers and antibiotics) often cause constipation. Definitely drink lots of water during your recovery. This will help flush your system and help with constipation. High fiber foods like multigrain bread and oatmeal can help move things along, too.
13. What do I need to bring to the hospital/surgery center or keep in the car for the ride home?
Bring or wear:
- Comfortable, easily-accessible, loose-fitting clothing with slippers.
- Any medications you were instructed to take and have with you.
- Your surgery bras, or any compression garments or bandages you were asked to bring
- Pillows to make the ride home a bit more comfortable
- A small pail or can with a lid and some cool, bottled water to sip. You may be nauseated on the ride home and water can help relieve that a bit and can help rid you of the unpleasant taste you if you do vomit.
Do not bring: rings, watches, or other jewelry, electronics like a cell phone or Ipod, or large sums of money to the surgery center or hospital.
14. I am so nervous! What can I do to ease my preoperative fears?
It is normal to be nervous before surgery. Frankly, it is not normal to not be at least a bit nervous! You can help keep your self calm (or calmer) by making sure that your surgeon is aware of your wishes and by getting prepared before the breast implant surgery.
- Have all your shopping (from foods to gauze) is complete
- Have all of your medications in order or prepare a place for them to be with your medication time chart
- Talk any concerns over with your spouse or family and reassure them why you want the surgery
- Compare old photographs and go over either on paper or in your head why you truly want the surgery yourself.
Remind yourself that during the healing phase you will be bruised, sore, swollen, asymmetrical, tired, irritable, unsure, and possibly depressed.
You might want to print out our Postoperative Emotions Reminder List to help you remember these things.
Find out about other procedures such as breast lifts, liposuction and chin augmentation