So many of our cultural expectations for feminine beauty are tied to the look of a woman’s breasts, which is why breast augmentation remains the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery in the U.S. When you’re considering this potentially life-changing surgery, you want to make sure you are getting outstanding results you can feel satisfied with for years to come. In the end, your choice of surgeon will be highly personal.

With the increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery – especially breast augmentation – more doctors than ever are claiming to be “the best” at what they do. But what does that mean, and how can you separate advertising hype from reality? Here are some tips for choosing the best breast surgeon in richmond for you.

• • Do Your Homework
    You have a significant amount of research ahead of you to find the ideal breast surgeon for you. Not only will you want to visit multiple websites, read online reviews and look at before-and-after photos, you should also ask around among friends or relatives to see if they have any recommendations. Even if the surgeon who ended up being a great choice for your friend is not your eventual top pick, you’ll at least have a starting point if you ask for referrals.

• • Verify Surgeons’ Experience
    As you are narrowing down potential surgeons to perform your ideal breast procedure, the most important criterion to look for is board certification. Achieving board certification proves that a surgeon is eminently qualified to specialize in cosmetic surgery, and has all the training and experience necessary to provide consistently excellent results.

    While anyone with a medical license can set up shop as a plastic surgeon, board-certified cosmetic surgeons are the only ones who have completed a residency or fellowship in the discipline of aesthetic surgery, and have also passed a challenging series of written and oral exams proving that they have learned all the intricacies of their field.

    Because an expert technique is crucial for helping you achieve your desired results, you’ll also want to find out how long your potential surgeon has been performing breast surgery. It takes more than five years to become an expert in this field, and an experienced surgeon should be excited to share how long they have been performing the procedure.

    Finally, you’ll want to make sure your surgeon specializes in the specific procedure you are interested in. For example, if you would like a breast reduction, but a surgeon’s website makes it seem as if they only do breast augmentations, you may want to keep moving on.

• • Meet with Surgeons
    The goal of doing all this research should be to develop a shortlist of candidates for performing your breast surgery. You will then need to set up in-person meetings with these breast specialists to ask plenty of questions and get a feel for their personality, professionalism and bedside manner. Keep in mind; even if you meet with a surgeon who isn’t the best fit to perform your desired breast procedure, a face-to-face consultation is never a waste of time because of how much you can learn during the meeting.

• • Ask for Advice
    You have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to breast surgery, especially if you’re considering augmentations. You’ll want to choose a surgeon you can trust completely to advise you on complex topics like implant size, type of implant and where to make the incisions. While the final decision is yours to make, your plastic surgeon’s insight and experience in this area will be invaluable.

    A good cosmetic surgeon understands that breast surgery is not a one-size-fits-all procedure, and will work hand-in-hand with you as a trusted partner to create a tailor-made strategy that addresses all the goals you wish to achieve with your surgical outcomes.

• • Look at Aesthetic Philosophy
    When you meet with your surgeons, ask for before-and-after pictures of patients with a similar body type as yours who had the same breast procedure done. The more photos they can provide, the better. You’ll want to evaluate these photos carefully – not only to make sure they can achieve consistently good results for patients who share your concerns, but also to ascertain whether the surgeon’s aesthetic approach lines up with what you are hoping to achieve in terms of proportion and balance.

• • Value Honesty and Good Communications Skills
    Honesty and openness between you and your cosmetic surgeon are essential for helping you achieve your surgical goals. For example, if you are a petite, small-boned woman with a natural A cup who wants to go up to a DD cup, your plastic surgeon should be up-front with you about whether that goal is realistic for your body type.

    Good two-way communication between you and your surgeon will help you ensure you don’t wake up to an undesirable surprise, rather than the outcome you wanted, after your breast surgery. Conversations with your surgeon will help you gauge their commitment to careful planning and their understanding of what you’re looking for, and it will also give you an idea of whether they have the talent and drive necessary to achieve it.

• Trust Your Gut and Take Your Time
  If you ever feel uncomfortable or uncertain about your decision, even if you can’t put your finger on a specific reason, you don’t have to follow through with a particular office, doctor or procedure.

  The relationship you have with your plastic surgeon is intensely private and personal. It takes the right kind of connection and fusion of personalities to find the right match. That’s why it’s perfectly OK to take your time when choosing a doctor. After all, this is someone you’ll be sharing some of your deepest personal concerns with – some which you may not have ever brought up with anyone else before. Since breast surgery is an investment in yourself, you owe it to yourself never to rush into a decision.

Set up a Breast Surgery Consultation with Richmond Surgical Arts
Getting breast surgery can be an incredibly satisfying experience, boosting your self-esteem and allowing you to look great in the clothing styles you’ve always wanted to wear. By taking time to find the best breast surgeon for you, you will avoid regret, as well as additional risk and expense.

When you’re ready to find a surgeon who will work with you and become your expert partner in your breast surgery experience, you can start right here at Richmond Surgical Arts. Dr. Gregory Lynam is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has completed extensive training in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Contact our office today at 804-560-5260 to schedule your personalized breast surgery consultation.