Preparing For Your Breast Augmentation Procedure

To enhance your appearance, raise your self-esteem, or improve the fit of your clothing, breast augmentation may be your answer. This type of surgery typically involves the insertion of breast implants, however, fat transfers from other parts of your body are sometimes used to enlarge the size of the breasts. Because the augmentation procedure is an invasive surgical procedure, there are some things you should do beforehand to help ensure a non-eventful recovery.

Include Dietary Protein

Consuming a protein-rich diet prior to your augmentation procedure may help speed up the healing process. Protein helps speed wound healing, boosts your metabolism, and can help promote blood flow to your incision sites to lower your risk of postoperative infections.

Lean sources of protein include yogurt, legumes, low-fat cheeses, and chicken breast. Tofu is another lean source of protein and is also an excellent source of healthy amino acids. While increasing your dietary protein intake may help enhance the healing process after your breast surgery, talk to your doctor about how much protein you should consume, especially if you have a kidney disorder.

In addition to increasing your protein intake before your breast augmentation, your surgeon may also recommend that you eat high-protein foods after your procedure to help increase your energy levels while helping to stave off postoperative fatigue.

Consider Your Supplements 

Another thing that can help you prepare for your augmentation procedure is to consider the effects your dietary supplements might have on your recovery. If you do not know what effects your supplements may have on your recovery, talk to your surgeon. Certain supplements, such as fish oil, magnesium, garlic, and even vitamin C, can have an effect on your blood platelets, which may raise your risk for abnormal postoperative bleeding.

Your surgeon may recommend that you stop taking your dietary supplements a week or more prior to undergoing your augmentation procedure to help ensure that they have cleared your system so that abnormal bleeding is less likely to occur both during and after your surgery. In addition to discussing your dietary supplement intake with your doctor, talk to him or her about the effects your medications may have on your recovery.

If you take aspirin or ibuprofen, you may need to stop taking them a couple of weeks prior to your surgery because these over-the-counter drugs can decrease platelet aggregation, increasing your risk for excessive bleeding.

To learn about other ways to prepare for your augmentation procedure, talk to your breast surgeon. When you are well-prepared for your surgery, you are more likely to enjoy a favorable recovery period.