Breast augmentations - it's the most popular plastic surgery procedure there is and is one of the few that have become socially acceptable to the public en masse. Because it is OK to talk about having breast augmentations or breast implants it means that millions of women now feel they are able to seriously consider having the plastic surgery procedure.

So how do you go about researching, deciding on and going through a breast augmentations procedure? Our guide will take you through the whole process, step-by-step.

Researching Breast Augmentations:

The first step in deciding whether to have a breast augmentations is to gather all the information you can on the subject, and if you are reading his you have already begun that process.

The net is full of useful breast augmentations guides, although be very aware of those sites owned by plastic surgeons or plastic surgery clinics as they are obviously trying to sell you the product, rather than giving you an unbiased view of the surgical procedure, it's benefits and risks.

As well as the internet there are also plenty of books out there serving the same purpose, although our advice would be to stick to the free advice online and save that money to pay for a quality breast augmentations procedure!

So what should you be looking for? Find out first and foremost how long the recovery procedure is and what kinds of breast implants there are available as well as what is entailed in the actual surgical procedure too. Once you have a decent understanding of all the options the next stage is to find a trusted plastic surgeon that specialises in breast augmentations via our plastic surgeon directory so you can then organise a face-to-face consultation.

Breast Augmentations Consultation:

Sitting down face to face with a plastic surgeon you will be able to get a feel for their personal style and whether you feel at ease with them. This is very important as you are about to go through a personal and invasive procedure and one which can have a dramatic affect on your confidence.

That plastic surgeon should ask you about the cup size you would like to achieve as well as the shape and look you are after. It can be helpful to print off or cut out images of breasts you like as this will speed up the process and ensure you get what you want.

They will then examine your breasts and take photographs for their records and for a before and after breast augmentations comparison for you.

You should then be asked about your medical history, allergies and other surgical procedures you have had in the past, as well as questions about hereditary diseases such as breast cancer in your family.

Your plastic surgeon will then discuss the breast augmentations procedure with you and tell you about the various options you have available to you, including the size and position of the incision that will be made and the type of breast implants they will use.

He or she may also ask you to try on various sizes of implant on inside a bra so you can check that the size and shape you have opted for is definitely the right one... If you are not happy about these it can be very wise to go away and get a second opinion from another plastic surgeon before signing on the dotted line!

Here is a summary of the things you should talk about with your breast augmentations surgeon:

• Any medicines you are on.
• Your medical history
• Breast cancer in your family
• Weight loss plans
• Planned pregnancy
• The type of implant you want
• Site of incision

Breast Augmentations Costs:

Costs for this type of plastic surgery will vary considerably from clinic to clinic and surgeon to surgeon and the old adage that ?you get what you pay for' generally holds true.

Pay a few hundred quid and the chances are you will be taking a risk on the quality of the breast augmentations as the average cost of the surgery in the USA is just over $3,000. Remember though, that this doesn't include the cost of anesthesia and hospital stay and treatment costs. With these things included the final bill can easily creep up closer to double that original amount.

It can also be wise to take out plastic surgery insurance as general health insurance won't cover you. In taking out a policy make sure you check:

• If the policy covers the costs of the implant surgery, the implant, the anaesthesia, and other hospital costs
• If you are covered for the removal of the implants if it goes wrong
• If it covers you for the detection and treatment of a complication as a result of either the implant or reconstruction

Deciding on Cup Size:

This is a major decision and one you should pay a lot of attention too. Breast implant come in a variety of shapes, sizes and weights, the most common of which fall into the 200-600 cubic centimetre bracket (which will weigh between seven and 20 ounces).

In working with your plastic surgeon on this you should always check his thoughts on whether the size you are choosing is suitable for your frame as there is not a ?perfect size' for anyone and it is all about getting the right fit for you.

As we mentioned earlier pick out those pictures to show the surgeon of breasts you like and try stuffing your bra to the size you think you would like as reality can be very different to your initial perception! A great way of doing this is to take a small freezer bag and fill it with rice until you get the right size. You can then show this to your plastic surgeon so he can match it against a real implant.

The Breast Augmentations Procedure:

As with any surgical procedure breast augmentations is a real operation and you need to abide strictly to what the plastic surgeon tells you. Below you'll see a guide to the ?No Nos' and ?Must dos' for the procedure:

Must Dos...

• Get someone to drive you there and back
• Find somebody to care for you for the first two days after the surgery
• Ensure the surgeon gives you the implant manufacturer sticker as this will have all the details of the implant and any precautions and risks to be aware of.
• Wear loose clothing which is easy to get on and off.

?No Nos'

• Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications
• Don't smoke for at least two weeks
• Avoid food with Salicylate in them, which include fruits like apples and apricots.
• Do not take:, St. John's Wort, Echinacea, Garlic, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Gingko Biloba,
• Do not eat or drink for eight hours before surgery
• Do not remove any hair product, make up or any other cosmetic product on the day.

Step-by-Step Procedure Guide:

1. General anesthetic is administered.
2. The surgeon will make an incision.
3. The breast tissue will be lifted to create a space for the implant
4. The breast implant will be inserted
5. If you have chosen a saline implant, the implant will be filled
6. The implants will be moved into the right place.
7. The incision is stitched.
8. Bandages will be applied and the incision dressed...

Breast Augmentations Recovery:

First two days:

This is the least pleasant part of the whole process and you will be fatigued and uncomfortable. The aesthetic can make you feel sick too, so be aware of this.

Your chest may feel tight and you breasts very hard as they swell. This can also affect you r arms and back. Bed rest is the only tonic.

Day three to Day 14:

The pain will decrease over this period and the fatigue will begin to lift. Your dressings will be removed and you will be handed a not-so-handsome surgical bra to support your new implants.

Stitches will be removed after about a week and the bruises will begin to diminish in size and coloration and you can expect to be able to return to work after about a week. The stitches are removed in about one week.

Day 14 to Day 90:

Your breasts will be very tender for a long time after breast augmentation and this can last up to four weeks and you will not know the real size of your new breasts until the swelling subsides after around four or five weeks. It may take up to a year before the breast implants really settle into their natural position, however.

Your scarring will remain red for around six weeks, after which time they will begin to fade and you can return to the gym after around a month to begin SLOWLY building back up to fitness.

The good news is you will be consulted by your plastic surgeon about your breast augmentation recovery all the way through this process and they will ensure you are recovering well.

Breast Augmentations Glossary:

Adjustable volume implant: An implant that can be filled or emptied.

Axillary incision: This incision is made in the armpit to hide the scar.

Bottoming out: An implant that has descended too low.

Capsular Contraction: A tightening of the scar tissue around the implant.

Envelope: The skin of an implant

Fixed volume implant: This refers to a filled implant.

Hematoma: A collection of blood area that has escaped from the blood vessels.

Implant placement: Implants can be inserted in two places: either above or below the muscle.

Implant shape: Implants are either round or teardrop.

Implant surface: Implants are either smooth or textured in surface.

Implant volume: This refers to the cup size

Inframammary incision: An incision is made under the breast

Periareolar incision: This incision is made in a small semi-circle around the nipple.

Saline Implants: These implants have a silicone rubber shell filled with sterile saline.

Subpectoral implants: This refers to the particular placement of the implant under the chest muscle.

>> Find out more about breast enlargements here

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