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When you decide to have a breast augmentation
procedure, you probably feel that you know exactly what size implants you want. Many women feel that way either because they would like a certain cup size or they have already tried wearing an
enhancer bra or used
silicone bra
pads. However, research shows that one out of four women realizes after the surgery that she would have liked a larger size. The result is dissatisfaction with the results.
Many patients go to their surgeon verbalizing the size of the implants their friend had placed or what they have seen in a magazine. What they do not understand is that the same sized implant will affect different breast sizes differently. Older techniques of reviewing
photographs brought in by the patient and discussing cup sizes are subjective. Cup size determination among patients and even among surgeons may not be the same between or within the group. It is, therefore, not an ideal method for surgical planning.
(Related:
Breast augmentation complications)
So how do you choose the implant size that will make you happy and be also feasible (the surgeon can only accommodate a certain size based on the amount of skin available? Traditionally, your surgeon will let you try several
implants by inserting them in your
bra. However, Dr. Andrew Mark Klapper, founder of Outer Beauty Plastic Surgery and The Center for Short Scar Breast Surgery in New York City, has developed a new system that he calls as the "Klapper Breast Simulation Session."
While it takes much longer to arrive at the final
size, the time and effort is definitely worth it.
(Related:
Saline or silicone implants)
This is how it works. Patients are shown on their own bodies the surgical outcomes of different size implants by a technique of specially developed sizers and medical photography. The simulated session involves taking front and side photographs of the patient clothed first in their natural pre-augmented state and then with soft sizers of different volumes. This simulates the additional volume added to the
breast mound during surgery and can be reviewed through multiple side by side photographic comparisons. These are digitally printed for the patient to take home and consider the size change alone or with input from friends and family. A thoughtful decision for final size can accordingly be determined, and underestimation of desired size avoided.
(Related:
What brand
of implants to choose?)
Dr. Klapper claims that when this procedure is used, you will never be dissatisfied with the final results. “There is too little precision in matching what a patient verbalizes her proposed
breast size should be by cup size alone or by showing clipped magazine photographs,” he says.
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