By: Jerome Sepic, MD

A good breast enlargement surgeon will help you prepare for surgery, and there shouldn’t be any “big” surprises. However, the surgical experience is a little different for everyone, and there are bound to be a few things you didn’t think about, even if you planned carefully. Three of the most important ones:

1. Your results are not immediate.

This is a tricky one because even when my New Hampshire breast enlargement patients “know” that their breasts right after surgery will look dramatically different from their final results, many patients still are surprised when they wake up following surgery. Expect changes in how your breasts look and feel in the weeks and months following surgery. Patience will make your experience much more satisfying.

The best thing to do: Talk with your surgeon and meet with a past patient who made similar implant choices. Her reassurances about how your new breasts will develop may do a lot to ease any concerns.

2. Nipple sensitivity can take about one year to stabilize.

The initial “tingliness” and other changes in nipple sensation that many women have right after surgery can be concerning. In most cases, these changes should not be permanent, but they may take about a year to fade.

The best thing to do: Be patient, and make sure you follow your postoperative instructions carefully. Healthier healing helps to ensure healthier nerve tissues.

3. Breast implants are not identical to natural breast tissue.

This is something I think most women understand, but it’s worth touching on here as well. A talented New Hampshire plastic surgeon can create a breast enhancement result that will look and feel very close to natural breasts, but certain subtle differences can remain. Certain implant types and placement methods may produce a more natural outcome than others.

The best thing to do: If achieving the most natural look and feel is important to you, let your doctor know so that he/she can plan your procedure with this in mind.

By: Jerome Sepic, MD

It’s important to maintain a stable weight after body contouring cosmetic surgery. If your weight has fluctuated a lot in the past, you may be wondering what to do if you gain weight after your tummy tuck or liposuction procedure.

First, keep in mind that small, normal fluctuations of under 10 pounds usually make no difference to the quality of your results. But more significant weight gain can cause problems.

How Tummy Tuck and Liposuction Change With Weight Gain:

• Tummy tuck – Abdominoplasty tightens muscles that have stretched out, but if you gain weight in your abdomen after surgery, the muscles can stretch again. How to correct it: Unfortunately, there’s little you can do other than to get another New Hampshire tummy tuck. Losing the weight and exercising can help somewhat, but stretched abdominal muscles may not tighten themselves without surgery.
• Liposuction – Fat cells removed during liposuction won’t “grow back,” but remaining fat cells can and will become larger if you gain weight. How to correct it: The best way to recapture your results is to lose the weight. Weight fluctuation can cause some skin sagging, but get back on track with your exercise program and making sure you eat healthy.

Protect Your Results:

Understand what you will need to do to protect and maintain your results following liposuction or tummy tuck surgery, and take steps to make sure you maintain a healthy weight. Don’t see your surgery as an excuse to get careless with your health habits. Also, talk with your doctor (and a nutritionist if necessary) to make sure you know how to take care of your new shape.