Breast Implants

6 Tips for Viewing Breast Implant Before and After Pictures

Because everyone woman's body is different, you won't be able to completely predict your own results from looking at photos, so here are some things to keep in mind when viewing the breast augmentation photo gallery:

1. Look for breasts that are similar to yours “before” surgery. A determinant of a nice breast shape after surgery is a nice breast shape before surgery. During a breast augmentation doctors are creating a pocket, and inserting an implant. Surgeons are not changing the breast in most circumstances. Breast lifts do change the breast shape of course, but that's a different procedure entirely, which may or may not include a breast implant.

2. Are you different from average? Before and after pictures of breast implants help you identify how your breast differ from the "average" and see how that may fit into your results. For example, the amount of droop, the nipple position and your breast symmetry.

3. Celebrity breast implant photos aren’t helpful.  Women interested in breast augmentation frequently bring to their plastic surgery consultation photos from magazines. The problem is, if the celebrity in the photograph had before photos showing a breast shape or size, or even a body shape that is very different from you, the post-op ("after") photos are meaningless.

4. Are you looking at best case, or average case results? Ethically, plastic surgeons are supposed to show typical results, not just the very best, but typical results from breast implant surgery should be good.

5. Write down as many breast implant details from photos you like. Try to note the type, size, and positioning of the implant and provide that to the surgeon.

6. A plastic surgeon should be able to share many more photos with you. Ask if the procedure shown in the photo was performed by the plastic surgeon you are considering.

The bottom line: The breast implant results you see in before and after pictures give you a good sense of a plastic surgeon's skills and experience.