My breast augmentation is in 5 days and I'm scared. Anything to help me overcome my fears?

Anxiety prior to breast augmentation or any surgery is normal and can be reduced by getting fully prepared for surgery getting all of your questions answered.

Being nervous or anxious for surgery is certainly common especially if it's your first time going under general anesthesia. Being prepared is a great way to help set your mind at ease. Make sure all your lab work is completed for medical clearance, all prescriptions prescribed by surgeon filled prior, have your ride home arranged, create a comfortable space where you will be recovering, bring loose fitting clothing that will be easy to get on post op, and get plenty of rest the night before.

Congratulations on making the choice to have a breast augmentation!  It is perfectly normal to have some apprehension prior to surgery.  Most of my patients over the years have described feeling both nervous and excited as their day of surgery approached.  Modern anesthesia is very safe and hopefully your board-certified plastic surgeon has provided you with all the information needed to have a safe and successful surgical experience.  Having a good relationship with your surgeon and his/her staff is part of an enjoyable experience.  Good communication is also a very important part of your decision making process.  Make sure that you have chosen a surgeon and staff with whom you feel comfortable Being able to openly discuss your concerns and even fears is a critical aspect of the relationship that you develop with your surgical team.  

Thank you for your question. This is a fear many patients have especially if they have never had surgery. Assuming you are healthy, do not smoke or use drugs, are not taking any diet pills and have no family history of anesthesia complications you should do quite well as long as you have done your homework. Make sure your surgeon is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon operating in an accredited facility. Make sure your anesthesiologist is a Board Certified Anesthesiologist and not a nurse anesthetist. If you have verified these things, your anesthesia risks should be extremely low. Best of luck.

Being nervous before surgery is normal, especially when you read the consent forms describing the risks of surgery.  I always tell my patients that if you had to sign a similar consent form to drive your car, you would never leave the house because that is a lot higher risk activity than anesthesia, based on statistics.  With a good anesthesiologist and surgeon, the risks of a serious or life threatening issue is extremely low.  Be prepared for some soreness and tightness after surgery, and be patient with the implant settling process, but try not to worry more about the anesthesia than you worry about the drive in to the surgery center.  Good luck with your procedure!

Hello,Congratulations on your upcoming procedure. It is very common for people to feel anxious about anaesthetic, especially if they have no experience with it. In general, only elderly patients or those with significant medical problems (like heart, lung, or liver disease) are at increased risk with anaesthesia. Younger, healthy patients virtually never have issues with anaesthesia, so much so that I often do not discuss anaesthesia in-depth during the consultation compared to other risks.Selecting an experienced, board certified Plastic Surgeon who operates with qualified staff in an accredited facility, should alleviate many concerns. I recommend that you talk to your Plastic Surgeon about your concerns and let them advise you.All the best

It’s completely normal to feel anxious in the days leading up to surgery, and almost every patient experiences some level of fear or nervousness. In fact, those feelings often reflect that you’re taking the process seriously, which is a good thing. The most important step you’ve already taken is choosing a qualified, board-certified surgeon and an accredited surgical facility, which ensures that your safety and well-being remain the top priority.

In the meantime, focus on what you can control: prepare your recovery space at home, line up support for the first few days after surgery, and practice simple relaxation strategies such as deep breathing, guided meditation, or even listening to calming music or reading a favorite book. Many patients find that shifting their mindset toward the excitement of the outcome – how this procedure can positively impact their confidence and quality of life – helps ease pre-op jitters. And remember, the vast majority of patients report that their fears leading up to surgery were far greater than the reality of the experience itself.

I tell my patients that if they are a little scared before surgery it is because they actually listened to pre operative counseling and read all the consents.  Surgery is a risk taken for a reward gained and these risks are taken very personally by the surgeon who wants a happy patient. Patients should ask themselves what exactly is causing the fear and then discuss these concerns with surgeon and family as appropriate.

Anxiety prior to surgery is very normal; its complete elimination is usually not possible. Assuming you have chosen your plastic surgeon carefully, other important "variables" such as anesthesia provider and surgery facility will be selected based on everyone's first priority: safety. This careful selection should give you some peace of mind that you will be safe around the time of surgery. Discuss your specific areas of concerns with your plastic surgeon who will be in the best position to help you calm your nerves.  
I ask my patients to try to be as calm as possible prior to surgery; this “calmness" tends to translate to a smoother postoperative course. You may be able to alleviate some pre operative anxiety with music, exercise, meditation, a glass of wine (if ok with your surgeon), and positive/objective focus on the long term outcome/benefits etc. prior to your procedure.
Generally, patients find that they did “get worked up for nothing” after their recovery is completed.
I hope this helps. 

Assuming that you are healthy and have disclosed all of your health related history, assuming that the anesthesia will be done by a Board Certified Doctor (Anesthesiologist), not a nurse anesthetist, and assuming that you are being done by a great real plastic surgeon in an accredited facility, your risks of anesthesia for a simple breast aug are exceedingly small. Just make sure all of those conditions apply.