photo of model - for real plastic surgery patients, see before and after photos

Breast Augmentation Frequently Asked Questions

Your Breast Augmentation Surgery

Dr. Pittman–Waller normally performs breast augmentation surgery at an outpatient surgery center, either:

Northeast Baptist Surgery Center, located in the Northeast Baptist Medical Center, 8715 Village Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78217, 210-477-1775 or
Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Center at the Quarry, in our own building at 423 Treeline Park, San Antonio, Texas 78209, 210-829-2600.

The doctor and the staff are dedicated to ensuring your comfort during and after your breast augmentation surgery.

The procedure should take about two hours during which general anesthesia will be used, although it can sometimes take longer depending on your particular anatomy. The doctor makes a small incision in each breast area in order to insert the breast implants. The specific location for the incision will have been determined by you and the doctor, based on your individual anatomy and other pertinent factors. The doctor makes every effort to place the incision in a location that minimizes scarring.

Once the incision is made, the doctor raises the skin, breast tissue, and muscle to create a pocket for the breast implant. Dr. Pittman–Waller normally creates the pocket behind the subpectoral muscle, but in special circumstances may create the pocket in front of the muscle. An FDA approved breast implant, either saline or silicone gel, is centered in the pocket behind the nipple. The incision is then closed with dissolvable sutures and taped to add additional support.

After the breast augmentation surgery is completed you will be taken to the recovery room. After you awaken and are able to walk on your own, a friend or relative can drive you home.

Preparing for Your Breast Augmentation Surgery

Starting Now

STOP SMOKING: Smoking reduces circulation to the skin and impedes healing. It is best to avoid smoking, second hand smoke, and cigarette replacements, such as nicotine patches or gum, in the perioperative period, the period before and after breast augmentation surgery.

TAKE MULTIVITAMINS: Start taking multivitamins twice daily to improve your general health once you have scheduled your breast augmentation surgery.

TAKE VITAMIN C: Start taking 500 mg of Vitamin C twice daily to promote healing.

DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN: Stop taking medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen. Review the list of drugs containing aspirin and ibuprofen carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during and after breast augmentation surgery. Instead, use medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).

LIMIT VITAMIN E: Limit your intake of Vitamin E to less than 400 mg per day.

FILL YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS: You will be given prescriptions for medications. Please have them filled BEFORE the day of your breast augmentation surgery and bring them with you.

The Day Before Breast Augmentation Surgery

CONFIRM SURGERY TIME: We will call you to confirm the time of your breast augmentation surgery. If you are not going to be at home or at your office, please call us to confirm at (210) 826–2626.

PRESCRIPTIONS: Make sure that you have filled the prescriptions you were given and set the medications out to bring with you tomorrow.

CLEANSING: The night before your breast augmentation surgery, shower and wash the surgical areas with antibacterial soap.

EATING AND DRINKING: Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 midnight. This includes water.

The Morning of Your Breast Enlargement Surgery

SPECIAL INFORMATION: Do not eat or drink anything! If you take a daily medication, you may take it with a sip of water in the early morning. (Except, do not take any diabetic medications.)

ORAL HYGIENE: You may brush your teeth but do not swallow the water.

CLEANSING: Shower and wash the surgical areas again with antibacterial soap.

MAKEUP: Please do not wear moisturizers, creams, lotions, or makeup.

CLOTHING: Wear only comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that does not go over your head. Remove hairpins, wigs, and jewelry. Please do not bring valuables with you.

Medications to Avoid Before and After Breast Augmentation Surgery

If you are taking any medications on this list, they should be discontinued 10–14 days prior to breast augmentation surgery and only Tylenol should be taken for pain. All other medications that you are currently taking must be specifically cleared by Dr. Pittman–Waller prior to breast augmentation surgery. It is absolutely necessary that all of your current medications be specifically cleared by the doctor.

Aspirin Medications to Avoid

4–Way Cold Tabs
5–Aminosalicylic Acid
Acetylsalicylic Acid
Adprin–B products
Alka–Seltzer products
Amigesic
Anacin products
Anexsia w/Codeine
Argesic–SA
Arthra–G
Arthriten products
Arthritis Foundation products
Arthritis Pain Formula
Arthritis Strength BC Powder
Arthropan
ASA
Asacol
Ascriptin products
Aspergum
Asprimox products
Axotal
Azdone
Azulfidine products
B–A–C
Backache Maximum Strength Relief
Bayer Products
BC Powder
BC Tablets
Bismatrol products
Buffered Aspirin
Bufferin products
Buffetts 11
Buffex
Butal/ASA/Caff
Butalbital Compound
Cama Arthritis Pain Reliever
Carisoprodol Compound
Cheracol
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate
Choline Salicylate
Cope
Coricidin
Cortisone Medications
Damason–P
Darvon Compound–65
Darvon/ASA
Dipentum
Disalcid
Doan's products
Dolobid
Dristan
Duragesic
Easprin
Ecotrin products
Empirin products
Equagesic
Excedrin products
Fiorgen PF
Fiorinal products
Gelpirin
Genprin
Gensan
Goody's Extra Strength Headache Powder
Halfprin products
Isollyl Improved
Kaodene
Lanorinal
Lortab ASA
Magan
Magnaprin products
Magnesium
Magsal
Marnal
Marthritic
Meprobamate
Mesalamine
Methocarbamol
Micrainin
Mobidin
Mobigesic
Momentum
Mono–Gesic
Night–Time Effervescent Cold
Norgesic products
Norwich products
Olsalazine
Orphengesic products
Oxycodone
Pabalate products
P–A–C
Pain Reliever Tabs
Panasal
Pentasa
Pepto-Bismol
Percodan products
Phenaphen/Codeine #3
Pink Bismuth
Propoxyphene Compound products
Robaxisal
Rowasa
Roxeprin
Saleto products
Salflex
Salicylate products
Salsalate
Salsitab
Scot–Tussin Original 5–Action
Sine–off
Sinutab
Sodium Salicylate
Sodol Compound
Soma Compound
St. Joseph Aspirin
Sulfasalazine
Supac
Suprax
Synalgos–DC
Talwin
Triaminicin
Tricosal
Trilisate
Tussanil DH
Tussirex products
Ursinus–Inlay
Vanquish
Wesprin
Willow Bark products
Zorprin

Anti Inflammatory Medications to Avoid

Actron
Acular (opthalmic)
Advil products
Aleve
Anaprox products
Ansaid
Cataflam
Clinoril
Daypro
Diclofenac
Dimetapp Sinus
Dristan Sinus
Etodolac
Feldene
Fenoprofen
Flurbiprofen
Genpril
Haltran
IBU
Ibuprin
Ibuprofen
Ibuprohm
Indochron E–R
Indocin products
Indomethacin products
Ketoprofen
Ketorolac
Lodine
Meclofenamate
Meclomen
Mefenamic Acid
Menadol
Midol products
Motrin products
Nabumetone
Nalfon products
Naprelan
Naprosyn products
Naproxen
NaproxX
Ocufen (opthalmic)
Nuprin
Orudis products
Oruvail
Oxaprozin
Piroxicam
Ponstel
Profenal
Relafen
Rhinocaps
Sine–Aid products
Sulindac
Suprofen
Tolectin products
Tolmetin
Toradol
Voltaren

Other Medications to Avoid

4–Way with Codeine
A.C.A.
A–A Compound
Accutrim
Actifed
Acular (opthalmic)
Anaprox products
Anexsia Arthritis
Anisindione
Anturane
Bufferin
Children's Advil
Clinoril
Clinoril C
Contac
Coumadin
Dalteparin injection
Dicumerol
Dimetapp Sinus
Dipyridamole
Doxycycline
Emagrin
Enoxaparin injection
Feldene
Flagyl
Fragmin injection
Furadantin
Genpril
Heparin
Hydrocortisone
Ibuprin
Indochron E–R
Isollyl
Ketoprofen
Lovenox injection
Macrodantin
Meclofenamate
Mellaril
Menadol
Miradon
Nabumetone
Naprosyn products
Nuprin
Opasal
Oruvail
Pan–PAC
PentoxyfYlline
Persantine
Phenylpropanolamine
Ponstel
Prednisone
Protamine
Pyrroxate
Rhinocaps
Ru–Tuss
Salatin
Sinex
Sofarin
Soltice
Sparine
Stelazine
Sulfinpyrazone
Suprofen
Tenuate
Tenuate Dospan
Thorazine
Ticlid
Ticlopidine
Toradol
Trental
Ursinus
Vibramycin
Vitamin E
Warfarin

Tricyclic Antidepressant Medications to Avoid

Adapin
Amitriptyline
Amoxapine
Anafranil
Asendin
Aventyl
Clomipramine
Desipramine
Doxepin
Elavil
Endep
Etrafon products
Imipramine
Janimine
Limbitrol products
Ludiomil
Maprotiline
Norpramin
Nortriptyline
Pamelor
Pertofrane
Protriptyline
Sinequan
Surmontil
Tofranil
Triavil
Trimipramine
Vivactil

Herbal Medications to Avoid

Garlic
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginseng
St. John's Wort

More Breast Enlargement FAQs

Breast Cosmetic Surgery Information

Read an excerpt from Dr. Pittman–Waller's book The New Breast Book: New Breasts for a New Look and a New Outlook

Click here to schedule a consultation in our San Antonio plastic surgery office or call us at 210–826–2626.

Breast Augmentation – Breast Lift (Mastopexy) – Breast Reduction

San Antonio Plastic Surgeon Virginia Pittman Waller MD