Before treatment

First appointment

At Perfecta your care is led by your Consultant Plastic Surgeon and you will see them at least twice before your procedure. Your first appointment with your surgeon a lasts round half an hour and includes specialist assessment. Then we will discuss how we can help you achieve the result you want. We will go through your options for treatment and then discuss the procedure with you so you understand what is involved and answer any questions you may have. We use a breast implant sizing system so you can choose your implant size, if you choose reshape with implants.

After your first appointment we will send you los of information about your treatment options and provide you with a fixed cost for your package of care. We will then give you time and space to decide what you would like to do. When you are ready our office team will help you book a date for your procedure and arrange a second appointment with your surgeon.

Do I need to bring any information with me to my appointment?

It is helpful to know the details of your original breast enlargement, such as the size and shape of your implants and whether they were placed under of over the muscle. This should be on your paperwork from the hospital following your original breast enlargement. Dont worry if you don’t have this paperwork or can’t remember as we can usually work it out. 

Second appointment

Your second appointment gives you the chance to meet your surgeon again and discuss your procedure in more detail. We will go through all the important information about your breast procedure to help you make the right choices for the result you want to achieve, including the site of incisions (and subsequent scars) and the size, shape, surface texture and position of your new implants. We will use the breast implant sizing system once again to help you choose the right implant size. We will discuss your hospital care, anaesthetic and recovery and your aftercare plan. We will also discuss the potential risks and complications of surgery, so you are fully informed.

Pre-assessment appointment

A few weeks before your procedure you will have an appointment with our nurses for a pre-operative medical. Our nurses will tell you everything you need to know for the day of your procedure, such as what time to stop eating and drinking, what time to come in to the hospital, and what to bring with you. If you have any questions about these details or anything else then please ask your nurse or feel free to email or call us.

Do your research

Read up on your treatment options before your appointment. Good sources of information are our website and the BAPRAS website (www.bapras.co.uk) and BAAPS website (www.baaps.co.uk). It can be helpful to read blogs written by people who have had your procedure. But bear in mind they only have experience of their own journey. Your expert Consultant Plastic Surgeon and our experienced nurses have looked after hundreds of patients and have an unrivalled level of knowledge and understanding to help you. Ask us anything you want to know.

Come with a friend

It is a good idea to come to your appointment with someone – your partner, your mum, your best friend – you choose. But don’t worry if you do come on your own, we always have a nurse chaperone to keep you company.

Write down a list of questions 

In the week before your appointment make a note of any questions you want to ask. We will give you lots of useful information during your appointment. Afterwards we will email you with written information to help you make the right decision and make sure you are fully informed. Don’t worry if you forget what you wanted to ask. We will be seeing you for a second appointment or you can email us at any time.

Can I see photos of your work?

Yes of course. We will show you lots of photographs of our patients who have had breast implant replacement to show the type of improvement we can achieve.

Take some ‘before’ selfies

You might like to take some photos before your procedure to remind you how you used to look! We will also do this on the day of your procedure for your medical records. 

Can I get finance?

The private hospitals we work with offer finance for your procedure. Please ask for further details at your consultation or click here for more information.

On the day of your procedure

Things to bring

Bring your phone and charger and a book or magazine. There is always a lot of waiting around in hospital so bring things to keep you amused. There is a TV in your private room and your partner, family member or friend can stay with you the whole time. Bring you dressing gown and slippers and you can stay comfortable in your favourite things whilst you wait.

Will I see my Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the day?

When you arrive at the hospital you will be shown to your private room and your nurse will get you ready for your procedure. At Perfecta your care is led by your Consultant Plastic Surgeon and you will see them again on the day of your procedure to go through some final paperwork, including the hospital consent form, take photographs for your medical records and do your pre-operative markings. Then you are ready to go.

Who will give my anaesthetic?

We only work with experienced Consultant Anaesthetists, all of whom are also NHS Consultant Anaesthetists. You will have the opportunity to meet your Consultant Anaesthetist on the day as well. They will complete your pre-operative assessment to make sure you are safe and ready to go ahead. They will talk you through the anaesthetic and your recovery. General anaesthetic (asleep) can make people feel sick and surgery can be painful. We take great care to make your procedure as smooth as possible and do lots of things to help you wake up without feeling sore or sick. 

Your package of care

All of your after-care is provided as part of your package of care, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. When you are ready to go home, the nurses will give you an appointment for your first check up a week later. You will see your Consultant Plastic Surgeon 3 months after surgery and again after 12 months. If you have any problems in between appointments then don’t worry, just give us a call, speak to the nurses and come back to see us.

What will my breasts look like when I wake up

After you procedure your breast will look bigger and fuller. Early on your breasts may look quite full and high (‘upside down breasts’). Slowly over the next few months the fullness in your upper breast goes down and the lower breast fills out (‘fluffing’). Be prepared to wait up to 12 months for them to settle fully.

When can I go home?

Most clients go home the same day, once you feel ready. Some choose to stay overnight and go home the next day – you choose.

Dressings, tapes and massage

We use showerproof tape dressings after your breast surgery. Continue with the tape for four weeks. After four weeks remove the tape and massage the scar every day with Bio-oil (which you can find at Superdrug and supermarkets). Massage your breasts in the shower with shampoo or shower gel. This is a great way of getting to know the feel of your new breasts and of helping them settle down more quickly.

Can I shower after my procedure?

Yes – you can shower from day one. We encourage you to shower and wash your hair every day after surgery. The dressings we use are showerproof and are designed to get wet. After showering simply dab your dressings dry with a towel before putting your bra back on.

What sort of bra should I wear?

Wear a lycra-rich sports bra 24/7 (all the time you are not in the shower) for the first 3 months – the front zip ones are the best. Buy one for your second ‘sizing’ consultation and then use that afterwards. Wait around 3 months before buying new nice bras to allow your post-op swelling to settle.

When can I return to normal activities and work?

Please gently return to all your normal activities straight after your procedure. Washing your hair is great physiotherapy for your arms and shoulders after breast surgery. Most of our clients are back to most things (including work) a week or two after breast uplift and are back to everything (Including the gym and exercise classes) in a month. If you have implants as well then you might want to go easy on pectoral exercises in the future, particularly if your implants go under the muscle. You can drive as soon as you feel safe and able to do so. Most of our clients after breast surgery drive themselves back to their appointment one week after surgery.

When can I go on holiday?

This is a common question in clinic, particularly leading up to the summer. You could travel the following day if you need to. However it would be sensible to wait a couple of weeks. Most patients settle well and without any problems after breast surgery. However if you do have any issues then it is nice to be able to pop in and see us.

Sun protection and skin conditioning

Your chest will be more sensitive in the sun for a while after breast surgery. Look after yourself in the sun, particularly in the first six months after your procedure. Factor 50 suncream and lots of moisturising cream (or Bio-oil) are helpful.