My Questions

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Now I will admit, I made my list by getting questions from friends, and from other BR sites, but they are pretty universal. I added things I learned as well after some of the questions.

Are you Board Certified? How many breast reductions have you done this year? What are the general feelings your patients have after the surgery? (MAKE SURE THEY ARE CERTIFIED... What is is when a Doctor is Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery )

How many surgeries w/o an assistant? When using an assistant who does what? (my assistant was a Registered nurse Surgery Assistant RNSA, she helped suture, no cutting or shaping, just the needlework :-)

Will you sit me up to see how they look before finishing the surgery?

What's the Difference is the kinds of Scarring? What is a Keloid?

What is the worst thing that has happened to a patient you had, and how was it dealt with? (I asked this and was told very frankly about a woman who developed necrosis and lost her nipple and how a new nipple was created (grafted on), and the areola tattood on for a more natural look. I appreciated his honestly)

May I see some pictures so I know that we are on the same sheet of music? (I actually also brought some pictures of what I wanted)

Some pain medication makes me nauseous, what do you prescribe or suggest for pain? Can I take Dramamine w/it? (common pain relievers after surgery are Tylenol with Codeine or Vicadin. You may want to request the prescription before your discharge so you can have the meds before you have your surgery, so you do not have to do to the pharmacy on your way home.)

What are the side effects/ complications? How rare?( side effects are from the anesthesia can include depression, sluggishness of the bowels, and even prolonged nausea. Complications can be infection, necrosis (fat and or Skin), and or nipple loss from necrosis, or if you have a free nipple graft (FNG) the graft not taking. )

Do you use drainage tubes? (do you feel it helps w/pressure/necrosis)(I did not have these, so I cannot comment on them)

Do you do mainly Free nipple graphs? Is their a clavicle measurement you go by that warrants a free nipple graft? What are your feelings about free nipple graphs? should I expect to have any feeling in my nipples after surgery if one is used? (this is totally my opinion, but PS's who only do FNG's regardless of breast size may be doing it because it is easier than a traditional Pedicle Method. Some women will tell you to seek another PS if yours only does FNG's. The clavicle measurement is the measurement from your collar bone to your nipples prior to surgery. I believe mine was 29cm. I did not need a FNG, but also keep in mind that in extremely large reductions keeping the nipple attached (pedicle method) and retain adequate blood flow is a learned art. Do not discredit your PS just because he says the words FNG. If you trust your surgeon, do what you feel is best. Keep your eyes open, and ask all about a FNG. This is your body, and if you want a crash course in FNG's then ask for it. Many women do not have any feeling in their nipples after a FNG, (they have compared it to having tattooed on nipples) and they never regain the feeling. While others say they have feeling (nerves reattached) soon after surgery.)

Do I you insert a catheter? If surgery is to go over 4 hours will you per request? Can you make sure if you do have to insert one it will be out before I leave the OR?

What If I am on my period? Can I use a tampon during surgery?

How long does the surgery take? Be there at _______ When do I register at the hospital etc? As far as the hospital what do I need to bring with me? Do I need to buy a special bra? Should I have an extra bra at home that I can buy so I can wash one and wear one? (I bought a $30 Champion Bra before hand, and I am glad to have had a change. I also went to buy another Bestform Bra the Dr used a couple days post op. I recommend having a second bra, the bra I had from surgery was sort of nasty from drainage and such :-)

How long before I can lift heavy things? When can I drive? When can I shower? (I was told nothing over 15 lbs. for about a month)

What supplies will I need at home from the dressing changes? Do you use steri-strips, if they fall off early should I replace them? ( I needed lots of 4X4 pads, I kept them in my bra at all times for the first month, it helped so the bra would not cause friction on the nipples or incisions. I also think it is also sanitary to change them a couple times a day the first couple weeks or for how long you were draining to prevent infection.)

What is the price, how is it paid for, are follow up visits /complications included in the price? What about adding under arm Lipo suction? (I was told post op visits were covered, and lipo was out of the question, as my insurance would not mix two surgeries and only pay for one, so even if I chose to pay for the PS's costs, I could not share the OR cost with my insurance costs. Not all insurance's have this policy, but mine did.)

When do I have to come back? (Need to make appointments ahead of time). (I saw the PS 4 days post op, 2 weeks post op, and 6 weeks post op, and will see him again 3.5 months post op.)

Will you go over the photos I brought in of what I did/didn't like about the other's BR's?(I did this, and I think it helped make sure we both knew what I wanted.)

What type of anesthesia will be used? Needle / gas? I get nauseated very easily with surgery, can we try to prevent that? (I was given an IV (no gas) and I expressed concern about being sick. I was given medications from the anesthesiologist to prevent nausea and it worked.)

I have in the past had a reaction to some medical tape, almost like a tape burn, if there anything we can do to prevent a possible problem? ( I did tell my PS this, and although I did not have a reaction to the steri-strips, I did from the papertape... even though it was hypoallergenic. I actually did to need the tape for dressings ad the bra help them in place.)

How does this effect PMS breast pain? ( It DID cause more discomfort when I got my period within a week after surgery.)

Staples / Sutures: I'm scarred to death of having metal staples. You DO NOT use these correct? (some PS's use these,although my Dr. explained that the reason some use them is because they cost less then dissolvable sutures, or even removable sutures. If you trust your Dr, that's what's important.)

Do you use dissolving stitches on the outside and inside? (My PS did use all dissolving stitches.)

Once the surgery is done, do you have me apply anything for itching and or scarring? (I was told I could take Benadryl for itching, but nothing on incisions until they are TOTALLY healed, then they said if I wanted to I could use Vitamin E oil or something similar.)

Do I wear a special bra leaving? Or afterward? ( I woke up in a front eyehook sports bra)

My skin has very little elasticity. I have stretch marks in places that have never been large. Will my skin just tear with new stretch marks when the skin is made taunt? ( I get stretchmarks very easily, and I experienced no new stretch marks after surgery, but I was advised to not go crazy about going braless because I did stretch and sag before, I may have new breasts, but its the same skin.)

Does the surgery include liposuction on the side, or under arms? (mine did not)

How high on each side does the bottom scar go? (from center to outside edge)

Which pedicle procedure are you going to use? Does the method change the shape?

What is done for a nipple reduction? Is it flat, smaller, less diameter ? (this is NOT a areola reduction, (dark area around nipple, a nipple reduction is done if the actual nipple is to large.)

I want my breast and areola made smaller. I want rounded breast, not ski slope or pointy breast, how do I know, you know what shape I mean? (make sure your DR knows what you mean, pictures are helpful.)

Can I have something the night before or take a Tylenol PM to help me sleep?

Can I have Ethyl chloride spray or Benzocaine put on my skin to numb it before the IV?

(I was told to stay away from anything that has Motrin(Ibuprofen) or aspirin in it. These thin the blood, and that's what most DR's do not want to happen before surgery. Red Wine also does this, so if you enjoy a glass of wine routinely, you may want to ask your Plastic surgeon about this.

If you are on any other prescription Meds be sure to tell your surgeon about them. I was allowed to take birth control pills, and I think that most DR's approve them as well as Vitamin C tablets, but ALWAYS DO AS YOUR DOCTOR SAYS... if you are unsure of your Dr, Find a new one or get another opinion. Your Health is worth it! :-)

Here are some of the Meds that contain things that I have heard of PS's putting on the No no List: