Breast surgery is common in Australia. So you are not alone if you have breast surgery on your mind. It can improve sagging breasts when you get older, and after changes in weight and pregnancy. You may also want breast surgery to reduce or increase the size of your breasts, or for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.
Finding the best breast surgery specialist in Sydney can be challenging. The most important thing is to find an experienced specialist plastic surgeon who can give you the right advice and perform surgery so the results meet your goals.
It is important to know the difference between specialist plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons. When looking for expert plastic surgeons for breast augmentation in Sydney, there are some questions you should ask at the initial consultation.
Top Questions to Ask a Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Looking for the best breast surgeon Sydney you want to assess their level of experience and expertise. Do not forget to ask the surgeon the right questions. Here are the top five to help you prepare for your initial consultation.
1. Have you done Extra Training?
Any surgeon with a basic medical degree can do breast surgery in Australia. Allowing an inexperienced, untrained surgeon to operate on you can mean not getting the results you expect and the risk of complications can be higher. Worst case scenario is that you will need more surgery to correct any problems.
It is vital to ask the surgeon if they have done extra training, through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, on top of their medical degree. This will help you assess their competency.,.
2. What Experience do you have in Breast Augmentation?
To find out how much experience a specialist plastic surgeon has, ask:
- How long have you been doing breast surgery?A surgeon who routinely does breast surgery over a number of years will have good skills in the area. The longer they have been practicing, the better the results. They have the knowledge and experience to make good recommendations based on your individual circumstances.
- How often have you done this specific procedure?While a surgeon may have impressive qualifications, they may not have done the specific procedure you want. If the surgeon only performs the procedure occasionally, it may be better to find a surgeon who specialises in this type of surgery.
3. Where will the Surgery take Place?
A qualified surgeon would only do breast surgery in an accredited day surgery or a hospital. If surgery is to take place in the surgeon’s office, ask if they have hospital privileges. This is for your safety because if anything goes wrong they can admit you to treat you in a hospital. A surgeon with hospital privileges is essential, as these are only given to appropriately qualified surgeons.
4. Can I see Before and After Photos?
During your initial consultation, ask to see before and after photos of similar breast procedures to the one you want. These are photos the surgeon has the patient’s consent to show of their successful surgery. This allows you to see the results for yourself. It is also a good way to see what you can and cannot achieve.
Your surgeon uses photos as a visual tool to address your questions. How many photos of past surgery a surgeon can show you will help you to determine their competency. With the photos being of real patients, you can see the improvements the surgeon made. This helps you explore the options for breast reconstruction and learn more about customised breast implants.
5. How much will it Cost?
To help you make a decision, ask for a total cost of the procedure. While this should not be a deciding factor, it will give your insight into your surgeon’s expertise. If the total cost is low, it would pay to do some research into the surgeon. It maybe that they are not overly experienced. Remember, you get what you pay for so low cost surgery may not give you the results you want to achieve.
Keep in mind, there are reasons why the cost of breast surgery will vary, including:
- Some surgeons will do the surgery in their office and this will reduce the total cost. Make sure you ask your surgeon where the surgery will take place, whether it has accreditation and if they have hospital privileges in case there are complications during the surgery.
- Highly experienced surgeons may charge more than less experienced surgeons. This is because of their years of experience and they may use advanced breast surgery techniques and consider how AI enhances breast surgery planning.
Breast Surgery with Dr Steve Merten at Pure Aesthetics
Dr Steve Merten at Pure Aesthetics has a highly respected reputation as a specialist in breast surgery. After completing his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at Sydney University, he completed 11 years intense training with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He followed this with Fellowships in Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Surgery at the Melbourne Institute of Plastic Surgery and Monash University, and a Fellowship in Breast Reconstruction at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
He began practicing as a specialist plastic surgeon in 2001. One of his particular areas of interest and expertise is all forms of breast surgery and Dr Merten also has unique experience in gender affirmation breast and chest surgery.
Dr Merten has a passion for providing his patients with the best outcomes. He listens carefully and gives honest advice so people make good decisions.
Contact us today to make an appointment to discuss your breast surgery with Dr Merten.
