Many of the patients who come to Beber Plastic want to know how long it will take to get bigger breasts. That’s a fair question especially if you need to take time off work or find someone to watch your kids. Breast augmentation takes between one to two hours but there are many factors that can affect how long it will actually take.
How long your surgery will take depends a lot on how bad your condition is. If you’re getting a simple breast augmentation and everything goes well, the procedure won’t take long. But if your body is different in some way or if you’re having more than one procedure at the same time, the surgery will take longer. We never rush through a procedure to save time because being accurate and paying attention to details is more important than being fast.
The length of the surgery depends a lot on where the implant is placed. Placing the implant under the chest muscle (submuscular placement) takes longer than placing it above the muscle (subglandular placement). Submuscular placement requires more cutting and pocket building to make sure the implant is in the right position. The extra work is worth it because it will give you better results in the long run and a more natural look. The kind of cut we make also affects how long the surgery will take. Inframammary incisions which are made in the fold of the breast don’t need much. Incisions near the nipple (periareolar) or in the armpit (transaxillary) may take longer because they are more complicated. During your consultation we’ll talk about what kind of incision is best for your body and your goals.
We’ll also talk about the good and bad things about each one like how much longer they might take. The length of your surgery will depend on how bad your condition is. If you’re having a basic breast augmentation and there are no problems, the procedure won’t take long. But if you’re having problems with your breast augmentation, the surgery will take longer. We never rush through a procedure to save time because being accurate and getting it right is more important than being fast. Tummy Tuck removes excess skin and tightens abdominal muscles for a smoother, flatter midsection.
The speed of the procedure also depends on how experienced your surgeon is. Surgeons who have done thousands of breast augmentations learn how to do their jobs better by using newer techniques. We’ve been doing breast augmentations for years at our Toronto office which allows us to keep the same pace of our operations without sacrificing quality. But we always put getting it right before getting it done quickly.
It takes time to give anesthesia before and after the surgery. The anesthesiologist has to put you to sleep and watch you while you’re doing it. Like when the anesthesia wears off, you’ll need time to heal after the procedure. It normally takes 2 to 3 hours from the time you walk into the operating room until you wake up in recovery even if the procedure itself only takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Adding breast augmentation to other procedures will naturally make the total time of the operation longer. Some patients choose to have a tummy tuck and breast augmentation done at the same time which changes the body more in one surgery. Combination procedures do have advantages like needing only one recovery time and one anesthesia session but they do take longer in the operating room. We carefully think about whether it makes sense to combine procedures for your specific situation.
Different kinds of patient anatomy can make surgery take longer. It may take longer to fix these problems if your breast tissue is thicker, your breasts are very uneven or you’ve had breast surgery before. We look at your anatomy during your examination to see if there are any problems that could make your surgery take longer. Preparing for these adjustments makes things run smoother. Sometimes things that come up during surgery that weren’t planned for take longer to fix. We don’t see tissue features or anatomical changes very often but we do sometimes see them that weren’t clear during the pre-operative evaluation.
We always put your safety first so we take as much time as we need to fix any problem the right way. We don’t talk about these things very often but we do because it’s important to be honest. The surgical facility’s rules can change the whole timeline. Before surgery can start the environment needs to be cleaned, the equipment needs to be set up and the patient needs to be positioned. You can’t rush through these steps because they are important for safety. In Toronto licensed surgical centres must follow strict guidelines to ensure every procedure is as safe as possible.
Patients spend different amounts of time in the recovery room. Some people wake up quickly after anesthesia and feel better in 30 minutes while others take longer to feel better. We watch over you until you wake up, feel better and are ready to go home with your driver. You will normally have to stay in recovery for about an hour before you can go home although this can vary.
When you plan your day around breast augmentation surgery you need to think about more than just the surgery itself. You should plan on spending about 4-5 hours at the surgical centre. This includes preparing for the surgery, the procedure itself and the time it takes to heal afterwards. We recommend someone drive you home and stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after your procedure.
A lot of people are worried that a longer procedure means more risk or complications. But taking the right amount of time to do the procedure correctly minimizes the chance of something going wrong. We never skip steps or rush through important parts of the surgery. Saving a few minutes of surgical time is not as important as keeping you safe and getting good results.
When you come in for a consultation at Beber Plastic Surgery we give you realistic estimates so you can plan ahead. We know you need to take time off work or make arrangements for family duties. Based on your consultation we may give you an idea of how long your surgery will take. However we always put doing a good job ahead of following a timeline. The length of your breast augmentation doesn’t matter; what counts is the quality of care you get and the results you achieve.
No matter how long the procedure is we pay attention to every detail. The time you spend on your operation will be worth it because the results will last for years and look great and natural. We promise to take care of you throughout your whole surgical journey from your first consultation to your last follow up. Dr. Brett Beber, MD, FRCS, is a highly regarded plastic surgeon in Toronto known for his dedication to achieving natural, refined results through advanced surgical techniques and personalized patient care.
Disclaimer: The information provided by Beber Plastic Surgery is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, or a guaranteed cost estimate. Surgical pricing and treatment outcomes vary for each individual based on anatomy, procedure complexity, surgeon expertise, and other medical or facility-related factors.
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