Psychological Considerations for Breast Surgery in Australia

Published August 3, 2014

Psychological Considerations for Breast Surgery in Australia

The desire to undergo breast surgery in Australia

Many women think about undergoing breast surgery in Australia, whether to enlarge the breasts with augmentation mammoplasty, reduce with reduction mammoplasty, or reshape the breasts with mastopexy surgery.

Now such a procedure can help patients attain the breast appearance they desire, especially in the case of breast reconstruction surgery for women affected by trauma or congenital defects. However, it should not be considered the fix-all answer to concerns about the breasts, as there are many things to consider before surgery can become an option.

A couple of psychological factors need to be considered even before thinking about having the surgery if only to have a clear and realistic picture of what the results could be. More importantly, we need to make sure that the motivations behind the desire of getting the procedure done is actually a healthy one!

Psychological considerations for breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery

The first and perhaps the most important item on the list of considerations that one ought to make when it comes to breast surgery in Australia is whether or not you are actually doing it for yourself.

If you feel like you are being pressured by someone else to get it done or if you are thinking of doing it to make somebody happy then breast surgery is very likely ill recommended. In such a case, you should probably rethink your motivations and how they are related to external influences.

Another reason a woman might consider the surgery is if she is convinced that her life will significantly improve after the surgery. Such people should ensure that their expectations are realistic and maybe take a deeper look at what is motivating them to pursue surgery.

It’s important to understand that surgery is not a magic solution, and it’s not a good idea to get surgery if there are deeper psychological problems that need to be addressed first. Simply put – women should not expect huge changes in their lives simply because their cup size has gotten bigger.

These are but a few of the psychological considerations that women ought to make about breast surgery. Most reputable surgeons do need to assess the psychological fitness of the patient before surgery in order to make sure that their patient actually wants the procedure for the right reasons. It also helps to ensure that the patient approaches the procedure in a healthy head-space which will increase the chances of them being satisfied with the outcome.

Ensure that you speak with a medical professional about your goals, motivations, and any other relevant psychological factors before your surgery.

Published By: Dr Kourosh Tavakoli

Dr Kourosh Tavakoli, MS, FRACS, is an Australian-trained plastic surgeon with over 20 years of surgical training. He is an active member of the International Society (ISAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). He is knowledgeable in plastic surgery of the breast and body and lectures extensively around the world on these topics.