Denver, Colorado
4600 Hale Parkway #100
Denver, Colorado 80220
303.320.5566		 Beverly Hills, California
416 N. Bedford #400
Beverly Hills, California 90210
310.275.5566
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 Breast Enhancement FAQs

Can you be too young or too old to have breast enlargement surgery?
We generally do not recommend this surgery for anyone younger than 18 years of age. It is not a question of physical maturity as much as emotional maturity. Breast enlargement involves an alteration in body image, which may be disturbing to someone who is emotionally immature. Regarding too old, as long as you are in good health, there is probably no upper age limit.

Can the surgery be done under local anesthesia?
While Dr. Grossman prefers general anesthesia (complete sleep) for his patients, it is possible to perform the surgery under a local anesthetic. If this is the choice, Dr. Grossman recommends that a technique called a "thoracic epidural" anesthetic be used. In this technique, the anesthesiologist creates a local block for the entire chest area and then administers some sedation as well.

Does it make any difference if I haven’t had children yet?
No. Breast implants should not interfere with either childbearing or breast feeding for that matter.

Do I have to stop smoking or should I use the nicotine patches or gum instead?
The nicotine in cigarettes as well as the nicotine replacement medications have a very bad effect on the skin following surgery and can result in poor healing with areas of skin loss. This is not quite as critical in breast enlargement surgery as it is in other cosmetic procedures such as breast uplift or reduction. Nevertheless, to eliminate some of the adverse effects during healing, no smoking, nicotine replacements, or supplements following surgery for at least 1 week is desirable. Drugs that suppress the desire to smoke, such as Zyban can be used. Our staff will prescribe this for you if you wish.

Can I have the surgery if I have a family history of breast cancer?
Yes. While we say that breast implants may interfere with mammography, generally speaking, most good mammography centers believe that they can cope with the presence of breast implants and obtain complete mammograms. It’s just that you need to have a diagnostic, rather than a screening mammogram done if you have implants. Additionally, there is no suggestion whatsoever in all of the serious research that has been done that there is any relationship between breast implants and breast or any other cancers.

Can I have the surgery if I have diabetes?
As long as your diabetes is in good control and you are not suffering from major sequelae of diabetes, you can have a breast enlargement surgery just like anyone else. Patients with diabetes have a slightly greater risk of infection than the general population, but not so much so as to disqualify you from the surgery.

Can I drive myself home after surgery?
No. Between the postoperative pain, the residual effects of the anesthetic (even if it were a local anesthetic), and the fact that you need to limit any use of the pectoral muscles, driving yourself is out. You need to arrange to have someone bring you to surgery and take you back home.

Will insurance pay for my surgery?
No. This is a cosmetic operation and is not covered by health insurance. Very rarely, when there is a birth defect that results in a breast deformity or marked asymmetry that requires the use of a breast implant, there may be a possibility of partial coverage. But I wouldn’t count on it.

Can my boyfriend/husband watch the surgery?
No.

What about having the surgery in a doctor’s office instead of a hospital?
There are a number of possible locations at which this type of surgery is performed. Many types are suitable. However, Dr. Grossman uses exclusively his operating suites at the Rose Medical Center Ambulatory Surgery Center in Denver or a fully licensed, accredited outpatient facility when at his Beverly Hills location.

Is there some other way that I could increase my breast size?
Not really. Breast and chest exercises won’t increase the size of anything other than your chest muscles, and this won’t look like bigger breasts. Transplanting fat from somewhere else to the breasts is contraindicated as it results in calcifications in the breasts that look like cancers on mammograms. Besides which, it doesn’t last very long before it disappears and becomes calcified. Therefore, enlargement with implants is currently the only effective means.

Do I have to stay in the hospital after surgery?
No. Except under unusual circumstances, this surgery is performed as a day-patient, that is in-and-out the same day.

Does someone have to be with me at home after surgery?
Yes. Following any anesthetic, it is important to have someone with you for the first day and night of surgery. That person doesn’t need to be a skilled nurse, but simply a capable adult who can assist you, be capable of managing any emergency that might occur, and provide transportation.

My girlfriend has 325 cc. Implants and I like the way it looks. Can I have the same?
The same size implants in two different people results in a different outcome in the two people. This is because the chest dimensions, the amount of breast tissue, the amount of skin and stretchability is different. It is best to approach the issue from the perspective of your friend’s breast/bra size that you like and try to duplicate that, when appropriate.

When can I bathe and shower?
Generally, we will allow you to carefully remove your surgical bra after about 48-72 hours and carefully shower with your back to the shower so that the water doesn’t strike your breasts directly. You also need to be careful about the amount of upper arm movement in the process of washing and shampooing your hair. 



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