by Kristi Walker

Created on: April 24, 2008   Last Updated: June 21, 2008

Preparing for breast augmentation surgery isn't a physical time of preparation so much as a mental preparation. Surgery must be mentally prepared for, but the most pressing thing a woman must prepare herself for are the changes in her body that are about to take place. There are, of course, some physical aspects in preparing for breast implants, but most of them are simply common sense things.

The first physical preparation is to be physically fit. Breast augmentation isn't designed for someone who is overweight or unhealthy. Implants won't make you thinner, healthier or more attractive. Not in the conventional sense, anyway. If you smoke, this is the time to put them down! Augmentation, especially with a breast lift, has much higher risks of infection if you smoke. Luckily, I didn't. That mental and physical challenge wasn't one that I had to face.

Mental preparation is another thing entirely. Most women who want breast implants have to mentally prepare themselves for the change in their body. Most of this is positive, but some of it can be negative if you're not prepared. It's one thing to "think" about the changes that will happen, but it's quite another to truly prepare yourself for the knowledge that you are about to change your body in a way that can never really be reversed even if the implants are removed.

I think it's important to note that breast augmentation will only increase your self-esteem and how you feel about yourself as much as you let it. If you're considering implants for anyone other than yourself, you'll be disappointed. If you're doing it solely for yourself and because you genuinely want to improve your body in your own eyes, then you'll be thrilled. I'd know. I bought myself a pair!

I had breast augmentation four years ago. I have four children and I'm small boned and fairly thin. I'd always wanted to "fill out" my clothes better and just to have a more balanced figure, in general. Recently, I did have to go in and have new implants put in because I'm very physically active and my muscle had pushed the breast implant into a very uncomfortable position. These kinds of things aren't uncommon and are issues that should be taken into consideration before making the final decision to go ahead with the surgery.

Cost is another challenge for most people. It's also another mental battle that you must wage on your own. How much is looking the way you personally want to look worth to you? If you can't answer that question with some level of comfort,

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