With his breast augmentation patients, Dr. Tong utilizes education intensive preoperative consultations to reduce anxiety, employs precise surgical techniques to ease recovery, and provides exemplary postoperative care to provide an “extraordinary cosmetic surgery experience.”
Toronto, Ontario – According to Dr. Lawrence Tong, his practice’s mission is “to provide clients with an extraordinary cosmetic surgery experience, from beginning to end, and beyond.” At Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery, his private Toronto plastic surgery practice, Dr. Tong feels that this is particularly true with breast augmentation. He guides every patient through a preoperative consultation that includes detailed discussions on breast implant types, implant sizes and shapes, and different surgical approaches. Additionally, Dr. Tong keeps the patient’s recovery in mind throughout the consultation to ensure a recuperation process that is as quick and easy as possible.
Dr. Tong says many breast augmentation patients have read about the experiences of others on the internet and expect significant discomfort post-surgery; however, most of his patients are surprised by the ease of their recovery. In his recent blog post entitled, “Keys to a Smoother Breast Augmentation Recovery,” Dr. Tong notes that detailed patient education about the recovery process is imperative to establishing a foundation for a smooth recovery. During preoperative consultations, patients are taught what to expect during their recovery period, which he says will significantly reduce anxiety after surgery.
According to Dr. Tong, one of the most important things to ease the recovery is to minimize trauma to the tissues during surgery. This means handling all tissues, nerves, and vessels with the utmost care and precision. He notes that minimal trauma during surgery will translate to less postoperative pain. In general, his patients only require narcotic-based pain medications for a few days, and typically return to work within five to seven days. However, he recommends that breast augmentation patients wait at least one full month before resuming their normal exercise routines.
The first evening after breast augmentation surgery is generally the most uncomfortable, says Dr. Tong. For this reason, he performs anesthetic intercostal blocks (injection of local anesthetic between the ribs) during surgery, which anesthetizes the chest region for approximately 12-16 hours. In addition to pain relief, intercostal blocks significantly decrease the need for oral narcotics (pain medications).
The Toronto plastic surgeon also highlights that support of family and friends is vital for a smooth recovery following breast augmentation. As a patient may still have residual effects of the general anesthetic during the first evening, Dr. Tong says someone should be available to look after the patient’s needs, including assisting with meals, medications, and monitoring their overall well-being through the first night. After the first evening, he adds that most patients are fairly independent, and do not require much help aside from strenuous tasks.
At Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery, the care Dr. Tong’s patients receive does not end after their surgery is completed. Dr. Tong personally calls his patients on the first evening to see how they are progressing. Additionally, a member of his staff will call each patient the following morning to make sure any questions or concerns are immediately addressed. Follow-up visits with the surgeon are carefully pre-planned, extending to a full year beyond surgery. Breast augmentation patients are also encouraged to return on a yearly basis for an annual check-up.
Dr. Tong says breast augmentation is a very rewarding surgery for many women. He adds that he tries to make the path from consultation to post-surgery a safe and comfortable journey for all of his patients.
About Lawrence Tong, MD, FACS, FRCSC
Dr. Lawrence Tong is double board-certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is an adjunct faculty member in the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Toronto. He earned his medical degree at the University of Toronto and completed residency training at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. He remains highly active teaching surgeons in training and participating in continuing education programs. Dr. Tong is available for interview upon request.
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