Interview With A Patient Co-ordinator: Breast Surgery

Posted on 12th April 20188th March 2022 by Pau Webley

Working as a patient co-ordinator at a leading cosmetic and plastic surgeons’ is certainly an exciting, encouraging and rewarding role for Jodie. From providing patients with pre-surgery support and advice to liaising with surgeons and nurses for beneficial aftercare, there’s always much to be done. As many patients considering breast surgery want to understand the whole process, we recently sat down with Jodie to discuss just that. Who better than someone who oversees these surgeries on a regular basis?

I: Let’s start with the basics. A patient calls up. What are the typical questions they will ask?

J: They’ll ask lots of things. Surgery availability, prices, where procedures are held and how long after surgery can they go on holiday are common, as well as where we’re located, our surgeons’ names and how long we’ve been here. Successfully answering these questions is imperative to building trust with potential patients.

I: A prospective patient visits a clinic for a breast surgery consultation. How long will this last and what information will they be provided with?

J: Patients will see the surgeon for approximately 20-30 minutes and then the co-ordinator for another 30. The surgeon will go through any of the risks and complications of surgery and take patients’ breast measurements. They can also (and usually like to) try implants in a bra. A co-ordinator will discuss their pre-op, what happens prior to surgery and coming in for an MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) test. Some people may also need blood taking. We’ll also discuss with them what happens on the day of the procedure and aftercare. We offer a 1-year aftercare warranty and then we also offer a 20-year cover at an additional £599.

I: It sounds very thorough and well done.

J: It is. It’s a very thorough consultation. On their 1^st visit they get all the information that they could possibly require to help them make the decision about going ahead.

I: What breast surgery concerns do patients have, if any?

J: I think a main concern for patients is probably if they’ve chosen the right implant size. It’s probably the biggest decision on the day of consultation that patients make. So, the surgeon will take all of the breast measurements and he will advise an implant that’s suitable for those measurements. It’s not just a guessing game. He doesn’t just pick out a number and say, you know, you have a ‘325’. It’s all science. When the surgeon does the measurements, he’ll tell them what implant they can have and a lot of people will say, ‘No. I want to go bigger’, because of what their friends have told them to say. It’s obviously the surgeons’ job and our job to make them aware of the limits of what implant size they can have.

They then try implants in a bra with a vest on in front of a mirror and then they are told that what they see in the mirror is how their breasts will look naked. With a bra you can enhance them and make them look bigger. If the patient is unsure or a bit dubious about the size then we’d never let them go ahead with the surgery until they were completely happy. So, if they saw the surgeon and then came through to see a co-ordinator and were still ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ about the size, we’d send them back to see the surgeon again, or we’d make them an appointment to see a surgeon again so they can have a think about it.

I: That’s good. How long after a consultation will a patient typically come in for surgery?

J: They have to have a 2-week cooling off period. So, from the day of their consultation, they must wait 2 weeks until they can have the operation. Some people go ahead after 2 weeks. Some people go away, have a think about it and then call up and book a date. A lot of people have to take their time, you know, checking with work to see what holiday availability they can have.

The consultation, and all of the associated paperwork lasts 6 months, allowing a patient to go ahead with surgery within that time. But if they decide to go ahead after 6 months, they’d have to come back and do it all again.

I: What kind of things are patients asked to do pre-surgery?

J:1 week before their surgery date, we’ll email them an admission letter. On that admission letter, it tells them what time to arrive the day of surgery, it tells them what time to stop eating and drinking and what to bring with them. We always advise patients to bring something comfortable to travel home in, so something that zips up or buttons and nothing that they pull over their head. We also advise they bring some slip-on shoes so they haven’t got to bend over to put them on, and we’ll also discuss a post-op bra with them. They do have to bring a post-op bra with them and we’ll give them details about which one to order, depending on their size.

I: What should a patient expect on the day of their breast surgery?

J: On the day of surgery, the surgeon and the anaesthetist will both come onto the ward and speak with the patient. The surgeon will draw his measurements on the patient’s chest and the nurse will do some observations. She’ll take the oxygen levels and ion levels for example. Once the surgeon and anaesthetist are happy, then the patient will be gowned up and will walk down to theatre.

Everyone in theatre will introduce themselves to the patient, and the anaesthetist will then put a cannula in the patient’s hand and the patient will be asked to count down from 100 and then she’ll be asleep. The anaesthetist is stood by the side of the patient throughout the whole procedure. The surgeon makes an incision underneath the breast pocket. He makes a pocket inside the breast for the implant to go into. He’ll wash the pocket out, he’ll put the implant in and then close the pocket. He does obviously the same on both sides and then the patient will be taken to recovery and be woken up and taken back to bed to rest for between 4-6 hours before she’s discharged.

We have 3 rooms. A room with 4 beds, a room with 2 beds and a single room. The nurse manager will decide who’s going onto which ward. She’ll decide that the week before and it’ll be dependent on what procedure they’re having, what medication they’re on and any special care they may need.

I: Are they always discharged the same day, or is dependent on each person?

J: Most of our theatre lists are all planned as day cases, so if it’s just a straightforward breast augmentation, then yes, it’s just a day case. If it’s an uplift or breast reduction then they may be required to stay overnight.

I: How do patients usually feel after the surgery?

J: Very, very sleepy.

I: What post-surgery support do New Birkdale Clinic provide?

J: When they’re discharged they are given an out-of-hours phone number (24-hour care line) for the nurse manager. They are given antibiotics and painkillers and they take that for a week. They’re also given a post-op care leaflet and it tells them things such as not to shower and not to take the resins off. It gives them a date and time to come back and see the nurse, which is normally 1 week after surgery. At the appointment, the nurse will remove the dressings and just check that everything is healing ok. She may redress them, but most of the time, everyone should be healing ok enough to leave the dressings off. However, they must continue to wear a sports bra day and night for 6 weeks.

They’ll see the surgeon between 4 and 6 weeks post-op and if everything is fine at that appointment then the surgeon will discharge the patient and there’s no need for them to come back. But if they do want to come back, or if they have any concerns or worries, then they’re more than welcome to. They have aftercare cover for 1 year, with all appointments to see the surgeon, nurse and staff within that year free of charge.

I: Do you have any advice for those considering breast surgery?

J: I think I’d probably say don’t listen to friends and family, and listen to only your surgeon, because the surgeon will take your breast measurements and they advise on the best possible implant size for you. A lot of people come with a pre-conceptive idea about what implant size they want and it’s not always suitable for them.

Do some research. Make sure it is the right thing for you and that you have the time afterwards to rest and recover. Remember, no heavy-lifting for at least 6 weeks post-op and no holidays within that time because you can’t wear bikinis or go in chlorine water.

Discover our range of breast surgery procedures here.

Sagging Breasts: Causes, Prevention, and Care – A New Birkdale Clinic Guide

Posted on 2nd March 20184th February 2025 by Pau Webley

Sagging breasts can affect women of all ages and can be caused by a number of factors.

Here, we can take a look at the reasons breasts sag and how you can prevent and reverse the effects of sagging breasts.

What Causes Sagging Breasts?

Sagging breasts (Ptosis) can be a cause for concern, making women unhappy with their appearance. They may sag due to weight loss, breastfeeding or age and many wonder whether breast implants will help. This post will answer that question.

How to Tell if your Breasts are Sagging?

There is a grade-scale of Ptosis. Grade 1 is only mild sagging, where there may be shape malformation. Grade 2 is where there’s moderate sagging – the bra is no longer supporting your breasts and exercise such as running becomes an issue. Grade 3 is where sagging is significant. This may occur because your chest stretched after pregnancy or you gained or lost a lot of weight. Grade 4 concerns allotropic skin due to reduced collagen strength.

What can be done about Sagging Breasts?

Implants can reshape your breasts and alter their size, increasing their volume and enhancing them. They’ll become less saggy than before. There are different procedures to consider:

Firstly, there’s breast augmentation (BA). If your breasts simply have too much skin, then this may be all you need. It simply involves inserting implants. To determine whether you need more, surgeons advise you try these simple tests:

The Finger Test: If you can fit 2 fingers behind your breast at the crease then you’ll need more than a BA.

The Hands on Head Test: If your breasts still sag when you put your hands on your head, then a breast lift is also recommended.

The IMC Test: If your nipples fall below your inframammary breast crease (IMC), then a BA alone is not enough to correct sagging.

Then there’s a breast lift with implants (Masto-Augmentation). This is advised for more severe sagging, where nipples point downwards. This surgery can make your breasts bigger, rounder and appear less saggy.

Alternatively, you could just have a breast lift (Mastopexy). This repositions the breasts back to a higher position and doesn’t require implants. However, a breast lift will not increase breast size or firmness, so dependent on your situation, you may need implants.

Will Breast Implants Help with Sagging Breasts?

Yes. Breasts can be reshaped and resized, greatly improving their appearance. With a lift, both your nipples and breasts can be repositioned to their original, or a desired, state.

If you’re unsure which option is best for you, consider how you want your breasts to look and consult a trusted plastic surgeon.

The Different Types Of Breast Implants (Round vs Tear Drop)

Posted on 22nd November 201726th October 2023 by Pau Webley

Breast implants come in two basic shapes, either perfectly round or teardrop shaped. Some surgeons prefer one type of implant over the other, whilst others will use different types depending on the patient’s own characteristics – overall, both give excellent results.

Cohesive Silicone Gel (Round Implants)

Cohesive silicone gel is by far the most popular type of implant, with both patients and surgeons alike. The silicone is in the form of a very thick cohesive gel and is contained in a textured silicone shell.

These implants have a very long history of reliability, with literally hundreds of thousands of women worldwide having had them in place for many years. In addition, they are generally considered to be the most natural feeling implant. In recent years, more than 85% of ALL breast implants inserted in the UK have been silicone; 97% of which had textured shells.

Solid Cohesive Silicone Gel (Tear Drop Implants)

In this silicone implant, the gel is made to an almost solid consistency. It is only available with a textured silicone shell. This extra firmness allows the implant to be manufactured in a ‘tear-drop’ shape. Some surgeons consider that this results in a more natural shape for some women. However, they can also be associated with a much firmer consistency or feel.

What Implant Should I Choose?

Once you’ve made the decision that you want to proceed with your breast augmentation, the next decision is to decide on what type of implant you would like.

Anyone considering this surgery will be concerned with exactly how their breasts will look afterwards. If this applies to you, you may well be asking one or more the following questions when it comes to deciding what your ideal breasts will look like;

How big should my breast implants be?
Will my surgeon place my implant under or over my muscle?
What shape and profile will my implants be?
What will my cleavage look like?
How pert will my breasts be?
Where will my scar be?

Remember that the definition of ideal is highly subjective – it’s based on each individual’s opinion and every woman will have her own unique goals and expectations. While some women want their enhancement to be subtle in order to give a natural look, others wish for a more noticeable or fake look. Neither goal is more correct than the other; there is no right procedure for everyone. In answer to all the above questions, therefore, your procedure can be tailored to achieve a look that meets your realistic expectations and compliments your existing body shape and size.

Implants are manufactured by different companies in many varieties of content, diameter, volume, shape and surface texture, choosing the right implant and manufacturer is therefore key to a successful breast augmentation surgery. As part of the pre-operative consultation process you’ll discuss

Body shape and size
Existing (or natural) breast size and shape (breast anatomy)
Desired look – natural or fake
Amount of sagging or drooping (ptosis) of existing breasts
Amount and integrity of natural breast tissue
Lifestyle and physical activity

You’ll also be given an opportunity to look at, feel and try on samples of the various implants available to you which is the most effective way to determine which implant is best for you and what you will look like after your augmentation surgery.

Breast implants can be Round or Teardrop shaped. Round implants are symmetric, while Teardrop implants have more volume and projection on the lower half, therefore creating a teardrop shape. A teardrop shape gives a more natural look; while the Round implant gives a fuller appearance

Here at New Birkdale, we offer 2 varieties of implant both of which are Silicone based.

Silicone breast implants feel and look more natural than saline implants and are available in pre-existing sizes (it is not possible to adjust their size during surgery). They have a solid silicone shell and a cohesive silicone gel filling. The density or thickness of the silicone fill, although more similar to that of natural breast tissue than saline, can be varied to give softer (more prone to rippling) to harder (less prone to rippling) implants.

EUROSILICONE

The round collection by Eurosilicone offers round implants that include smooth and microtextured surfaces, two types of gel cohesivity, and four different projections – from low to extra-high, depending on the look you are trying to achieve, they currently feature 12 different configurations with 233 sizes for maximum choice.

The Round Collection uses microtexture silicone shell surface which offers tissue adhesion thus minimizing the threat of rotation and capsular contracture (when the body reacts to a breast implant in a way that can distort the shape of the breast and cause pain).

Eurosilicone offers the GCA Comfort Guarantee, a lifetime guarantee against rupture and capsular contracture.

MOTIVA

Motiva offers a range called round and a range called Ergonomix, both have a round base, the Ergonomix range move more with the body so can give a similar look to teardrop but they are still round-shaped implant. These implants have an advanced smooth shell and two reinforced silicone tabs to minimize the chances of implant rotation. They come in an extensive range of shapes and sizes, all of which have been through a wide array of chemical, biological, and physical testing to ensure their durability, and more importantly, their safety.

Motiva offers two types of Gel which shape the implants differently.

ProgressiveGel® PLUS

Balanced gel elasticity and firmness
Upper-pole fullness
Younger active look
Full profile

ProgressiveGel ULTIMA®

Elastic and soft gel
Adapts to the natural
breast shape
More natural look and feel
Natural profile

Motiva provides a limited warranty covering its Motiva Implants® product range, supplying a replacement product in the event of rupture for the lifetime of the implant.

We have examples of breast implant before and after comparisons, with information on what you can expect if you follow through with surgery so that you can be as informed as possible before enquiring.

As well as types of breast implants, there are also different ways to position breast implants. Find out more by reading out in-depth blog.