Are you a candidate for breast augmentation? Here's 4 ways to tell, as told by a plastic surgeon in Lombard, Illinois.At some point in their lives, many women think about having larger breasts through a breast augmentation. Before you pursue surgery, though, you should make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure. There are a few factors to consider very seriously.

These four factors can help ensure you are safe, comfortable, and completely satisfied with your breast augmentation results both immediately afterward and well into the future.

1. You have a stable weight and lifestyle. This is one of the most important factors to consider. Major changes in your body weight and shape can have an effect on the final results of your augmentation. So, if you’re planning on losing weight, you may want to consider how the loss of fatty tissue around your breasts will affect them. Same goes for pregnancy. The swelling of breast tissue before and during breastfeeding can change the position of the implants and the final results.

2. You understand all your options. Technology and research mean there are now more options for breast augmentation and implants than ever before. To find the right options for yourself, you should become familiar with all your choices. If you do your research before meeting with your board-certified plastic surgeon at your consultation, you’ll have the knowledge to understand each and be able to ask informed questions to help you achieve your desired results.

3. You have realistic expectations. You’ve heard it before, and we can’t say it enough. Every woman’s body shape and structure, breast position, and amount of existing tissue is different. Even if you and another person make all the same choices for your implants, incisions, and implant placement, your results will not look the same. These differences help us achieve uniquely beautiful results for each patient. However, you must have realistic expectations that you won’t look just like your favorite model.

4. You feel confident in your decision. Whether genetics, breastfeeding, weight loss, or other experiences have spurred your desire to have a breast augmentation, your decision should be well thought out. Consider each of the previous factors, and remember that breast augmentations are serious and long-term procedures. You should be completely confident in your decision to do it for yourself, not anyone else.

The best breast augmentation patients are those who have given extensive thought to each of these factors.