How soon can I get a revision after breast augmentation? [Adam Schaffner, MD, New York City]

Dr. Schaffner (00:00):
I'm Adam Schaffner. I'm a plastic surgeon. I'm located in New York City. We're on Fifth Avenue between 47th and 48th, two blocks south from Rockefeller Center.

Eva Sheie (00:11):
What's your advice to someone who might know that they need a revision but are hesitating?

Dr. Schaffner (00:17):
The reason that many women hesitate who want a revision is because they're scared, understandably. They have been disappointed. They have had their trust violated. They feel that they put their faith in a doctor, and while there's never a guarantee of a result, and there's always risks, nonetheless, they assume those risks and are not completely satisfied with their result, and therefore are hesitant to move forward for fear that they won't be satisfied even after a revision, or that they could have a complication and be less happy than before undergoing a revision. All of those are completely normal feelings. And so my advice to women who are considering revision breast augmentation is go to someone as a surgeon who does a lot of this, look online, read reviews, look at before and after photos, ask to speak with patients who have had revision augmentation for the conditions, which that patient in particular has, and see what their experience was.

Dr. Schaffner (01:35):
Ultimately, there is going to be a moment in time where there has to be a leap of faith, where no matter how much homework, how many patients you've spoken to, how many before and afters, how many reviews, at a certain point a person has to say, okay, I'm going to go ahead and jump, so to speak. I'm going to take that jump and make that decision to move forward with another surgery or not. And if the answer's not, it doesn't close the door permanently, you can always move forward in the future. But it is understandable why they would be hesitant. And I always say to a patient, if they're not nervous, I'm nervous that they're not nervous.

Eva Sheie (02:21):
That's great advice.

Dr. Schaffner (02:24):
Thank you.

Eva Sheie (02:25):
Dr. Shaffner, you're very serious.

Dr. Schaffner (02:32):
Well, I've never been accused of being a slacker, let's put it that way. I'm certainly not going to make it on the comedy circuit or as an actor, so I would fail miserably in those careers. But I think that the focussed nature of my personality hopefully helps me deliver good patient care and good results and be a good doctor.

Eva Sheie (03:00):
I know that's true. Someone told me once when I was just starting out and I was thinking about LASIK surgeons at the time, and I said something like, he's so nice, I would totally let him do my eyes. And the person I was speaking to said, would you rather have a scientist or a friend? And that's how I have thought about it from that point forward. I would much rather have a scientist. I don't care if you're my friend.

Dr. Schaffner (03:28):
I completely understand.

Eva Sheie (03:31):
Okay, where can we find you on Instagram and what's your website address?

Dr. Schaffner (03:36):
So on Instagram, you can view us at Dr. Schaffner, Dr. Adam Schaffner, D-R-A-D-A-M-S-C-H-A-F-F-N-E-R. And our website, you can either go to drschaffner.com, that's D-R-S-C-H-A-F-F-N-E-R.com, or plasticsurgeoninnyc.com, that's P-L-A-S-T-I-C-S-U-R-G-E-O-N-I-N-N-Y-C.com. Or you can call us at (212) 688-6600.

Eva Sheie (04:06):
Thank you for your wisdom.

Dr. Schaffner (04:08):
Thank you very much.

Eva Sheie (04:10):
On this podcast, we bring you directly to the doctors who are where before meets after. Links to our guest's website and contact info are in your show notes. Follow us on Instagram @wherebeforemeetsafter. If you're a board certified plastic surgeon and would like to be a guest or a sponsor of the show, go to wherebeforemeetsafter.com for more information. Where Before Meets After is a production of The Axis, the podcast agency for aesthetics, theaxis.io.