Breast Augmentation in Singapore - My Journey

[tvxqgirl]

Hi guys!I want to detail my BA journey in SG. Background about me: petite, pear-shaped body. A cup and bony chest.

If you say I’m a promoter - lol I’m laughing so hard I’m practically rolling. If you’re from Singapore, you should know that SG aesthetic clinics cannot use B&As of their patients unless the patient signs consent. Offering to write a review for the clinic or allowing your B&A photos to be used in their marketing effort WILL NOT give you a discount on aesthetic services. Trust me - your broke girl, aka me, already tried this since I was planning on writing a review anyway. I’m not writing this review to get any benefits but just to share my experiences.

Also, plastic surgery can only be performed by specialists in Singapore. Clinics offering botox, filler etc may be done by general practitioners. You can easily check the registration of doctors, including the universities they graduated from, their specialisms, and which years they qualified on the public portal SMC.

For memories sake, I took a picture of my before boobies here.




These are my Wishboobs:

 

[tvxqgirl]

Breast FT vs Breast Implants??
I requested price quotes from 9 plastic surgery clinics (Azataca, Evan Woo, SW1, Clifford clinic, Wongs, LSJ, Allure, Shens, Sweng) in Singapore. I also consulted clinics in Korea and Malaysia. For Thailand the major hospitals that cater to foreigners post their prices online. I enquired on the pricing for both breast FT and with implants.

As at July 2020 the SG price range for breast FT is from SGD7,000+ to SGD25k. The price range for implants is from SGD10k to SGD17k. These prices generally include anaesthesia, facility fees, and GST (consumer tax). The reason why breast FT is so expensive is because surgeons consider it as two surgeries, fat grafting and liposuction. The upper range of SGD25k generally involves body contouring, i.e. not just lipo - ing enough fats for the engraftment but also taking out enough to get your desired thighs etc.

I really wanted to do breast FT at first because I want soft breasts. In fact, if not for the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing travel restrictions, I’d do BA(Fat graft) in Korea. But the combination of the high price for breast FT, the need to do second round to increase the engraftment rate, along with possibly not being able to get a desired size and shape and a more modest cup size increase, made me more inclined to breast implants.

 

[tvxqgirl]

Consultation with SW1
After the price enquiring process I decided to book a consult with Dr Chia at SW1. I read good reviews about her on the Singapore expat/motherhood forums + she’s female and I think I’d feel more comfortable with her. She started the consult with a powerpoint presentation about implants, then moving on to fat grafts. Then after that I felt the implants and I changed into a robe for the Vectra imaging so I could see what my breasts would look like in 3D after doing the surgery. Anyway, not to bore you guys, I compiled some of the more pertinent questions and responses below, which are probably the commonly asked questions anyway.

Breast FT
Calcification/lumps in the breast - Lumps may happen if too much is engrafted and the inner part, which can’t get enough nutrients to survive, hardens. Different surgeons have different methods of grafting, such as location etc.

When to do second round of FT - Can do second round after 3 months.

Can’t we take out enough fat in round 1 of liposuction and preserve the fat to be used again after 3 months? - The fat viability will decrease. So you have to liposuction each time you engraft.

Implants
BIA - ALCL (cancer): Happens with older generation of implants, rougher texture. Implants of today generally used in breast reconstructions for breast cancer survivors so they don’t usually cause cancer themselves or other tissue disease.

Breast implant illness: Didn’t encounter any of her patients with these kind of symptoms.

Replace every 10-15 years?: Those are older generation of implants. If you have no problem with the implants you can keep them in.

Over the muscle approach: Can be used to prevent animation deformity/ double bubble phenomenon that can occur with dual plane/under the muscle approaches. But problem with over-the-muscle approach is rippling, implant looking obvious, etc.

Scarring: 2.5cm -4cm scarring, depending on volume of implant chosen. If the scar doesn’t fade with time, can do laser on it.

Initially, I was recommended 245 or 265cc Motiva Ergonomix (Demi) implants, over the muscle after an assessment of the breast tissue.

These are the pics from the Vectra computer modelling. Left is my before chest, middle is with 245cc, right is with 265cc.

 

[tvxqgirl]

Post-consult considerations
What I emphasised in consultation is that I really wanted a natural, soft breast. I told the doctor about my active lifestyle, which consists of a lot of upper body exercise like gym. For me, having breasts that look good in clothes is more important overall than having breasts that look good naked. I was okay with only going up to a full B or small C.

After the first consult I madly started researching breast animation deformity, and the sub-glandular and sub-muscular approaches to decide which placement is good for me in the long-term. The better approach is probably to pay for another consultation with a different surgeon to get a second opinion but I didn’t wish to spend more money on consults and I felt comfortable enough with Dr Chia.

Second consultation
I had a second consultation with Dr Chia. At this consultation, I asked her to explain how the pocket for the implant will be made, how capsular contracture will be minimised, rupture rates for Motiva, and the warranty for Motiva. We also changed the approach to dual plane - I’m a “borderline” case which can do either over-the-muscle or dual plane, because I have a bony chest. I told Dr Chia that I’m always trying to lose weight (girls - ya feel me? LOL) and because I have a bony chest, she said she’d do dual plane to prevent an “implanted” look.

I found my diary after the second consultation. I wrote "I still feel really scared as the surgery approaches. Not sure if I’ve gone too big with the size. Not sure if I’ll be used to my new boobies."

 

[tvxqgirl]

Surgery date
About 3 weeks+ after the first consult, I had my surgery!! My IMMEDIATE post-op boobies (I asked the kind nurse to help me take pictures):-



As you can see it's still very full on top. Hope it'll drop and fluff soon!

I forgot to mention, my incision site was underbust. Typically I think Dr Chia does the underbust incision method.

I'll be back later to post my operation date experience! Also, don't worry, I intend to update this thread in 3,6, and 12 month intervals with pics. Probably with bra cos I'm so lazy to censor my nipples on my computer. Haha

 

[tvxqgirl]

Operation day experience

Once I went in, I was given 2 pills (one was Arnica, the other I can't remember the name), and some water. I took these pills, changed into the operating gown, and had a final check-in with Dr Chia. She told me that in the interim period from my first consult to surgery day, they had managed to get stock of Keller Funnel (there were some issues with supply during the lockdown period) and so I had to top up the cost for the usage of the Keller funnel in the BA.

Then I changed into the operating gown, and the nurse started briefing me on the post-op medications. Then the I met the anaesthetist, who I thought was very kind. They brought me to the OT and tried to make the bed warmer by pumping warm air. I lay down the bed while the anaesthetist talked to me and reassured me. Then I knocked out.

Next thing I knew, I woke up, feeling really cold and shivering. A short while later, I realised I had been moved to a different room, and the nurse covered me with a warm, heated blanket. I was feeling really giddy. A little while later again, the nurse came back in and she helped me to sit up. The doctor came in and chatted, but I don't remember anything that she said to me. After resting a bit more, I asked the nurse to help me sit up (I couldn't get up), and told her I needed to pee. Not sure what they put into the IV drip since I had fasted from drinks and water for at least 6 hours prior, but I had to go haha. I went to the washroom without a problem.

Then I paid the remainder of the surgery, got another briefing on the post-op medication, and waited for my transport to go home! The nurse said they monitored me for around 2h post-surgery and I was doing fine. While I was in the waiting area, I saw a book written by Dr Suh (my nose job doctor in 2015!!) and found it so humorous and ironic that I was back in plastic surgery so I took a pic.

 

[tvxqgirl]

Operation day experience (cont'd)

My chest area felt: Tight.As.Hell. As if I just did 150 full push-ups when my capacity was only 5 push-ups. I got home, and as the anesthesia slowly wore off, I ate and took more medicine. I felt pretty normal, still able to wash the dishes at home etc., just tight and tired...

The same night, I showered, but tried not to get anything on the stitches area at the underbust.

 

[tvxqgirl]

Pricing
The breakdown at this clinic was:
- Consultation + GST
- Surgery (including anaesthesia, facility fees, implants, funnel and consumables etc.) + GST
- Post-op bra
- Subsequent follow-ups

I'm not comfortable announcing to the world what I paid, so yo can reach out to the clinic directly to enquire on the pricing or PM me, if you need to. Only do note that the deposit to book the surgery is 50% of the fees.

 

[tvxqgirl]

3rd day post-op
My chest feels really tight and the upper pole looks really tight. Sleeping and getting out of bed still is painful. Sometimes I wonder why I put myself through this pain, couldn't I have lived with my small titties? Haha... hope it'll drop and fluff soon!

 

[tvxqgirl]

First week post-op
The first week was the hardest to get through. I felt persistent achiness in the chest area, difficulty sleeping. I also couldn't take the optional painkiller, Ultracet, because it caused me nausea and giddiness. I felt like I had a balloon on my chest and wondered how long it would be this hard, tight, and uncomfortable.

When the bandages were removed on the 7th day, I saw the underboob incision. I'm not sure how long it is, but I think it's about 3cm?

I think I also felt down because I was punishing myself/being punitive with myself for spending so much of my savings for what appeared to be just pain and discomfort. The price was fair, and possibly equivalent to what I would pay in Korea. But I just felt very anxious about financial security and money because I basically spent money I've been saving years for and could use for other things.

Now that the pain and discomfort is getting better, I am also starting to see that I was being unnecessarily harsh on myself. I just have to trust that I made the right decisions and move on and enjoy my new boobies!!

 

[tvxqgirl]

I was reading a very interesting thread on PF: https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/implants-why-do-so-many-women-get-them.540219 and it got me thinking and reflecting on my ongoing BA journey.

Before surgery, I was a pear-shape. My full bust pre-surgery was 80cm (underbust, 75cm). I was an A cup, and sometimes an AA. But I had a small waist (~25in) and curvy hips of ~38in. I have always been at a healthy weight range and tried dieting to shed inches off the hips to be more proportioned, but that didn't work. I also tried increasing my bust size by eating things said to give you bigger boobs, but that also didn't work for me. LOL.

Now that I am more filled up on top, I can see that I look curvier and more "hourglass" when I'm naked. It feels good also to try on new clothes and realise that I don't have to alter clothing at the chest anymore for it to fit/not gap.

 

[Honeyjello]

@tvxqgirl thanks for sharing your BA recovery progress! It's hard to find reviews on SG clinics. I'm also very bony and considering BA too (although still unsure if i am really comfortable with implants). Can I PM you about your consult with Evan woo?

 

[sweetgems]

@tvxqgirl so glad to come across ur posts. My friend and her sister both went to Dr Chia and I am considering too. Just not ready to take the leap. U gave many details that I had questions about, thanks so much for sharing ur journey! So helpful! Can I ask how long leave did you have to take before going back to work? Good to hear ur more shapely now all the best with the rest of ur recovery.

 

[tvxqgirl]

@tvxqgirl thanks for sharing your BA recovery progress! It's hard to find reviews on SG clinics. I'm also very bony and considering BA too (although still unsure if i am really comfortable with implants). Can I PM you about your consult with Evan woo?

Hi Honeyjello! I didn't go for a consult with Evan Woo unfortunately. I called the clinic to enquire on the price and then ruled them out. I think they didn't want to give me a quote upfront and wanted me to come in for a consultation first before they quoted, and so I just ruled them out because I wasn't keen on spending consultation money on a doctor I wasn't sure I'd be going to. Money was a big consideration for me in going to this and if the cost was really too high for all the SG clinics I was prepared to wait it out and go to Malaysia/Thailand.

 

[tvxqgirl]

Hi Honeyjello! I didn't go for a consult with Evan Woo unfortunately. I called the clinic to enquire on the price and then ruled them out. I think they didn't want to give me a quote upfront and wanted me to come in for a consultation first before they quoted, and so I just ruled them out because I wasn't keen on spending consultation money on a doctor I wasn't sure I'd be going to. Money was a big consideration for me in going to this and if the cost was really too high for all the SG clinics I was prepared to wait it out and go to Malaysia/Thailand.

I just double-checked, and from my WhatsApp messages with Evan Woo clinic, I only enquired on the price for breast FT and that's when they asked me to come in for a consult. I didn't ask about the cost of BA via implants.