Is It Possible to Research Your Breast Augmentation Research Too Much? (Updated 2025)

Yes—too much breast augmentation research can become counterproductive when it leads patients to focus on decisions that can only be made during an in-person consultation. That said, for many patients, one of the most exciting parts of planning a breast augmentation is doing research about the procedure and imagining possible outcomes. It’s like the anticipation you feel when planning a trip. Many of my breast augmentation patients in Toronto spend hours online, asking questions and learning all they can about breast implants and the procedure itself. But like most journeys, some of the best parts are unexpected.

Research is helpful for understanding breast augmentation, but it can’t replace individualized planning based on your anatomy and goals. I encourage patients to have an open mind when they come in for a consultation to discuss breast augmentation, especially when we talk about breast implants. That’s because several important factors need to be considered to produce results that truly suit you.

How Research Helps You Prepare for Breast Augmentation

It’s certainly worthwhile to research the procedure and get a level of comfort and confidence going into your consultation. Reading about breast augmentation often spurs questions that you may not have otherwise thought about. Some of the things you can do to prepare for a consultation include:

Find a Royal College or board-certified plastic surgeon. Surgeons who aren’t Royal College-certified in Canada haven’t completed the extensive training specifically in plastic surgery that’s required to earn the certification. General surgeons can perform cosmetic surgeries such as breast augmentation, but they don’t have the years of experience as someone who is Royal College-certified.

Look at before-and-after photos. Photos of plastic surgeons’ actual patients can provide a good sense of the types of results the doctor considers aesthetically pleasing. It’s helpful to find women with bodies similar to yours. One of the misconceptions patients occasionally have is that breast augmentation can change the entire body, rather than just the breasts.

Think about your cosmetic goals. The current trend among many patients is to get results that look natural and produce modest size increases. But you may want to focus on creating cleavage and upper pole fullness, which is something to communicate to your plastic surgeon. Many women bring “wish pictures” to their consultations to show how they’d like their breasts to look. Be aware, however, that pictures of other women’s breasts may not be realistic in your specific case.

Reviewing real patient before-and-after photos can help ground expectations before your consultation.

What You Don’t Need to Decide Before Your Consultation

My primary job as a plastic surgeon is to use my expertise to help you select breast implants that will best suit your goals. Factors such as your body’s frame, the amount of breast tissue you currently have, skin quality, and your lifestyle all need to be considered when choosing implants.

This is why I advise patients not to spend too much time trying to decide on exact implant size, type, or placement on their own. Some patients decide they really like the results of a friend’s augmentation and say they want the same implants. But every patient’s body is unique, and the size and type of a friend’s implants may not be right for you.

Doing enough research to ask informed questions is helpful—but trying to make surgical decisions online often creates unnecessary confusion. Trusting that your surgeon understands your goals and can guide you through these decisions is an important part of the process.

Schedule Your Consultation

I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about breast augmentation during a consultation. You can contact us using the online form or call us at either (416) 925-7337 (Toronto) or (905) 743-9888 (Oshawa) to schedule an appointment.