If you've wanted to increase your breast size for years, you may have finally taken the step of meeting with a plastic surgeon and planning your procedure. While you may not be putting much thought into the timing of your surgery (other than to make sure you'll be able to have your work shifts covered during the operation and your recovery), there is one factor you may not want to ignore -- your menstrual period. For those who deal with major symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), having surgery at the wrong time of the month could potentially impact your recovery. Read on to learn more about some situations in which you may want to plan your surgery around your period.

How does the menstrual cycle impact surgical outcomes?

Each month, your body goes through a number of subtle changes as it prepares to release an egg and later sheds your uterine lining. Most women experience some minor symptoms during the week leading up to their menstrual period -- bloating, breast tenderness, crankiness, or fatigue. While these feelings may be an annoyance, they can usually be relieved with over the counter pain medication or a long nap or hot bath. However, women suffering severe PMS or PMDD can find these symptoms to be nearly debilitating. If this is the case, scheduling an operation during the time these symptoms are at their most severe could leave you depressed and seemingly without energy for even minor tasks.

Women with very heavy menstrual periods could also run into trouble when scheduling an operation to take place during the time when bleeding is heaviest. While a normal menstrual period should have no impact on blood pressure or iron levels, women who have very heavy periods (or menorrhagia) could find themselves dealing with fatigue or even anemia due to the volume of blood lost. Today's medical technology allows breast augmentation surgery to be performed with a minimal amount of blood loss, but you may still want to limit the amount of other bleeding that happens while you're menstruating.

What should you do to help reduce the odds of complications during your recovery from surgery?

If you have PMS, PMDD, or very heavy periods, you'll likely want to schedule your operation to take place around a week after your menstrual period. This will allow your hormones to reach a more stable level and give you some time to raise your iron levels or hydrate if dealing with menorrhagic anemia. You'll also ensure you have enough energy during the recovery process to perform any stretches or other physical therapies prescribed by your surgeon to help reduce the risk of scar tissue.

For more information about preparing for this kind of surgery, contact a doctor such as Dinu Mistry, MD.