Our Annual Most Valuable List
Our annual Most Valuable list honors the most popular aesthetic procedures—spanning from minimally invasive adjustments to the pinnacle of surgical excellence—as chosen by Ruli community members like you. This narrative highlights one or several of the 44 Most Valuable honorees for 2024; you can explore the full list and gain deeper insights into patients’ top choices here.
Plastic surgery is more akin to an art form than a precise science—there are nuances that even the most skilled doctors cannot predict, and that the most well-informed patients cannot foresee, such as how your skin will heal from a scar, how your nipple sensation may change, or whether you will truly adore the size of your new breasts when wearing your favorite outfit. After witnessing the final results of a procedure, it’s common to reflect and wish you had asked more questions or considered different options—even if you are ultimately satisfied with your decision.
It’s easy to be wise in hindsight, so we asked six women who have undergone breast augmentation about what they would change in their experience, if given a second chance.
I Would Have Opted for a More Natural Look
“I would have given more consideration to the shape. I asked for a significant amount of cleavage and a very round appearance. I loved how my implants looked higher when I was in my 20s and wore more revealing clothes, but now that I'm older, I prefer a more subtle, teardrop shape. It’s obvious that my breasts are artificial, so in retrospect, I would have opted for a more natural look.” —Chelsea, 34
I Would Have Had a Breast Lift
“I recently removed the breast implants I had for over three decades—they were quite perfect until they became encapsulated, so no regrets there—and received a fat transfer to my breasts. I wasn't sure if I needed a breast lift, but I told my doctor that I didn't want my nipples to point downward after the implants were removed—that was extremely important to me. She said she'd evaluate the situation during my surgery. When I woke up, she informed me she had performed an internal lift to avoid scars. I'm not sure what an internal lift involves, but I still have long scars beneath each crease and I'm unhappy with the shape and angle of my nipples, so I wish we had opted for a traditional breast lift. I would have accepted breast lift scars if it meant better nipple positioning.” —Dee, 69
I Would Have Had My Implants Placed Above the Muscle
“I got my implants 20 years ago, and when my doctor told me they would be placed beneath the muscle, I didn't even think to question it. That was the only method he used, but I feel it’s less common now. The recovery was incredibly tough—I don't think it would have been nearly as difficult if my implants were above the muscle. Everything is fine now, but I still remember that first week of intense pain.” —Michelle, 41
I Would Have Chosen a Larger Size
“My advice: if you're deciding between two sizes, always go for the larger one. I went back to my doctor two years after my initial breast augmentation because I regretted getting such a small size—180cc. For my second breast augmentation, I got a size that I felt more comfortable and at ease with, but I wish I had asked my surgeon to be more careful around the areola, as my second surgery left me with a white scar halfway through the nipple. Once it healed, I went to a tattoo parlor and had [the artist] cover it with flesh tones.
“I also regret not listening to my surgeon's advice about avoiding excessive exercise too soon after my first surgery. I started attending yoga classes and doing too many planks too quickly. The strain on the pectoral muscles led to a capsule contracture, but it disappeared with the prescription asthma medication that my surgeon recommended for off-label use. It only took about a week, and the capsule completely vanished.” —Tanya, 31
I Wouldn't Have Undertaken It
“I got my breast augmentation in 2016. I was happy with it for about a year, then I started experiencing numbness and tingling on my left side quite often. I wasn't aware of BII [breast implant illness] at the time or made the connection. And I didn't go for a very large size—I was a small C—but they always felt very heavy. Exercising became harder, and my posture worsened. So I removed my implants four years later and am glad I did. Basically, it was a significant waste of money and recovery time.” —Maddie, 30
I Would Have Sought a Second Opinion
“Overall, I am happy with my results, but in hindsight, I would have sought a second opinion. My natural breasts were not the same shape due to a hormonal imbalance, so my doctor did reconstruction to ensure the implants would match in shape. It was kind of a last-minute decision. I wasn't fully aware of how extensive the scarring would be—it's along my underboob, up to the nipple like a T, and then around the nipple—so I wish I had looked into more ways to prevent that.” —Erica, 33
