- Breast Augmentation - surgery to enlarge the size of the breast

Breast Surgery

What is a breast augmentation (enlargement) procedure and why is it performed?

A breast augmentation procedure is performed by inserting a breast implant behind a woman's natural breast tissue. The inserted breast implant pushes and projects the natural breast tissue forward, giving a fuller and larger breast appearance. This procedure is performed on women within a broad age range who wish to improve their breast size and shape for the following reasons:

A dissatisfaction with their original breast size
A desire to regain or improve breast shape and size following significant weight loss or child birth
A wish to correct uneven breasts (asymmetry)
Correction of a congenital deformity of one or both breasts

Breast implant surgery can provide both physical and psychological benefits. Patients who have undergone a procedure of this type regularly report that they feel more feminine and personally confident about their new body image and can experience improved self esteem as a result of having surgery.

How is the procedure performed?

Breast-enlargement surgery is generally performed under general anaesthetic. The procedure takes around one hour to perform and patients typically stay in hospital for one night to recover.

Breast augmentation surgery is performed by making a fine incision in the crease-line beneath the breast itself (sub-mammary route), or through the armpit (axillary), or around the underside of the nipple area (periareolar). In the UK the sub-mammary incision method is generally favoured, though any decision is made on the basis of a patient's personal preference, in conjunction with the surgeon's advice and judgement. The implant can be positioned in one of two places within the breast cavity in order to push the breast forward and to enlarge the surface area of the original breast tissue.

The two potential sites are:

a) In front of the pectoral muscle. This route is typically chosen when a patient has sufficient skin and breast tissue to give good natural looking coverage over the breast implant.

b) Behind the pectoral muscle. This route is typically chosen when a patient has insufficient skin and breast tissue to give a natural looking coverage over the breast implant. This method is often favoured for very slim or particularly flat chested women.

What are the results like?

This procedure can provide dramatic results in women wishing to improve, increase, or balance their breast shape and size.

This corrective procedure should be precisely performed in order to obtain the best possible breast shape and size and should only be performed by a Consultant Plastic Surgeon who is fully qualified and well experienced to skillfully perform this type of specialist breast surgery.

Obviously improved results will take place immediately following breast implant surgery, but the final result will be obscured by swelling, which nearly always develops following this type of surgery. It can take up to 14 days for initial swelling and bruising to settle to an acceptable appearance, but residual swelling will settle down gradually over several months.

Typically the fine incisions and subsequent scars that are made by performing this procedure are well hidden in the natural breast crease, or arm pit, or around the pigmented margin surrounding the nipple area.

Every surgeons breast augmentation procedure technique can differ slightly and wounds can be sutured (stitched) with either dissolvable or removable fine sutures. Sutures are typically removed 10-14 days following surgery.