Breast Enlargement and Breast Augmentation

What Is It?

Breast enlargement - or augmentation, as it's also known - increases breast size, fullness and pertness. Surgeons insert an implant filled with either silicone or saline (salt water) under the breast tissue to create the impression of a fuller bust.

What can it do for you?

The operation is popular with women who have very small breasts or whose breasts have shrunk or become saggy as a result of pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight-loss or weight gain. Others simply want bigger breasts.

There's a huge variety of implant shapes, types and sizes and your surgeon should discuss all these with you. The more popular shapes are either round or teardrop-shaped - this is entirely down to personal preference, although women wanting a more discreet and natural-looking shape tend to opt for the teardrop ones.

The procedure

The operation is carried out under general anaesthetic and takes between one and three hours. The surgeon makes an incision in the crease below the breast or under the armpit. He then creates a pocket in the chest area and inserts the implant either under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle.

When an implant is placed under the breast tissue, it's called a subglandular placement. The benefits of this include shorter surgery and recovery time and it's less painful. Further operations to remove the implant are easier, but there's more risk of the implant hardening or rupturing this way.

When the implant is positioned under the chest muscle, it's called a submuscular placement. This is usually more uncomfortable afterwards and takes a bit longer to recover from, but the appearance is more natural and mammograms will be easier to read.

Cost

Prices vary from £4,000 to £7,000.

Recovery time

You'll be bruised and swollen immediately after the operation and will need to take about a week off work. Your breasts will be bandaged and you'll have to wear a surgical support bra.

After about a week, the dressing will be removed and you can start using a regular support bra, which you'll have to wear for several weeks.

Your breasts will probably feel hard and you'll get the odd painful twinge, but this is normal and should only last for a few weeks. At this time, your breasts are likely to look high up on your chest, but they'll settle into place after a couple of months.

Your wounds will heal faster if you avoid excess arm movement; experts advise you not to lift your arms higher than elbow level for as long as possible.

The stitches will come out after about 10 days and your scars will be visibly pink for several months. You may feel changes in sensation in your breasts, with different areas becoming more or less sensitive than before, and these changes maybe permanent.

What can go wrong?

The most common risk is the implant hardening. This happens when the scar tissue around it begins to shrink, causing it to harden or ripple.

When this occurs, the implant has to be replaced.

Like all surgery, breast enlargement carries a small risk of infection, but this can usually be cleared up with antibiotics.

Ruptured or leaking implants are rare now because the latest implants are made from cohesive silicone gel, which is firmer, thicker and lasts longer.

Other risks include some loss of sensation in the breast and nipple. Your mammograms may also be harder to read; this is known as 'mammography interference'.

If you experience excessive swelling, deflated breasts, discharge, severe pain or intense heat in your chest area in the weeks following surgery, see your surgeon straight away-it may mean that something has gone wrong.

How long does it last?

These days, implants can last for up to 20 years, although experts say the average set lasts for around 15 years. Depending on how old you are, it's likely that you'll have your implants removed and replaced at least once in your lifetime.

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