What is it?
Breast augmentation - mammoplasty - is a procedure designed to enhance the size of the breasts.
What does it involve?
A general anaesthetic and implants being inserted under the breast tissue or muscle.
Will it leave scarring?
Yes but they usually settle well, though not always, depending on the individual.
What happens afterwards?
Usually the patient stays overnight, but it is not usually a painful procedure and surgery can be carried out as a day case. After that, tapes are applied to help support the breasts and most patients feel more comfortable wearing a crop top. The tapes are removed 10-12 weeks later.
When will I be up and about?
Within two weeks you can return to day to day activities, but high impact exercise is best left for at least a month.
What are the risks?
- One of the main risks is a capsular contraction: the scar tissue around the implants shrinking. This can affect up to 5% of patients and may require further treatment.
- Infection is rare, but if it occurs it may result in the implant being removed. Bleeding is uncommon and whilst nipple sensation can change, this will usually settle.
- The procedure doesn’t usually affect breast feeding, and mammograms can still be carried out.
- Most women will always have some degree of asymmetry and this may not be corrected by a breast augmentation.
How long do implants last?
Whilst the manufacturer’s life expectancy of breast implants is ten or more years, implants have stayed in place, without problems, for much longer. If they don’t cause problems, they don’t need replacing.
Read our glossary of surgical terms
You can find more information at www.douglasmcgeorge.com/ and www.baaps.org.uk/
