Breast augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that enhances breast size, shape, or fullness through implants or fat transfer. It’s chosen by individuals to improve body symmetry, restore volume, or boost confidence.
Breast augmentation is an increasingly requested procedure as patients may desire to up their breast size for due to low confidence and to facilitate clothes-wearing.
Many patients also experience breast deflation and a change in shape after breastfeeding, weight loss and ageing.
In suitable cases, a breast lift can also be performed at the same time to address nipple and breast drooping.
Choosing the right type of breast implants depends on your aesthetic goals, body type, and lifestyle. The two main types of implants are silicone and saline:
Additionally, you can consider options like structured saline implants, which combine the benefits of saline with a more natural feel, and gummy bear implants, a cohesive silicone gel option that maintains its shape even if ruptured.
It’s best to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon who can guide you based on your body type, desired look, and lifestyle to find the ideal implant type and size for you.
One’s own fat can be harvested from unwanted areas such as the thighs or abdomen using mini-incisions (see liposuction). This is then processed and purified and re-injected back into the skin of the breasts and the pectoralis muscle. We avoid injection into the breast gland itself. Fat can improve the contours and skin quality of the breast, producing a natural result. Grafted fat that does not survive (25-50%) will be resorbed by the body, thus a modest increase is expected, up to one cup size per session.
Recovery is usually quite fast as it is virtually incision-less and minimally invasive. Some soreness for 1-2 weeks over fat graft harvest sites are to be expected.
Yes it can, with 3 to 6 months between each session. This is to allow sufficient time for the grafted fat to be stabilised.
Patients more than 40 years old should get a screening mammogram before the procedure. Uncommonly, a small isolated fat hardening or oil cyst can result. This can be usually differentiated from cancerous lesions on scans, but if the patient is very concerned, implants may be a more suitable technique. This is because breast implants are placed in a completely different plane from the breast tissue.
The results of breast implant augmentation can be enhanced by combining with fat grafting. Fat can be injected wherever it will improve the aesthetics of the breast, for example to enhance the cleavage area or upper part of the breast. In addition, layering fat over the implant in thin patients can help to diminish implant visibility while increasing the breast volume. Implants, on the other hand, have the advantage of producing good projection.
Although axillary (armpit) and periareolar (around the areola) approaches are possible, the most common approach is to use inframammary incisions which are below the breast. The advantages of the last include easier control of implant position and fixation of the inframammary fold. This improves the predictability of the final result. The scar is usually inconspicuous as it is hidden along the lower curve of the breast.
Implants can be placed either subglandular or subfascial, that is, in front of the pectoralis muscle. Although this is a more “anatomic” plane for implants as it is under one’s own breast, most patients do not have the requisite amount of soft tissue to “camouflage” the implant. The subpectoral or dual plane technique thus decreases implant visibility by hiding it partially behind the pectoralis (chest) muscle.
Women more than 40 years old should undergo screening mammogram. Implants may need to be removed due to reasons such as early infection (very rare) or after many years because of capsular contracture or silicone extrusion. Implant exchange can be performed then. Alternatively the patient can choose other methods such as fat grafting.
Mild swelling and discomfort gradually reduces over 2 weeks, with most of it resolved by 4-6 weeks. A recovery bra is recommended for the first 2-3 months. Regular post-operative check-ups are scheduled to ensure that the patient heals well.
