Specialist service · Aesthetic breast surgery
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation can increase volume, restore fullness or improve proportion using an implant or, for selected patients, their own fat. The plan should be built around your anatomy rather than a standard implant size.
- Implant or fat-transfer options
- Anatomy-led size and profile selection
- Planned follow-up and implant surveillance
Suitability
Who may consider augmentation?
Suitability is decided after examination, discussion of your goals and review of your general and breast health.
- Naturally small breasts or a persistent difference in size
- Loss of volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight change
- A wish for greater upper-pole fullness or projection
- Stable health, realistic expectations and willingness to accept scars and follow-up
Implants, fat transfer and the role of a lift
Implants offer a predictable range of volumes, widths and projections. Fat transfer uses liposuctioned fat for a usually more modest increase. Augmentation adds volume but does not reliably correct significant drooping; when the nipple position and skin envelope need correction, a breast lift may be discussed alone or with augmentation.
Planning the right proportions
Planning considers chest width, existing breast tissue, skin elasticity, asymmetry and the relationship between the breast and torso. Implant fill, surface, shape, profile, pocket and incision are discussed together. Breast implants are not lifetime devices, so informed consent includes the possibility of future imaging, revision, removal or replacement.
- Clinical breast assessment before surgery
- Sizing based on tissue and chest dimensions
- A clear implant record and long-term follow-up plan
Recovery and follow-up
Swelling, tightness and bruising are expected early. A support bra, wound care, gentle walking and staged return to lifting and exercise are tailored to the operation. Seek prompt review for increasing redness, fever, sudden swelling, severe pain, shortness of breath or a new persistent change around an implant.
Safety points to discuss
Every operation has trade-offs. Your personal risk profile and the device-specific patient information should be reviewed before consent.
- Bleeding, infection, fluid collection and visible scarring
- Capsular contracture, implant displacement, rippling or rupture
- Temporary or permanent sensation change and asymmetry
- Possible effects on breastfeeding or mammography technique
- Possible revision surgery and rare implant-associated malignancies
Frequently asked questions
How is implant size chosen?
Size is selected using chest width, tissue coverage, skin stretch, your proportions and your priorities. Cup size alone is not a reliable surgical measurement.
Will augmentation lift a drooping breast?
It can fill mild looseness, but it does not reposition a clearly low nipple. A lift may be more appropriate or may be combined with augmentation.
Do implants last for life?
No. Implants are not lifetime devices. Some patients never need early revision, while others require further surgery for a complication or a change in preference.
Content was reviewed against official medical and professional patient-information sources.
- FDA — Risks and Complications of Breast Implants
- FDA — Types of Breast Implants
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Breast Augmentation
Last medically reviewed: 22 August 2026
Private consultation
The right plan starts with examination and a clear goal.
This page is general information. Procedure choice, technique, recovery and risk vary with your examination and health.