Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation, or a boob job, is a cosmetic procedure used to alter the shape and size of the breasts. It is the most common cosmetic surgery treatment in the UK with thousands of procedures performed each year. Due to the popularity of the surgery, boob job prices are now extremely competitive with many clinics offering affordable treatments.
 
Breast enlargement surgery increases breast size through placing implants within the breasts to enhance the shape of the breast, and to increase cleavage and cup size.
 

Who has Breast Augmentation Surgery?

Breast surgery is common for women who have experienced breast mishaping after pregnancy or as a result of breastfeeding or weight loss. Many women who simply desire fuller or firmer breasts choose to have the surgery to increase their body confidence. Breast augmentation surgery is also used to reconstruct the breast after a mastectomy.
 

What are Implants?

There are 2 main types of breast implant used in breast enlargement surgery; saline filled implants or silicone gel filled implants. Saline implants are less commonly used in breast enlargement procedures as there is more risk of complications such as wrinkling or rippling.
 

What are the Alternatives to Breast Enlargement?

There are non-surgical breast enhancement treatments available such as tissue generating creams or pills that mimic the effects of pregnancy through producing oestrogen, leading to an increase in breast size. However there have been little in the way of clinical trials on these alternative treatments and anecdotal evidence suggests they are not always successful and only produce very mild results at best.
 
A surgical alternative to breast implants is a mastopexy, or a breast lift. During this procedure, excess skin is removed from around the breast and the surrounding tissue is tightened up. This has the effect of raising and reshaping the breast without the addition of implants.
 

How Long do Breast Implants Last?

Breast implant technology has come to the stage that modern implants should last for the life-span of the patient. but many will offer 10-20 year guarantees on the implants themselves and some clinics will even provide aftercare insurance to cover against complications such as ruptures. Some women will choose to have further breast implant operations after a number of years because their body shape has changed and not because the orginal implants have ceased to be suitable for that stage in the patients life.
 

How Long Does the Treatment Take?

Treatments vary from clinic to clinic but on average most procedures should take 1-2 hours and an overnight stay in hospital is usually required. Immediately after breast augmentation surgery patients will experience some swelling, bruising and discomfort. Some patients may also feel their breathing being restricted and a tightness around the chest itself. These symptoms will only last a few weeks for most patients and are considered completely normal, it is usually recommended that most patients should wear a supportive bra up to 6 months after surgery to aide recovery and relieve discomfort.
 

Are there any Side Effects

As with any invasive surgery, there are risks involved and complications can arise. Clinics will provide patients with a great deal of comprehensive information during the surgery consultation and identify potential problems a patient may face. These may include; rupturing, deflation, scarring and increased risk of breast cancer. Infections from the surgery may occur and all operations performed under general anaesthetic also carry a risk.
 
The risk of complications occurring during or post breast augmentation surgery will vary greatly for every person considering undergoing a procedure. As always it is best practise to consult your surgeon or GP prior to surgery to fully understand the potential results you could achieve with surgery and the risk of complications for your specific case.