Breast augmentation

Breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty) uses a breast implant to increase breast volume and improve shape, creating a fuller, more proportionate and natural-looking result. There are currently no exercises, hormones or medications that reliably increase breast size, so surgery remains the most effective option.

Anaesthetic: General
Hospital stay: Usually 1 day
Time off work: 1–2 weeks
Final result: Settles over a few months

A general guide only — your own timeline is confirmed at consultation.

What it involves

Through a discreet incision — around the lower border of the areola, or in the fold beneath the breast — an implant is placed either beneath the breast tissue or partly beneath the chest muscle. Implant size, shape, profile and filling are chosen with you using sizers and measurements, based on your chest width, existing tissue and body proportions. It is performed under general anaesthetic and usually takes one to two hours.

Who it may suit

May suit patients with naturally small breasts, loss of fullness after pregnancy or breastfeeding, breast asymmetry, or volume loss after weight reduction. Oversized implants place excessive tension on the tissues, so the aim is a size that stays soft, natural and proportionate over time.

Recovery

Hospital stay is usually one day, with an initial recovery of about a week and a return to light daily activities within a few days. Strenuous exercise is avoided for around three weeks. All sutures are absorbable and do not need removal, and the final shape develops over the following months.

This page is a general guide. Every procedure is planned individually — the details, risks and recovery relevant to you are discussed at consultation.

Patient information leaflet Download the full breast augmentation leaflet (PDF)

Common questions

Will implants need to be replaced?

Breast implants are not lifetime devices. Many last for years, but future surgery or replacement may eventually be needed — this is discussed fully during planning.

Can I breastfeed, and do implants affect cancer risk?

Augmentation generally does not interfere with future breastfeeding in most patients, and current evidence has not shown a proven link between breast implants and the future development of breast cancer.