10 Breast Augmentation Considerations | London

The boob job or breast augmentation procedure continues to prove the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK and with good cause. Done well, it can be a fantastic confidence boost and typically records a high satisfaction rate on review sites such as RealSelf.

However, there are a number of points that you should consider before undergoing a breast augmentation procedure and we will discuss these in depth during your consultation with London based cosmetic surgeon Mr Paul Tulley.

#1 A breast augmentation will not correct sagging breasts

In fact, augmenting the breasts with an implant could even make the problem worse. Sagging of the skin and tissues of the breast is called ptosis and the appropriate procedure to correct this problem is a breast lift, also known as a mastopexy. If you’re experiencing sagging with volume loss, often experienced after pregnancy and breastfeeding, then a combination procedure or augmentation mastopexy might be best. During your consultation, Mr Tulley will perform a physical examination to assess the degree of ptosis.

#2 You are likely to need further breast surgery in the future

This is an important consideration. Recent advances in breast implant technology have made them safer and longer-lasting, but these are not lifetime devices and you will probably need them to be replaced at some point in the future. Possible problems include capsular contracture, rippling, implant rotation or movement or rupturing. It is never possible to predict exactly how long your implants will last and Mr Tulley will explain what you need to look out for.

#3 Choosing your breast implant

It’s not just a case of choosing either saline or silicone breast implants as breast implants now come in a wide range of options, including volume, shape, projection, profile and texture. Mr Tulley will guide you through this process and help you choose an implant that suits your body’s proportions and which will deliver the results you’re hoping for.

#4 Under or over

Another consideration that will affect how your new breasts will look is implant placement. The implant can be placed underneath the pectoral muscle or over it, just under the mammary gland. Factors that will affect the decision is your shape, the amount of fat covering the breasts and what effect you’re hoping to achieve.

#5 Location of your incision

During your breast augmentation procedure, an incision will be made either in the inframammary fold, around the nipple or in the armpit, through which the breast implant will be inserted. Although scars typically heal very well and Mr Tulley is highly skilled at positioning of the scar, scarring is an important consideration of any surgical procedure and the location of your incision will be discussed in full during your consultation.

#6 Timing

Many prospective breast augmentation patients we see at our London cosmetic clinic, are younger women who are not happy with how their breasts have developed. However, if you are planning to start a family in the immediate future then it might be best to wait until afterwards, as there can be significant changes to the shape, size and position of the breasts caused by pregnancy and breastfeeding. Which brings us to our next point.

#6 You may not be able to breastfeed after a breast augmentation

Due to the incision and implant placement, some women are not able to breastfeed after a breast augmentation, although not all women are able to breastfeed, surgery or no. This will be discussed during your consultation.

#7 Being able to maintain a consistent body weight is important

We advise women contemplating breast augmentation surgery to be at or near their ideal body weight and able to maintain this after surgery. Weight fluctuations can have a significant impact on the breasts which may require further breast surgery to correct.

#8 You will have to give up smoking both before and after breast augmentation surgery

Nicotine constricts the blood vessels and restricts healthy blood circulation to the healing tissues and can have a dramatic impact on how the breasts heal. It is essential that you give up smoking in the period prior to your surgery and afterwards to ensure an optimal outcome.

#10 Consider fat transfer rather than breast implants

As we have learned, inserting implants into the breasts brings with it a number of risks, which is why one option to consider is fat transfer. During the procedure, fat is liposuctioned from another area of the body, processed and then injected into the breasts, providing a natural enhancement of the breast size and shape. As it is not a foreign material, there is little risk of the body rejecting the fat and for women who want a small increase in breast volume, it can be a viable option to breast implant surgery.

If you have further questions about the procedure, call us on 020 7183 1559 to arrange a breast augmentation consultation with Mr Paul Tulley.