About breast augmentation
The most common reason patients are unhappy after augmentation elsewhere is dimensional mismatch: an implant chosen by cup-size aspiration rather than by measurement. An implant wider than the breast base produces lateral fullness and visible edges; one too projected for thin tissue produces rippling.
We measure base width, sternal notch to nipple distance, nipple to inframammary fold distance, and pinch thickness at the upper pole. Those numbers define a range of appropriate implants, and within that range you choose using sizers and 3D simulation.
Implant selection covers profile, cohesivity and placement plane. Dual-plane placement — partially under the muscle — suits most patients by giving upper pole coverage while allowing the lower pole to fill out naturally. All implants we use are textured or smooth cohesive silicone from manufacturers with long-term registry data and lifetime warranties.
Who this suits
- Small or asymmetric breasts, or volume loss following pregnancy or weight change.
- Physically healthy, non-smoking, and not currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Breast development complete — usually 18 and over.
- Sufficient skin and tissue to cover the proposed implant, or willingness to consider fat transfer instead.
- Understanding that implants are not lifetime devices and may need revision.
How the procedure is performed
- Full measurement session with sizers and 3D simulation so you see the projected result on your own body.
- Baseline mammogram or ultrasound where age or history indicates.
- Inframammary incision in most cases — placed in the fold, around 4cm, and the best studied for low infection rates.
- Dual-plane pocket dissection under direct vision with meticulous haemostasis.
- No-touch technique with insertion sleeve, nipple shields and triple antibiotic irrigation to minimise capsular contracture risk.
- Implant placed, position checked with the patient sat upright on the table.
- Layered closure and a supportive surgical bra fitted before waking.
What it achieves
- Predictable, proportionate volume increase.
- Correction of asymmetry between the two sides.
- Restoration of upper pole fullness lost after pregnancy.
- Implant choice matched to measurement rather than guesswork.
- Long manufacturer warranties on all implants used.
Recovery timeline
Individual recovery varies. These are the stages most patients pass through, and the ones we plan your follow-up around.
- Days 1–3
Tightness and pressure across the chest, well controlled with analgesia. Surgical bra worn continuously. Arms kept below shoulder height.
- Days 4–7
Marked improvement in discomfort. Desk work possible from around day five to seven.
- Weeks 2–4
Implants sitting high — this is expected. Light lower-body exercise permitted.
- Weeks 6–8
Full exercise including upper body. Underwired bras permitted.
- Months 3–6
Implants settled into the pocket, upper pole softened. Final shape.
Cost
Includes implants, theatre, anaesthesia, surgical bra and one year of follow-up. Premium cohesive and ergonomic implants are priced at the upper end.
Bands reflect the genuine variation in complexity between patients. Your firm quote is issued after examination and does not change afterwards. See our full price list for context across the catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
No — that figure is a persistent myth. Modern implants are replaced when there is a problem such as rupture, contracture or a change in what you want, not on a schedule. Many last decades.
In the large majority of cases, yes. The inframammary approach with dual-plane placement does not divide the ducts. No breast surgery can guarantee lactation, but this technique preserves it well.
Fat transfer gives a modest, natural increase — roughly half to one cup — with no foreign material, and requires donor fat. Implants give a larger, more predictable and more controllable increase. We discuss both.
They require additional displacement views, so tell your radiographer you have implants. Screening remains effective, and we provide your implant documentation to take with you.
Scar tissue around the implant tightening and firming the breast. Our no-touch technique, antibiotic irrigation and dual-plane placement all reduce the risk, which sits in the low single-digit percentages.
Measurement defines the safe range; sizers and 3D simulation let you choose within it. We do not work from cup sizes, because they vary between manufacturers and describe a bra rather than a body.
