Commonly known as a ‘boob job’, breast augmentation surgery (also known as breast enlargement or breast enhancement) is a cosmetic procedure which can increase the size of your breasts. It involves placing silicone or saline-filled implants under the breast tissue or chest muscles.

Many people decide to have breast augmentation if they are unhappy with the size and/or shape of their breasts. According to an audit by The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation was the top cosmetic procedure for women in 2021.

If you’re dissatisfied with the size of your breasts, breast enhancement could help you achieve your goal of increasing their size. It could also help to correct asymmetry (breasts of different sizes) and, following a mastectomy or injury, reconstruct the breasts.

To summarise, breast augmentation offers the following benefits:

– Can correct asymmetry

– Can increase the size of the breasts to boost self-confidence

– Can be used to reconstruct the breasts following mastectomy

– Can balance the proportions of the body

– Can be combined with a breast uplift to increase breast size and volume

As with any surgical procedure, breast enhancement surgery comes with potential risks and side effects, as well as benefits. These include:

– Scarring

– Scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture)

– Change in breast and nipple sensation

– Change in the position of the implants

– Implant rupture/leakage

– Bleeding

– Bruising

– Pain

– Infection.

-As general anaesthesia is used in this procedure, you should also be aware of the risks and side effects that this brings.

For breast enlargement surgery, you’ll be placed under general anaesthetic. This means that you’ll be asleep for the duration of the surgery.

The surgery process is as follows:

– Your surgeon will make an incision below or next to your breast

– The implants will be positioned, either between your chest muscle and breast tissue or behind your chest muscle, depending on your desired results

– Once the implants are in place, your surgeon will stitch the incisions and cover them with a dressing

– The whole process can take 60 to 90 minutes to complete

Depending on the timing of your surgery, you may stay in hospital overnight, or you may be able to go home the same day.

There are several reasons why people have breast enhancement surgery. You might wish to have a boob job if you:

– Want to increase the size of your breasts

– Have asymmetrical breasts

– Have had a mastectomy or breast injury

– Want to balance the proportions of your figure

Your surgeon will be able to discuss your suitability for this procedure with you, and they will also help you select the right size and type of implants should you decide that you wish to go ahead with your breast augmentation. To be considered for any cosmetic procedure, you should be generally fit and healthy, with realistic expectations of the results you may achieve after treatment.

After your breast augmentation, you should be prepared to take up to 2 weeks off work. This will depend on the nature of your job – if your role is more physically demanding, you may require to take more time off to recover.

You should avoid driving for at least a week, and avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least 4 weeks.

After 1-2 weeks, your stitches will be removed or will have dissolved. After 6 weeks, your scars will have begun to fade and you should be back to carrying out your normal activities.

To get the most from your results, you should wear your compression bra for at least 3 months, or however long your surgeon advises.