Sir John Monash Private Hospital

Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure to enlarge the size and enhance the shape of a woman's breast. Women seek to enlarge their breasts for many reasons. Women with small breasts, women who lost breast volume after pregnancy, after weight loss or as they got older, or women who have difference in size between the right and left breasts as well as those who need reconstruction after breast surgery are usually the ones benefit most from this procedure.

A breast implant is used to produce the results. Salt-water solution implants, known as saline implants are now being used instead of the old silicone gel- filled implants. Soy-Bean oil filled implants are now in use in Europe but not approved yet in the Australia.

Breast augmentation is relatively a safe procedure. However, like any surgical procedure, there are certain risks and specific complications associated with this procedure that you need to discuss with your surgeon. So far, there has been no evidence that breast implants will affect your fertility, pregnancy, or ability to nurse. There is also no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer.

Breast implants however, make it technically difficult to get or read X-rays of the breast, mammograms, and special mammogram views or extra examinations by Ultrasound or may be needed for patients with breast implants. Soy-bean oil filled implants does not interfere with mammogram. They are not available yet in the Australia.

Breast augmentation is usually performed in an office facility, a surgery centre, or a hospital outpatient facility. Either local or general anaesthesia can be used for this procedure. The incision will be made in such a way to make it as inconspicuous as possible, around the areola, in the armpit, in the crease where the breast meets the chest, or by using Endoscopy to place the implant through a minimal incision.

The surgery usually takes one to two hours to complete. Most of the patients will be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the nature of their job.

Send mail to Web Master, webmaster@monash-hospital.com.au  with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1998 Sir John Monash Private Hospital
Last modified: February 13, 2004