Breast enlargement is done under general anesthesia or other sedative and local anethesia.  

Breast enlargement is done by slipping the implant through surgical cuts located on in different areas near or on the breast. The placement for the surgical cuts is dependent on what is proper for you based on a consultation with you plastic surgeon. Some of the factors your doctor may consider are the volume of the augmentation, the type of implant and your body type. The possible places for the surgical cuts are:

  • At the base of the breast where it folds on to the chest. This is known as an inframammary incision.
  • In the arm pit. This is named a transaxillary incision.
  • At the border of the nipple and the breast. This is a known as a periareolar incision.

Although  less often, breast implants can be inserted through an incision in the belly button. This is called a transumbilical procedure.

The breast implant is either placed directly behind the breast tissue or the muscle on chest, called the pectoral muscle.

The incision where the implant was inserted is closed with small stitches, a special type of tape called surgical tape or a special glue known as skin adhesive material.

Obviously, the results of the procedure are imediate.  Depending on the breast enlargment process and the patient, the recovery from the breast enlargment process can take a few days. It may take a couple of weeks for all the swelling to go down and to return to normal activities on the advice of your plastic surgeon. Usually a doctor prescribes some medication for the pain and swelling. As with any major surgery, for the best outcome exactly follow your your cosmetic surgeon’s instructions and call or see them if you have any concerns or feel unusual. To find out more on the breast augmentation procedure, including the potential side effects, types of implants and how to select a plastic surgeon, go to breast augmentation basics.