Breast Augmentation in London
Not every patient considering breast augmentation wants to look bigger. Many want to look like themselves before pregnancy, before weight loss, or before time changed a shape they were comfortable with. Breast augmentation at The Ghanem Clinic uses implant surgery tailored to your anatomy and goals, delivered by consultant plastic surgeons at our Wimpole Street clinic in London.
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Breast Augmentation Overview
Breast augmentation, medically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure that uses implants to enhance breast size, restore lost volume, or correct asymmetry. Implants are placed either beneath the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle depending on your anatomy and desired outcome. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and typically takes between one and two hours. At The Ghanem Clinic, breast augmentation is delivered by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register with specialist training in aesthetic breast surgery.
Choosing Breast Augmentation
Suitability is decided by tissue, not by target cup size. Breast augmentation is generally appropriate for patients at a stable weight, in good general health, and with realistic expectations of what an implant can achieve within their existing chest wall dimensions and skin quality. Volume loss after pregnancy or weight change, breasts that never developed to a size the patient feels balanced with, and noticeable asymmetry are the concerns most commonly raised at consultation. Where the nipple has also dropped, a lift may be needed alongside or instead of implants, which your surgeon confirms on examination.
Breast Augmentation vs. Other Procedures
An implant adds volume and projection but does not lift the breast. A breast lift removes excess skin and repositions the nipple higher on the chest without meaningfully increasing size. When volume loss and dropping occur together, augmentation mastopexy addresses both in a single operation, though it is technically more demanding and requires careful implant selection so the newly tightened envelope is not stretched again. Fat transfer offers a modest, softer volume increase for patients who prefer to avoid implants, but the degree of change is limited by the fat available and the proportion that survives.
| Breast Augmentation | Breast Lift | Augmentation Mastopexy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Concern | Volume loss or smaller breasts than preferred | Breasts that have dropped with adequate volume | Volume loss combined with dropping |
| Adds Volume | Yes, through implants | No, reshapes existing tissue | Yes, through implants |
| Repositions the Nipple | No | Yes | Yes |
| Removes Excess Skin | No | Yes | Yes |
| Incision | Inframammary crease, areola or armpit | Periareolar, vertical or inverted-T | Determined by the degree of correction required |
Your Breast Augmentation Process
Initial Consultation
The process begins with a private, no-obligation consultation at our Wimpole Street clinic. Your consultant surgeon reviews your medical history, examines the natural anatomy of your breast tissue and chest wall, and discusses your goals openly, confirming whether breast augmentation is the right procedure for you.
Surgical Planning
Once suitability is confirmed, a personalised surgical plan is developed. This includes photography, breast measurements, and detailed discussion of implant type, size, projection, incision location and placement above or below the muscle. Visualisation tools may be used to help you preview different options.
Pre-Op Preparation
In the weeks before surgery, our team guides you through pre-operative health checks, blood tests and mammograms where indicated. We advise pausing certain supplements, optimising nutrition, and avoiding nicotine for at least four weeks before and after surgery. A pre-admission appointment confirms final details.
Surgery
Breast augmentation is performed under general anaesthesia and typically takes one to two hours. Incisions are placed discreetly in the crease beneath the breast, around the areola, or in the armpit. Implants are inserted, precisely positioned, and the tissue is closed with fine sutures to support natural healing.
Recovery and Follow-Up
An overnight stay is typically recommended so the clinical team can monitor your early recovery. A support bra is fitted and worn to hold implants in position and support healing. Most patients return to desk-based work within one to two weeks, with follow-up appointments scheduled thereafter.
Procedure Details
What it Treats
Breast augmentation addresses breasts that are smaller than the patient would prefer, loss of volume following pregnancy or breastfeeding, uneven breast size, deflated appearance after significant weight loss, and breasts that have not developed to a size the patient feels balanced with. It also supports breast reconstruction when needed.
Benefits
Patients enjoy enhanced breast size, restored fullness and improved symmetry, alongside better proportion with the rest of the body. Results are designed to be long lasting, though implants are not lifetime devices and may require revision or replacement over time. Many patients also report improved confidence in clothing.
Additional Procedures
Many patients combine breast augmentation with complementary procedures addressed in the same operation. Options include a breast lift for those with dropping as well as volume loss, or full body contouring within our Mummy Makeover programme for patients addressing changes across the breasts and abdomen together.
What to Expect from a Breast Augmentation Procedure
Knowing exactly what to expect at each stage removes most of the anxiety around surgery. The timeline below covers what actually happens before, during and after breast augmentation at our Wimpole Street clinic, so you can plan your recovery with clarity rather than guesswork.
Preparation
Before surgery, you will attend preparatory appointments including medical screening, imaging where indicated, and a final pre-operative review. We provide tailored guidance on skincare, nutrition, sleeping arrangements, and preparation for your home recovery, ensuring you arrive on the day calm, supported and well prepared.
The Procedure
You are welcomed into our private surgical suite by the consultant anaesthetist and theatre team. Once comfortably under general anaesthesia, your consultant surgeon performs the augmentation with meticulous precision. Most patients remain in our care overnight, with close monitoring and rest before discharge.
Recovery and Results
You will feel a sense of tightness across the chest for the first week as the tissue adjusts around the implants. Sleeping on your back with the upper body slightly elevated supports healing. Light activity resumes within one to two weeks, with strenuous exercise cleared at six to eight weeks.
Trusted Breast Surgery Expertise in the Heart of Marylebone
Breast augmentation at The Ghanem Clinic is delivered by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register, with specialist training in aesthetic breast surgery and implant selection. Every procedure is planned around the individual patient, at our CQC-registered Wimpole Street clinic under the medical direction of the UK's only Professor of Aesthetic Medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A Shape That Looks Like You
Book a private consultation with our consultant plastic surgeons to discuss implant type, size and placement against your anatomy and goals.
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