Is this right for me?
Breast Augmentation, is a procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast for a number of reasons:
• To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small.
• To restore breast volume lost due to weight loss or following pregnancy.
• To achieve better symmetry when breasts are disproportionate in size and shape.
• To improve the shape of breasts that sag or have lost firmness.
• This procedure allows increase by one or more bra cup sizes.

Implants
The choice of implant, implant size and shape will be based on your breast anatomy, body type and your desired increase in size. Our surgeon will discuss this in detail with you.

Breast implants do not normally interfere with a woman's ability to breast feed, or present a health hazard in pregnancy to either the woman or her baby. However, pregnancy and the changes that occur to a woman's body such as weight gain and loss may alter the results of the breast surgery. Therefore, it is imperative that you inform the surgeon if you are planning on becoming pregnant and breast feeding in the future.

You should be aware that breast implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and future surgery may be required to replace one or both implants. It is important to have regular examinations for general breast health and to evaluate the condition of your implants.

Contrary to popular belief it is possible have a mammogram when you have implants in, the technician just needs to be informed so he can use a special technique.

The Risks
A Breast Augmentation is quite a common operation. However, as with any surgery, there is always a  possibility of complications or a reaction to the anaesthetic.

There is a higher risk of infection in the first two weeks following surgery. Any risk can be reduced by following the surgeon’s advice before and after surgery. It is very rare that the implant needs to be removed. Once the infection clears the implant can then be replaced. As with any type of surgery, bleeding can cause some swelling and pain but this can be controlled with analgesia.

Previous breast surgery may preclude Breast Augmentation.
 
Occasionally women report that their nipples become over sensitive or even numb. You may also experience numbness near your incisions. These symptoms usually disappear within time, but can be permanent in some patients.

Implants do not usually interfere with a woman's ability to breast feed, or present a hazard while pregnant to the woman or her baby.

Very occasionally, capsular contracture can occur if the scar tissue around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezes the implant and causes the breast to feel hard. This can be treated by either removal or ‘scoring’ of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal or replacement of the implant.

The majority of women do not experience these complications; you should discuss each of them with our surgeon to make sure you understand the risks and consequences of breast enlargement. There are certain medical conditions that can increase the likelihood of any complications which is why it is important that you complete the health questionnaire which will be given to you on your arrival at nu-age medical spa.

What is involved?
At your consultation, the surgeon will evaluate your health and discuss your expectations in detail.

The surgeon will examine your breasts and take measurements. He / she will discuss the issues that may have an effect on the surgery; this will include your age, the size and shape of your breasts and condition of your skin, if your breasts are sagging the surgeon may also recommend uplift.

Where the implants are placed depends on your body shape and size. The incision is usually made in the natural crease under the breast. The surgeon will make every effort to make the scar inconspicuous as possible.

The implant can either be placed on top of the chest muscle or beneath it. This largely depends on the amount of breast tissue you already have. Please tell the surgeon if you smoke, take any medication, vitamins, or other drugs.

Our surgeon will also explain what anaesthetic will be used and where the surgery is to be performed.
It is very important that you tell the surgeon what your expectations are and he / she will inform you of alternatives and any risks and limitations.

Once you have been fully informed you can decide with the surgeon the best possible options for you.

Preparing for surgery
Our surgeon or nurse will give you advice on how to prepare yourself for surgery, this will include guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.

The surgeon may recommend a mammogram before your procedure to make sure that your breasts are healthy and this will serve as a baseline for future comparison. You will be asked to sign consent forms to make sure that you understand the procedure, and any risks and potential complications of your surgery.

There will be a waiting period of at least two weeks from the time of your consultation to the day of your surgery.

It is important that you arrange for someone to drive you home after your operation and to help you out for a few days, if needed.

After your surgery
Initially you will be likely to have some pain and discomfort which can be controlled with analgesia; you will need to wear a sports bra as directed by our surgeon. Bruising and swelling which can take a few weeks to subside. You may also experience discomfort in your nipples for a couple of weeks, but this will become less intense. Your stitches will come out in one week to 14 days.

Follow our surgeon's advice on when to begin exercising again and return to normal activities. You may find your breasts will be sensitive to direct stimulation for a number of weeks so it is be better to avoid physical contact until you are no longer sore, usually four to six weeks after surgery. You should be able to return to work within a week to ten days, depending on the level of activity required for your job.

Yours scars will be firm and pink for at least six weeks. Then they may remain the same size for a few months, or even appear to widen. After several months they should fade, soften and lighten, although they will never disappear completely. This type of surgery is done under general anaesthetic and requires an overnight stay in hospital.

How long will the results last?
This is difficult to predict, breast size and shape can change if there is weight gain / loss and pregnancy. The ageing process doesn’t stop and gravity will still occur so the breasts can still sag in the future.

You are more likely to be happy with your surgery if you are fully informed, understand the procedure thoroughly and your expectations are realistic.