An optional surgery done on your opposite, natural breast to make it larger and better match to the reconstructed breast.Your reconstructed breast may be larger than your opposite, natural breast. Breast enlargement uses an implant to make your breast larger.
How is it done?
The surgeon inserts an implant under your natural breast to make it larger. If your natural breast is small and droops, you may also consider having a breast lift. Your surgeon can tell you if this combination of procedures is right for you.Read more:
Surgeon puts an implant under your breast tissue or under the chest muscle behind your breast
Scars from the incision are usually in the crease under your breast, around the areola, or in the armpit (depending on the surgeon and other factors)
By the numbers
Number of surgeries1
A breast enlargement involves one surgery that takes about 1 hour. It is done with general anesthesia, so you will be asleep during the surgery.
Nights in the hospital0
Breast enlargement is outpatient (no hospital stay).
Length of recovery3 to 4 weeks
Many patients return to work and resume normal physical activities 3-4 weeks after the surgery.
What are the pros?
Your natural breast will more closely match the shape of your reconstructed breast
What are the cons?
An additional surgery with another recovery period
Permanent scarring
Scars from a breast enlargement can be thick and red for months after your surgery. They will fade over time and become less noticeable.These scars can be hidden under most bathing suits.
May make breast tissue harder to see on mammograms
The placement of your breast implant could affect your annual mammogram. If the implant is placed under your chest muscle, it will likely have very little effect on your mammogram results.When scheduling mammograms, look for doctors and centers that are experienced in screening women with implants.
What are the risks?
Leakage of the implant
The most common complication of breast implants is leakage. This happens in about 10% of patients (1 out of 10) over the first 10 years for either saline or gel-filled implants.When leakage occurs, the implant must be removed or replaced. This procedure usually takes about an hour and does not require a hospital stay.For silicone gel implants, more extensive surgery is sometimes needed to remove loose silicone from the breast area. However, this tends to be less of a problem for the newer solid or semi-solid silicone gel implants.
Pain from scar tissue
Scar tissue forms on the outside of all artificial devices (like implants) when placed in the body. Usually, this does not pose a problem. However, in about 5 to 10% of patients (5 to 10 women out of 100), too much scar tissue forms. This may happen more frequently with silicone implants than with saline implants.The scar tissue may cause pain and discomfort and make the implant feel hard to the touch. If this happens, you may need surgery to break up or remove the scar tissue. It may also be necessary to remove or replace the implant.Scar tissue can form at any time from a few weeks to many years after the implants are inserted.