Breast

Breast Augmentation – Breast Enlargement – Breast Implants Adelaide

Breast augmentation is Dr Hamilton’s most common cosmetic, surgical procedure.

Dr Hamilton will conduct an extensive consultation with you before surgery and listen very carefully to understand your expectations. This includes a thorough assessment of your chest frame and breast tissue characteristics, exploration of various implant options and the use of computer-aided 3D Vectra renderings of what you can expect to look like after surgery. The pre-op planning by Dr Hamilton and discussion with you, the patient, is crucial to obtaining an optimal result.

Please note that the information about this procedure is given as a general guide, and is not a substitute for an in-depth, personal consultation with Dr Hamilton. As with any surgery there are risks and complications to consider, all of which will be clearly communicated to you during your one-on-one consultation with Dr Hamilton.

Breast Enlargement / Breast Augmentation Overview

Breast enlargement, or augmentation with Breast Implants is a frequently performed cosmetic procedure designed to add volume and shape to the bust line to achieve patient expectations.

There are many reasons patients seek breast enlargement, including:

  • underdeveloped breasts
  • small breasts disproportionate to the body frame
  • altering of breast shape
  • difficulty in finding suitable clothing
  • decrease in breast size/shape following pregnancy
  • breasts shape having changed over time
  • one breast may be smaller or larger than the other

Trained in Adelaide, New Zealand, Melbourne and Sweden and with more than 30 years experience in breast enlargement surgery, Dr Richard Hamilton is a qualified plastic surgeon offering breast augmentation surgery at our Adelaide practice for patients from across the country. Contact the Adelaide office of Hamilton House Plastic Surgery with any questions or concerns you might have for an in-depth, confidential discussion with one of our very knowledgeable patient advisors.

Breast Implant Information

At our Adelaide practice, Dr Richard Hamilton pairs his surgical skill with silicone gel or saline filled Motiva implants. Silicone gel is a soft cohesive medical grade material with breast feel characteristics confined within a shaped silicone rubber shell. Saline is a salt-water solution that is contained within an outer silicone rubber shell, which is easily absorbed by the body in the case of implant leakage. Both saline and the silicone cohesive gel-filled breast implants are equally safe; and the latest technological advances in breast surgery have further increased their effectiveness and durability. Depending on your expected outcome, Dr Hamilton will guide you through the process of choosing between silicone or saline breast implants at your initial consultation.

Breast Implant Sizes

Breast implants come in a range of sizes, from smaller implants designed for subtle breast enlargement, to larger styles for patients who expect more dramatic results. There are also different shapes, predominantly round or tear drop. Dr Hamilton will assist you to select the best implant to achieve your expected results, and most importantly, to fit the shape of your body contour. The Vectra 3D computer imaging is a great tool to show you on the screen what a breast augmentation will do for you and is part of the science of determining which is the best implant for your particular body shape and breast. Dr Hamilton’s expertise and years of experience is invaluable when it comes to his assessment of which will work best for you after a full clinical examination. As with any invasive surgery, there can be risks and complications, and Dr Hamilton will discuss with you all the risks and benefits of the various types of implants used at our practice. Each case is unique, but usually, soft silicone gel implants are used when tissue coverage is thin whereas saline filled implants may be used where there is more breast tissue cover. Dr Hamilton will also discuss the best options for exact placement of the implants, either behind the chest muscles or directly underneath the breast tissue, uniquely dependent on your body shape.

The consultation is comprehensive and will include outlining of risks and complications. The consultation will take about an hour.

The Breast Enlargement Procedure Adelaide

Breast augmentation implant procedures are performed at Hamilton House Day Surgery at facility in Adelaide, as a day procedure. A short incision is made usually in the fold under the breast, and a breast implant is carefully inserted under the breast tissue or under the pectoral muscles. The implant is inserted with the aid of a Keller Funnel to avoid contact between the implant and the skin where contamination could otherwise occur. Once the implant is correctly in place, the incision is carefully closed in layers with a concealed absorbable stitch. The procedure is performed under intravenous sedation or general anaesthetic by a specialist anaesthetist and takes up to two hours to complete.

Recovery after Breast Enlargement

During breast surgery recovery, patients typically experience breast sensitivity, soreness, swelling, and sometimes a temporary decrease in nipple sensation. However, most side effects usually subside within two days. Post-operative discomfort can be relieved with our special post-op pain management plan, which includes local anaesthetic placed in the pocket just before the operation concludes, oral medication and a nasal spray analgesic for instant pain relief. A fine catheter can be placed in the breast pocket through which local anaesthetic can be instilled for rapid pain relief. Dr Hamilton will personally check you the day after the procedure and frequently during the first two weeks. You are able to shower on the second post-operative day. Some patients who live some distance from Adelaide may prefer or may be advised to spend the first few nights in Adelaide or at the facility at 1 Narinna Avenue a relaxing, cosy cottage, conveniently located right next door to Hamilton House.

Most patients who have undergone breast augmentation at our Adelaide plastic surgery centre are able to resume their normal daily routines, including work, around two weeks after the breast augmentation procedure, sometimes even less. The post-op management is different for silicone gel and saline filled breast implants. Dr Hamilton will discuss this with you at the initial consultation at Hamilton House.

Scarring After Breast Enlargement

Dr Richard Hamilton will use the short scar technique and aim to make the incisions as small and as well-hidden as possible. There are a variety of techniques, Dr Hamilton uses to minimise the appearance of scars. Most of the scarring from the breast enlargement procedure will fade with time, ultimately becoming a barely noticeable fine line under the breast.

Possible Breast Enlargement Complications

In addition to sensitivity, soreness, temporarily decreased nipple sensation and swelling, there are some instances when an implant will become encapsulated, a condition in which scar tissue forms around the implant and makes it feel hardened. Rarely, the implant may leak and deflate, after which it would require replacement or removal. Dr Hamilton will discuss all of the aspects of recovery, risks and complications from breast enlargement with you in an honest and open manner before the procedure to ensure you are fully informed.

Many medical treatments have been associated with a possible but remote cancer risk. In breast implant surgery, there could be an extremely rare cancer risk of less than 1 in 500,000 of ALCL (Atypical Large Cell Lymphoma) development. This risk is very small. Conversely however, a reputable Danish study suggests there is no risk of developing breast cancer from breast implants. Dr Hamilton will brief you about the science of this subject during your in-depth consultation.

More recently, there has been discussion about a condition called Breast Implant Illness, BII. So far, this condition has not proven to be an entity and Dr Hamilton will discuss this with you.

Results Achieved with Breast Implants

If you are considering breast augmentation surgery in Adelaide, please consider asking for a referral to a properly trained Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, FRACS, qualified plastic surgeon, to make sure that the most appropriate surgical and anaesthetic techniques are employed in a thoroughly safe and regulated environment, to ensure the best aesthetic outcome and the safest result for you. It is important to understand the difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a qualified plastic surgeon. Cosmetic surgeons may have taken brief courses to learn certain procedures, whereas a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons,FRACS, qualified plastic surgeon is also a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, ASPS, and has undertaken the highly specialised further eight years of practical instruction and training (on top of their basic MBBS medical degree). This is required to qualify as a plastic surgeon. Plastic surgery is a serious matter and not without risk. There is only one valid qualification for performing advanced cosmetic plastic surgery such as breast augmentation and that is FRACS, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Cosmetic Surgery Clinics performing Breast Augmentation

Over recent years a number of General Practitioner staffed Cosmetic Surgery Clinics have arisen throughout the Adelaide area and in the Eastern states for the provision of cosmetic services including Breast Implants. Although these clinics may provide a worthwhile community service in non surgical services (cosmetic injections for example), patients should understand that these clinics are not normally staffed by specialist plastic surgeons with the FRACS qualification. If you are attending these clinics and are considering breast augmentation surgery in Adelaide, please consider asking for a referral to a properly trained FRACS qualified plastic surgeon, to make sure that only the best surgical and anaesthetic techniques are employed in a thoroughly safe and regulated environment, to ensure the best aesthetic outcome and the safest result for you. It’s important to understand the difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a qualified Plastic Surgeon. Cosmetic surgeons may have only taken brief courses to learn certain procedures, whereas a FRACS qualified Plastic Surgeon is a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons ASPS, who has undertaken the highly specialised further eight years of practical instruction and training (on top of their basic MBBS medical degree) which is needed to qualify as a Plastic Surgeon. Plastic Surgery is a serious matter and not without risk. Choosing a cheaper, quick fix option usually means short cuts may be taken, which may compromise care and safety, often with tragic results. There is only one valid qualification for performing advanced cosmetic plastic surgery such as breast augmentation and that is FRACS, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Costs of Breast Augmentation

Dr Hamilton will discuss all the costs involved in breast augmentation surgery in an open and honest manner after he has fully assessed your requirements and the scope of the procedure at the initial consultation. Please remember every case is different and the procedure is specific for each patient. There are no Medicare item numbers and no rebates for primary cosmetic procedures. The costs involved include surgical fees, day surgery theatre fees and the implants. Cosmetic Surgery fees are always prepaid. Aftercare visits with Dr Hamilton for six months are without charge. The fee for the specialist anaesthetist is additional and will vary according to the complexity and duration of your surgery. GST applies to cosmetic procedures.

Contact us about Breast Enlargement and Breast Implants

At Hamilton House Plastic Surgery we understand the decision to undergo breast augmentation in Adelaide is an major one that is filled with concern and questions. What size, what shape, what incision and what position is best for me? What happens before, during and after surgery? We will take all the time you need to inform and guide you through the decision-making process.

At Hamilton House Plastic Surgery in Adelaide we offer a range of other cosmetic procedures including rhinoplasty, short scar face lift, tummy tuck, non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques, lip enhancement and more. To learn more about breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures, please contact Dr. Richard Hamilton today.

Breast Augmentation by fat graft

Breast Augmentation can be achieved with a new technique in fat grafting by transferring the patient’s own fat from the abdomen and thighs. Thereby avoiding using breast implants. Sufficient resources of fat are necessary for this to be achieved. Approximately 2/3 of fat transplanted will survive. A top up procedure may be required. Recovering after fat transfer to the breast takes a few days. There is minimal scarring and complications are few.

Dr Hamilton can advise you if you are a suitable candidate for this procedure.