Breast Augmentation

This is one of the most important aspects of the consultation. To determine the most appropriate implant, the patient’s existing breast tissue, body frame and aesthetic expectations are taken into account. Additionally, Maisam Fazel performs a sizing test in clinic to give the patient an idea of how they may look after the breast augmentation. This helps the patient to select the implant size and shape that best suits them.

No one implant is suitable for all patients and thus Maisam Fazel uses a variety of implant brands based on the patient’s aesthetic goals and anatomical considerations.  However, Maisam Fazel will only use implants with a proven strong track record of safety. The implants that he frequently uses include B-lite, Motiva and Nagor.

While any surgical procedure carries certain risks, there are also certain risks associated specifically to a breast augmentation with implants.  Recently, there has been a link made between textured breast implants and a condition known as Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). The lymphoma forms in the capsule (scar tissue) that surrounds the breast implant. BIA-ALCL is very rare and tends to respond well to treatment. Currently, the advice from the UK government is that BIA-ALCL poses a very small risk. Maisam Fazel will discuss this in detail during the consultation.

Separately, very rarely, some patients report a wide range of auto-immune like symptoms which they attribute to their breast implants. Although this is not recognised as a disease, these symptoms are collectively called Breast Implant Illness. Many of these patients report feeling much better once the implants are removed together with the entire capsule, in a procedure known as an en bloc capsulectomy, which Maisam Fazel is an expert in.

It is difficult to predict whether a patient will be able to breastfeed after a breast augmentation. Many women successfully breast feed after a breast augmentation while others have difficulty breast feeding even when they have not had breast implants. The ability to breast feed after an augmentation may depend on where the incision is made and where the implant has been placed in relation to the chest wall muscle.

All the implants used by Maisam Fazel are of a very high quality and do not need to be routinely changed unless there is an issue with them or if the patient wants a change. Conversely, a breast implant is not considered a lifetime device and thus surgery may be required in the future to replace the implants.

This depends on the position of the nipple in relation the main volume of the breast tissue as well as its relation to the breast crease. Maisam Fazel can advise on the need for this after examination. If needed, Maisam Fazel is happy to perform a breast lift at the same time as a breast augmentation using either a lollipop (vertical) lift or his famous donut (periareolar) lift.

Breast implants have either round or tear-drop (anatomical) shape. Tear-drop implants are thought to be more ‘natural’ and can provide a small internal breast lift. However, they can occasionally rotate and end up lying in an abnormal position within the breast. Maisam Fazel uses both implant shapes and will advise on the shape after evaluating a patient’s anatomy and their aesthetic goal.