Breast Augmentation in Melbourne

Choosing to undergo any plastic surgery procedure is a very important decision, as is selecting the plastic surgeon. Dr Moss has performed  thousands of breast augmentation (implant) surgery procedures. Meticulous care is taken during Dr Moss’ breast augmentation surgeries and he strives for excellence in results with a natural look while avoiding the obviously fake appearance such as the ‘Baywatch’ look.

All surgery is performed at a fully accredited and state of the art surgical facility at The Avenue Hospital in Windsor. Surgery is usually performed as a day stay however you can stay overnight if you prefer.

Embarking on breast augmentation can be very daunting at first. The best breast size and shape for you is a very individual decision and depends on your personal preferences and what your body tissues will allow you to have. If you are to have surgery there are a number of important decisions to be made. These include implant size, shape, and placement, incision site and your preference for silicone gel or saline filled implants. Each of these options is discussed and your surgical plan is tailored to your individual requirements. Naturally, satisfaction with your breast surgery depends on you having realistic expectations of what can be achieved for you personally.

Breast augmentation is now the third most common cosmetic surgery procedure for women. Although the “Baywatch breast” always gets a lot of press, the vast majority of women I see request a natural appearance to enhance their breast volume.

There are three main groups of women who typically consider breast augmentation: those whose breasts developed abnormally for medical reasons (either small size, uneven size or abnormal shape), those whose breasts are normal but have lost volume or changed after pregnancy and those who have normal sized breasts but request breast enlargement as a personal preference.

All surgery has risks – no matter who performs the surgery. When surgery is performed by a trained and experienced plastic surgeon there will be measures and precautions put in place to help lower the risk of complications occurring. If complications do occur and require further treatment or revisional surgery, then a qualified surgeon is trained to manage such complications. During the consultation, Dr Moss will carefully explain the possible risks of your surgery so that you can make an informed decision.

Different patients will heal differently, and have different pain thresholds and will therefore experience different recovery times for different activities The following possible complications – which apply to all surgeons worldwide – are listed to inform you, rather than to alarm you. A number of these risks are rare and have not occurred to date in Dr Moss’ practice. Further details on the level of any risk in your particular circumstances, including the possible impact of any comorbidities you may have, are provided in your consultation.

All patients are likely to experience some temporary discomfort/pain, numbness or altered sensation around the incisions or operated areas; bruising and swelling; skin discolouration; lumpiness, tightness, fatigue, low spirits; and nausea – typically from the anaesthetics or pain killers, which may require treatment. 

General risks of surgery include wound infection, haematoma (collection of blood under the skin), abnormal scarring or internal scar tissue, bleeding from the incisions, allergies or reactions to anaesthetic agents, medications, sutures or topical treatments, delayed healing or separation of wound edges.

Specific Risks of Breast Augmentation Surgery include wound infection; haematoma (collection of blood) or seroma (collection of fluid) that may require surgical treatment; capsular contracture; calcium deposits can form; changed sensation around the nipple, areola and skin; leakage or breakage (rupture) of implants which would require surgical removal; implants may move or rotate causing pain and/or distortion; implant extrusion; breast implanted associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) (a rare cancer of lymphatic cells – not breast cancer); silicone gel diffusion.

Risks of Anaesthesia include tooth damage; heart attack; pneumonia; blood clot in the leg or lung, and stroke. These are uncommon but could be life threatening.

At this time there is no scientific evidence that implants cause health problems in breast-fed children. Many women who have had breast augmentation successfully breastfeed their children.

Surgery is performed under General Anaesthetic and Dr Moss has a strict after-care protocol aimed at helping the recovery period. There is a degree of discomfort or pain in the first few days for which pain control medications are provided. Despite this, one of the most important things you can do is get moving. The trick is to use enough pain medication to allow gentle upper body movement as this helps your recovery. Most sutures will be removed after 7 days.

Most of Dr Moss’ prefer day surgery but it is important that they have someone to care for them overnight. Some patients choose to stay overnight in hospital.

A routine recovery to everyday activities such as walking, shopping, washing, grooming and caring for small children usually takes a few days in our patients. Recovery time varies for individuals depending on their pain tolerance, tissues and procedure. Atraumatic surgical technique minimises post-operative inflammation and helps improve the recovery process. It is very important to follow your after-care instructions. Most patients return to office type work by around 7 days. You can return to light exercise (wearing a supportive bra) from about 3 weeks but need to refrain from more strenuous activity for 6 weeks after surgery.

Implants have a finite lifespan and will not last forever. Silicone-filled breast implants can rupture and leak over time so all patients choosing to undergo this procedure must be prepared to monitor and treat or replace these accordingly over time. Since breast implant rupture and BIA-ALCL can occur without symptoms, it is recommended you have regular medical review of your breasts and implants, with scans as needed, to identify any issues. Be aware that implants may interfere with mammography.

Breast implants have a finite lifespan and will not last forever. You should consider removal or replacement of your implants after 10-15 years and this would involve further surgery and costs.