What Is Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases breast size and improves shape, most commonly using implants. It is one of the most widely performed cosmetic surgeries and can be tailored to a wide range of goals, from a subtle increase in fullness to more significant volume change.
Who May Consider Breast Augmentation?
Women who feel their breasts are smaller than they would like, who have experienced volume loss after pregnancy or weight change, or who have some natural breast asymmetry, may consider augmentation. It is generally advised for women who have completed breast development and are in good general health.
Breast Implants: What Patients Should Know
Implants are medical devices placed to increase breast volume, and choosing one involves several individual factors — size, shape, surface texture and placement — that should be discussed in detail with your surgeon rather than decided independently. Implant selection is a decision made jointly between patient and surgeon based on your anatomy and goals.
Types of Breast Implants
Implants generally differ by fill material (such as silicone gel or saline) and by shape (round or anatomically contoured). Each type carries its own feel, appearance profile and considerations, and your surgeon can explain which options are appropriate for your body type and desired outcome.
How Is Breast Augmentation Performed?
The procedure involves placing the implant through a carefully selected incision, most commonly beneath the breast fold, around the areola, or in the armpit, and positioning it either above or below the chest muscle. It is generally performed under general anaesthesia.
Choosing Implant Size and Shape
Implant size and shape are selected based on your existing breast tissue, chest dimensions, skin elasticity and personal goals. Your surgeon will guide this conversation to help you visualise realistic outcomes for your frame rather than working from a fixed size alone.
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Most patients take about a week off work, wear a supportive surgical bra for several weeks, and avoid strenuous upper-body activity and heavy lifting for around four to six weeks. Swelling and firmness typically ease over the following weeks as the implants settle into position.
Possible Risks and Complications
Risks associated with breast augmentation can include infection, bleeding, capsular contracture (firming of tissue around the implant), changes in nipple sensation, and the eventual need for implant replacement. These are discussed individually, along with steps taken to reduce them, during consultation.
How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Implants are not considered lifetime devices, and most manufacturers and surgeons note that some patients may need replacement or revision surgery after a decade or more, though this varies from person to person and is monitored through regular follow-up.
Breast Augmentation Results
Initial swelling generally settles within a few weeks, with the final shape and position of the breasts continuing to refine over a few months as tissues soften around the implant.
Breast Augmentation vs Breast Lift
Augmentation adds volume, while a lift repositions sagging tissue without necessarily changing volume. Patients with both low volume and sagging often benefit from combining the two procedures, an option your surgeon can assess during consultation.
Breast Augmentation After Pregnancy
Many women consider augmentation after pregnancy and breastfeeding have changed breast volume and shape. It is usually recommended once breastfeeding has ended and breast size has stabilised.
Choosing a Breast Augmentation Surgeon in Lucknow
Because implant choice and placement significantly affect the final look and feel, it helps to choose a surgeon who takes time to discuss the trade-offs of different implant types and incision approaches rather than presenting a single standard option.
Why Consider Dr. Sumit Malhotra?
Dr. Sumit Malhotra is a Plastic, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon, and Director & HOD of Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospitals, Lucknow. He holds an MBBS, an MS in General Surgery, and an MCh in Plastic Surgery, the latter awarded with a Gold Medal, and brings more than 24 years of clinical experience across both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Malhotra trained and practised at some of the country’s leading institutes, including AIIMS New Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi, King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow, and Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, and he was formerly a Professor at Era’s Medical College, Lucknow. As a Smile Train surgeon, he has performed more than 2,000 cleft surgeries, and as a microvascular surgeon he has revascularised more than 150 limbs. This reconstructive foundation shapes a careful, function-first approach that carries through into his cosmetic practice.
At Apollomedics, Dr. Malhotra’s practice spans facial surgery (rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, facelift, chin and ear correction), breast surgery (augmentation, reduction, lift, and gynecomastia correction), and body contouring (liposuction, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, and body lift). He is fluent in English and Hindi and is known for taking the time, during consultations, to understand a patient’s concerns before recommending a course of action.
Breast augmentation is one of the core procedures within Dr. Malhotra’s cosmetic breast surgery practice at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospitals, Lucknow, where implant and technique decisions are made individually with each patient rather than through a standard package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is breast augmentation surgery safe?
Like any surgery, it carries risks, which your surgeon will discuss in detail based on your health history; overall safety depends significantly on proper patient selection and surgical planning.
How long does breast augmentation surgery take?
The procedure itself typically takes one to two hours, though this can vary depending on the technique and whether it is combined with other procedures.
Will breast augmentation affect breastfeeding?
Many women are able to breastfeed after augmentation, though this can depend on incision location and individual anatomy, which is worth discussing if future breastfeeding matters to you.
How soon can I return to work after breast augmentation?
Many patients return to non-strenuous work within about a week, though this varies by individual and type of work.
Do breast implants need to be replaced?
Implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime, and some patients may require replacement or revision after several years, monitored through periodic follow-up.
Can I choose the exact implant size before surgery?
You and your surgeon will work together to choose a size range appropriate for your chest dimensions and goals; some surgeons use sizers during consultation to help you visualise the outcome.
What to Expect at Your First Consultation
A first consultation for breast augmentation generally starts with a conversation about your medical history, current medications, any previous surgeries, and what specifically you would like to change. Your surgeon will typically conduct a physical examination relevant to the procedure and may take photographs for planning and future comparison.
This is also the point at which your surgeon should walk you through the procedure itself, realistic outcomes for your specific anatomy, the risks involved, expected recovery timeline, and approximate costs. It is worth coming prepared with a list of questions, and it is entirely reasonable to take time after the consultation to decide before scheduling surgery.
Preparing for Breast augmentation Surgery
Preparation typically begins well before the day of surgery. Your surgeon will usually ask for a set of pre-operative blood investigations and, depending on your age and health history, additional tests to confirm you are fit for anaesthesia. You may be advised to stop smoking, adjust certain medications or supplements (particularly blood thinners), and avoid alcohol for a period before surgery, since these can affect healing and bleeding risk.
It also helps to plan practically ahead of time — arranging for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first day or two, preparing loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to wear over dressings or compression garments, and organising your work and household responsibilities around the recovery window your surgeon recommends. Bringing a clear list of questions to your pre-surgical consultation, including about anaesthesia, expected downtime and follow-up visits, generally helps you feel more prepared.
In the days immediately before surgery, most surgeons ask patients to fast for a set number of hours beforehand, avoid applying lotions, creams or nail polish on the day itself, and arrange comfortable, front-opening clothing for the journey home. Setting up a simple recovery space in advance — pillows for elevation where relevant, easy-to-reach essentials, and any prescribed garments or medication — can make the first few days noticeably more comfortable.
Book a Breast Augmentation Consultation in Lucknow
If you are exploring breast augmentation in Lucknow, the most useful next step is an in-person consultation, where your anatomy, medical history and goals can be assessed individually. Dr. Sumit Malhotra and his team at Apollomedics Super Speciality Hospitals, Lucknow, are available to walk you through whether breast augmentation is an appropriate option for you, what it would involve, and what recovery would look like in your specific case.
Every case is different, and nothing in this article should be taken as a diagnosis or a guarantee of outcome — it is intended as general information to help you prepare better questions for your consultation.