‘Breast augmentation’ and ‘breast implants’ get used as if they’re two options to choose between. They aren’t. One is the surgery, the other is what’s placed during it, and once that’s clear, the more useful question becomes what actually happens inside that surgery: which implant, in what position, and why.
In this blog, consultant breast surgeon Andrew Pieri answers key questions around the terminology surrounding augmentation and implants.
How do Breast Augmentation and Breast Implants Differ?
The key difference between breast augmentation and implants is that the surgical procedure whereas breast implants are the medical device placed during that procedure to increase breast volume, shape, and projection.
Where the confusion tends to creep back in is when people start comparing implant types, sizes, or placements as if they were comparing different procedures, when they’re actually comparing options within the same one.
Do You Always Need Implants for Breast Augmentation?
Not strictly. Fat transfer breast augmentation, where fat is taken from another part of the body and grafted into the breast, is used by some surgeons as an alternative for patients wanting a subtler increase using their own tissue rather than an implant. It typically achieves a smaller volume increase than implants and is better suited to modest goals than a significant size change.
For most patients seeking a defined and predictable increase in size, implants remain the standard route, which is why the rest of this guide focuses on the decisions that come with choosing one.
The Decisions That Actually Make Up ‘Breast Augmentation’
Once augmentation and implants are understood as one process rather than two separate choices, the real decision-making has to be made.
Generally, shape, size, profile, and placement are the four variables that determine how your results will look and feel, and each is decided with your surgeon based on your anatomy and goals rather than picked from a catalogue in isolation.
Implant Shape: Round vs Teardrop
Round implants distribute volume evenly, which tends to create fuller cleavage and stronger upper-pole projection.
Teardrop implants, also called anatomical implants, carry more of their volume in the lower pole and less towards the top, which produces a shape closer to the natural slope of an unaugmented breast. They’re generally chosen by patients wanting fullness without pronounced roundness at the top of the breast.
Read more in our full guide to breast implant types.
Implant Size and Profile
Implants are sized in cubic centimetres (CC) rather than bra cup size, because bra sizing varies too much between brands to be a reliable measurement. During consultation, a sizing session, trying different volumes inside a well-fitting bra, gives a far more accurate sense of the eventual result than a target cup size does.
Profile describes how far the implant projects from the chest wall relative to its base width, ranging from low to extra-high. A narrower frame with less natural breast tissue generally suits a higher profile, since a lower-profile implant with a wide base can extend beyond the natural breast border and look less proportionate.
See our breast implant sizes guide for more detail on how sizing is worked out.
Implant Placement: Over or Under the Muscle
Placement affects both appearance and recovery. There are three main options: subglandular, submuscular, and dual plane.
| Placement | Position | Typically suits |
| Subglandular | Over the pectoral muscle, under the breast tissue | Patients with more natural breast tissue, or those prioritising a faster recovery |
| Submuscular | Under the pectoral muscle | Patients with less natural tissue, where a lower risk of visible implant rippling matters more |
| Dual plane | Partly under the muscle, partly under the breast tissue | Patients wanting the benefits of both positions |
The right placement depends on how much natural tissue you have and how the implant is likely to sit within it, which your surgeon assesses at consultation. Our implant placement guide covers the trade-offs of each option in more depth.
What Happens During Breast Augmentation Surgery
Breast augmentation is performed under general anaesthetic, usually taking around one to two hours depending on the technique and placement chosen. It’s carried out as a day case, meaning most patients go home the same day rather than staying overnight.
Recovery After Breast Augmentation
Most patients feel able to return to light daily activity or desk-based work within around seven days, though exercise and heavier lifting are usually avoided for around six weeks while the implants settle into position. A post-operative bra is typically worn for around six weeks to support healing and reduce swelling.
Sleeping position matters more than most patients expect in the early weeks, since lying flat too soon can put unnecessary pressure on healing tissue. Our guide to sleeping after breast augmentation covers the positions that help and roughly how long to keep them up. For the fuller recovery timeline, including what to expect week by week, see our breast augmentation recovery guide.
Will There Be Scarring?
Some scarring is unavoidable with implant surgery, though the length and position depend on the incision your surgeon uses and the implant’s size and placement. Most incisions are positioned to be well concealed, and scars typically fade considerably over the following months.
Our dedicated guide to scarring after breast augmentation explains where incisions are commonly placed and what affects how visible a scar becomes over time.
How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Implants don’t come with a fixed expiry date, but most are reviewed or replaced somewhere in the region of ten to fifteen years after surgery, sometimes longer.
In practice, it’s often the surrounding tissue rather than the implant itself that changes over time. Natural sagging or shifts in breast shape as you age can mean a revision procedure is more about the tissue than about implant failure.
If replacement or removal does become relevant, our breast implant removal page covers what that procedure involves, and our guide to implant longevity goes into what tends to shorten or extend how long results hold.
Is Breast Augmentation Safe?
Breast implants are regulated in the UK as high-risk medical devices, and manufacturers must meet strict conformity requirements set by the MHRA before a device can be placed on the market. This framework was tightened significantly following the PIP scandal in 2010, when a French manufacturer was found to have used unapproved, non-medical-grade silicone in some implants. UK regulation has been considerably more rigorous since.
As with any surgery, breast augmentation carries risks, including infection, changes in sensation, and rare complications specific to implants, which your surgeon will discuss in full at consultation. Our guide on breast implant safety covers this in more detail, including what routine follow-up care involves.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost?
At Andrew Pieri’s practice, the guide price for breast augmentation starts from £7,050, which includes the initial consultation, pre-assessment, the day case procedure itself, and scheduled follow-up appointments. This figure is a starting guide rather than a fixed quote.
The main factors that move the price within that range are the implant shape and size chosen, the placement technique used, and whether any additional procedure, such as a lift, is combined with the augmentation. Your exact price is confirmed once these decisions have been made with your surgeon at consultation.
Is Breast Augmentation Right for You?
Breast augmentation suits patients wanting increased size, fuller projection, or improved symmetry between the breasts. It’s worth being clear on one distinction before booking: augmentation adds volume, but it doesn’t correct sagging on its own.
If you have noticeable sagging alongside lost volume, a breast lift is often combined with augmentation to address both at the same time, either in a single procedure or as two separate stages depending on your anatomy and preference. This is worth raising directly at consultation if lifted position matters to you as much as size.
Why Choose Andrew Pieri for Breast Augmentation
Andrew Pieri brings a background in oncoplastic breast surgery to his cosmetic practice, with over sixteen years of experience in both reconstructive and aesthetic breast procedures. That combination matters for augmentation, since implant placement and sizing decisions benefit from the same precision used in reconstructive work, not just cosmetic judgement.
Every implant decision is worked through individually at consultation, using a sizing session and detailed measurement rather than a standard template. You can read more about the full breast augmentation procedure, including current pricing and what to expect at each stage.
Book a Consultation
If you’re weighing up breast augmentation, the most useful next step is a consultation, where your implant options can be properly assessed rather than estimated from a guide.
FAQs
Can you have breast augmentation without implants?
Yes, in some cases. Fat transfer breast augmentation uses your own fat, taken from elsewhere on the body, to add volume instead of an implant. It typically suits patients wanting a smaller, more subtle increase rather than a significant size change.
Do breast implants feel natural?
This depends largely on implant type, placement, and how much of your own breast tissue covers the implant. Submuscular placement and a well-matched implant size for your frame both tend to produce a more natural feel, which is why these decisions are made individually rather than standardised.
Will breast augmentation affect breastfeeding?
Most patients are able to breastfeed after augmentation, particularly where the incision and implant placement haven’t disrupted the milk ducts or nipple area. This is worth discussing directly at consultation if you’re planning children after surgery.
Can implants be combined with a breast lift?
Yes. Where sagging is present alongside lost volume, a lift and augmentation are often performed together in a single procedure, or as two separate stages depending on your anatomy and what your surgeon recommends.
