Breast Augmentation Sunshine Coast

Good candidates are women in sound general health who are at a stable weight, not pregnant or breastfeeding, and do not smoke (or are committed to stopping well before surgery). Fully developed breasts are a prerequisite: surgery is not appropriate until breast development is complete. Women who have finished having children are generally in the best position to get a stable, lasting outcome, since pregnancy after augmentation will likely change the appearance of the breasts. Realistic expectations matter too: the goal is a result that suits your body proportions, not a specific look from a photo. A consultation with Dr Fraser-Kirk at our Maroochydore rooms is the right place to assess suitability properly.

Dr Fraser-Kirk uses silicone gel implants. Silicone implants contain a cohesive gel that is designed to feel close to natural breast tissue, and the gel is formulated to stay largely contained even if the outer shell is ever compromised. All implants used at Fraser Kirk Plastic Surgery are approved for supply in Australia and listed on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) register. Dr Fraser-Kirk does not use implants that have been suspended or cancelled from the TGA register. The specific implant options suitable for your anatomy and goals are discussed in detail at your consultation.

Round implants are the most widely used and produce reliable results across a broad range of anatomies. Their symmetrical shape means that minor rotation within the pocket does not affect the outcome, and they generally provide a fuller look across the upper breast. Anatomical, or teardrop, implants are shaped to follow the natural contour of the breast, with more volume in the lower portion and a gradual taper toward the top. They can produce a very natural slope, particularly in patients with less existing breast tissue. However, because their shape is directional, precise positioning is important and rotation can affect the result. Dr Fraser-Kirk will assess your chest measurements, existing tissue, and the look you want in order to recommend the most suitable shape for your anatomy.

Implant placement is one of the most consequential decisions in planning your augmentation, and the right answer depends on your individual anatomy. Subglandular placement puts the implant directly behind the breast tissue but in front of the chest muscle. This approach tends to involve less discomfort post-surgery and a quicker initial recovery, but it may not suit patients with minimal existing breast tissue, since the implant edge can be more visible or palpable. Submuscular and dual-plane placement positions the implant behind the pectoral muscle, at least in the upper portion. This generally produces a more natural transition in women with less breast tissue and lowers the risk of visible rippling. It does, however, involve more discomfort in the first few days as the muscle adapts to the implant. Dr Fraser-Kirk assesses your tissue thickness, chest wall shape, and goals to recommend the placement that will give the most natural, lasting result.

Three incision locations are used in breast augmentation. The inframammary incision, placed in the natural crease beneath the breast, is the most common approach. It gives Dr Fraser-Kirk clear access to the pocket and leaves a scar that sits in the fold and is covered by bras and swimwear. For women who plan to breastfeed in the future, this approach also carries the least risk of disrupting the milk ducts. The periareolar incision runs around the lower edge of the areola, where the scar blends with the colour change in the skin. The transaxillary incision is made in the armpit and leaves no scar on the breast at all, though it involves more limited access to the pocket. All breast augmentation scars fade over time: most are barely noticeable within 12 to 18 months. Dr Fraser-Kirk selects the incision approach based on your anatomy and preferences, and provides detailed scar care guidance post-surgery.

Choosing size is not about picking a cup size or a volume from a catalogue. Cup sizing varies between bra brands and tells you very little about how an implant will look on your specific frame. Dr Fraser-Kirk takes detailed measurements of your chest width, base diameter, and existing breast tissue to establish which implant dimensions fit your anatomy. The profile of the implant, meaning how far it projects from the chest wall, is also factored in. Women with narrower chests often suit a higher-profile implant to achieve the projection they want without the base width being too wide. The consultation is the right place to look at options, discuss the outcomes you have in mind, and work through the sizing decision with Dr Fraser-Kirk directly.

Breast augmentation at Fraser Kirk Plastic Surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. The procedure typically takes one to two hours and is usually done as a day case, meaning you go home the same day once you have recovered from the anaesthetic. A trusted adult needs to drive you home and stay with you overnight. Dr Fraser-Kirk makes the agreed incisions, creates a pocket at the chosen placement level, positions the implants carefully, and closes the incisions. You wake up in a surgical bra, which supports the breasts during the early healing phase. If you are having the augmentation combined with another procedure such as a breast lift, the overall surgical time will be longer.

The first few days are the most uncomfortable, particularly if the implants are placed under the muscle: the chest feels tight and sore as the tissue adjusts to the implant. Prescribed pain relief manages this well for most patients. Swelling and some bruising are normal and settle over the following two weeks. A surgical bra or sports bra is worn continuously for several weeks. Most patients with desk-based work return within 10 to 14 days. Upper body exercise, heavy lifting, and anything that raises the heart rate substantially should be avoided for four to six weeks. The implants themselves often sit high on the chest initially and feel quite firm. Over the following three to six months they soften and settle into their final position as the surrounding tissue relaxes. The full result is not visible until this settling is complete.

Most women are able to breastfeed after augmentation, though individual outcomes vary. The incision approach has some bearing on the risk: the inframammary incision, placed in the breast crease, avoids the ductal tissue behind the nipple and is generally the safest option for women who want to preserve breastfeeding capacity. Periareolar incisions carry a slightly higher risk of disrupting the ducts, though not all patients are affected. Implant placement also matters: submuscular positioning does not compress the glandular tissue and is generally considered to have minimal impact on milk production. If breastfeeding is important to you, raise this at your consultation so Dr Fraser-Kirk can plan the approach accordingly.

Modern silicone implants do not have a fixed expiry date and do not need to be replaced on a set schedule. Many patients keep their implants for 15 to 20 years or longer without problems. Replacement becomes necessary if a complication develops, such as a rupture or capsular contracture, or if your aesthetic preference changes over time. The breasts continue to age naturally with or without implants: weight changes, pregnancy, and gravity all affect how augmented breasts look over the years, and some patients choose to update their implants or combine a revision with a lift at some point down the track. Dr Fraser-Kirk will discuss realistic long-term expectations at your consultation.

The body forms a natural layer of scar tissue around any implant, called a capsule. In most patients this capsule remains soft and causes no problems. Capsular contracture occurs when that scar tissue tightens excessively, compressing the implant and making the breast feel harder than normal. In more pronounced cases it can cause visible distortion or discomfort. When contracture reaches a grade where it is affecting appearance or comfort, surgical correction is needed to release or remove the capsule and, in most cases, replace the implant. The risk of capsular contracture is one reason why the choice of implant surface and placement technique matters: submuscular placement has a lower associated rate than subglandular, and smooth implants are now the standard in Australia following the TGA’s removal of macro-textured implants from the register due to BIA-ALCL concerns.

BIA-ALCL, or Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma, is a rare cancer of the immune system that forms in the fluid or scar tissue around a breast implant. It is not breast cancer. The condition has been linked specifically to macro-textured implants, and in 2019 the TGA suspended and subsequently cancelled a number of those implants from the Australian register for this reason. The macro-textured implants that drove the Australian cases are no longer available for use. Smooth implants, which are now the standard, carry a far lower associated risk. Symptoms to be aware of include new persistent swelling of a breast or a new lump, appearing more than a year after surgery. Patients should seek assessment from their GP or surgeon promptly if these symptoms develop. Fraser Kirk Plastic Surgery uses only TGA-approved implants and registers all implant procedures with the Australian Breast Device Registry (ABDR).

Breast Implant Illness, often called BII, refers to a collection of symptoms reported by some women with implants: fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, rashes, and others. It is a topic that continues to generate serious discussion in the medical community. At present there is no confirmed causal link between breast implants and these systemic symptoms in the medical literature, and the condition is not formally classified in clinical guidelines. That said, a number of women report improvement after having their implants removed, and patients who have concerns about their current implants are always entitled to discuss removal. If you have questions about BII or concerns about symptoms you are experiencing, raise them with Dr Fraser-Kirk at your consultation.

Yes. Breast augmentation does not prevent breast screening, but it is important to tell the imaging centre that you have implants before any mammogram is booked. Specialised views called Eklund displacement views are used to move the implant aside so the breast tissue can be imaged properly. An implant does reduce the proportion of breast tissue visible in a standard mammogram, which is why this technique is used. Ultrasound and MRI are also available options for monitoring and can assess both breast tissue and implant integrity. Women with implants should continue their regular breast self-examinations and screening at the intervals recommended for their age and risk profile.