Breast reduction is a common cosmetic surgery procedure (also known as reduction mammaplasty) which is performed to reduce the size of the breasts.  Some of the common reasons for breast reduction cosmetic surgery include:

• Extremely large breasts can result in causing back, neck and shoulder pain. Having breast reduction cosmetic surgery can reduce the weight of the breasts resulting in less strain on the body and an increase in mobility. 

• Extremely large breasts can result in a women feeling excessively self conscious. Breast reduction surgery can provide a woman with a breast size which she feels is more in proportion to the rest of her body.

• Breast reduction surgery can improve the symmetry of the breasts and give them a shapelier appearance. It can also help reduce the size of the areola which may be desired by some women for cosmetic reasons.

• Woman with extremely large breasts often suffer from indentations caused by bra straps. Having breast reduction plastic surgery can provide a long term solution to this problem.

As with breast enlargement surgery (breast augmentation), breast reduction surgery is performed most commonly on women. However men who suffer from gynecomastia may also choose to have breast reduction surgery to obtain a firmer and better contoured chest. In either case however it is essential that you consult with an experienced cosmetic surgeon and do your research on the options available to you so that you can then make an informed decision as to whether breast reduction cosmetic surgery is the right choice for you.

The Hurlingham Clinic situated in London is one of UK’s leading cosmetic surgery clinics. The Hurlingham Clinic specialises in both breast reduction and breast augmentation cosmetic surgery. If you are considering having cosmetic surgery then The Hurlingham Clinic can be contacted on 020 7348 6380 for more information.

Breast augmentation is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK. Breast implants are particularly popular amongst women between the ages of 25 to 35. This blog post contains a basic overview of the history of breast augmentation cosmetic surgery.

Breast Implant history

1895-1920’s: During this time period the first breast enlargement procedures were attempted.  Breast augmentation was attempted using paraffin injections but was eventually discarded due to high complication rates.

920’s- 1940’s: breast implants were attempted by using fat from the buttocks and belly. This breast augmentation procedure was also eventually discarded as the fat would quickly be reabsorbed by the body which would leave the breasts with an asymmetrical appearance.

950’s: breast enlargement was attempted using polyvinyl sponges. However polyvinyl breast implants were also eventually rejected as they were found to harden and shrink after about a year. Infection rates were also noted to be high with polyvinyl breast implants.

961-1962: the first silicon breast implant was developed by Thomas Cronin.  In 1962 the first silicon breast implant surgery was attempted.

1964: the first saline breast implants were produced for breast enlargement surgery.

964-2008: saline and silicone breast implants have remained the most popular and widely used types of breast implants. However continuous refinement has taken place in both types of implants and many comprehensive studies have taken place which show that they are safe and reliable.

The Hurlingham Clinic in London specialises in breast augmentation (breast enlargement) cosmetic surgery and can be contacted on 020 7348 6380 for more information.

If you are considering having breast augmentation cosmetic surgery then naturally you may have a number of health concerns/questions regarding breast implants. This blog post is written to answer a few of the common health questions that women have regarding breast augmentation.

• Will I be able to breast feed after having breast augmentation surgery?

Many women are concerned that if they have breast implants, then they will not be able to breast feed. However breast augmentation should not affect a woman’s ability to breast feed as the breast implants are placed below the breast gland. Therefore if you were able to produce breast milk before you breast enlargement surgery, then you should be able to do so afterwards. However please inform your surgeon that you intend to breast feed as this can affect the type of surgery that you should have.
A large number of studies have also been done to investigate whether there is any risk associated with breast feeding to the baby after having breast enlargement surgery. All of the studies have shown that there is no evidence that silicone breast implants do any harm to the baby and that it is safe to breastfeed after having a breast augmentation.

• Do breast implants increase the chance of breast cancer?

No. A number of studies have been done to investigate any correlation between breast implants and breast cancer. The studies have found that there is no associated risk between breast implants and breast cancer. In fact some studies show that having breast augmentation can actually slightly lower the incidence of breast cancer. This is due to the fact that having breast augmentation lowers the amount of breast tissue that a woman has and hence there is less breast tissue which can become malignant.  
However please note that you will still require having mammograms, ultrasound and MRI scans in the future as part of your routine breast cancer screen. When going for a breast cancer screen make sure you inform your doctor or radiographer that you have had breast implant cosmetic surgery as this will allow them to adjust the scanning procedure accordingly. Breast implants however do not impair the ability of the scans to detect breast cancer.

The Hurlingham Clinic based in London is one of UK’s leading breast augmentations clinics. If you are considering having breast enlargement cosmetic surgery then The Hurlingham Clinic can be contacted on 020 7238 6385 for a consultation.