Aesthetic surgery · consultation first
Breast Augmentation
Performed by a plastic surgeon certified by the Royal College. Every case begins with a consultation — there is no way to quote this responsibly without examining you first.
- Surgery
- 1–2 h
- Off work
- 1–2 wk
- Final shape
- 6–12 mo
What the decision involves
Implant type, size, placement above or below the muscle, and incision location are four separate decisions, and they interact. Your existing tissue, chest shape and what you want to look like in clothes all bear on them. This is why the consultation is long and why anyone quoting a price over the phone is guessing.
Royal College certified
Your surgeon is FRCSC and operates at Lions Gate Hospital.
Sizing you can see
Sizers and imaging during the consultation, not a number on a form.
One team afterwards
Post-operative skin care and scar work happen in the same building.
Usually a reasonable candidate
- In good general health and a non-smoker, or willing to stop well before surgery
- Breast development complete
- Clear about what you want and why, and able to talk about it plainly
- Able to take one to two weeks away from work
We would ask you to wait
- Planning a pregnancy in the near future
- Active infection, or an untreated breast condition
- Expectations a surgeon has told you are not achievable
- You are being pushed into it by someone else
Before surgery
- Consultation, examination and sizing
- Baseline imaging where indicated
- Stop smoking and certain medications — you will get a written list
- Arrange someone to drive you home and stay the first night
The day
- 01AdmissionMarkings and final confirmation of the plan with your surgeon while you are awake.
- 02SurgeryOne to two hours under general anaesthetic.
- 03RecoveryYou wake in recovery and go home the same day in most cases.
Recovery
- Soreness and tightness for the first week; you will have a plan for pain
- Support garment as instructed
- No lifting or upper-body exercise until cleared
- Swelling settles over months — the final shape is a six to twelve month judgement
Risks worth understanding before you decide
This is surgery under general anaesthetic. These are not remote possibilities to be skimmed past; your surgeon will go through each one and how it applies to you.
- Bleeding, infection, and the risks that come with general anaesthesia
- Capsular contracture — scar tissue tightening around the implant, which can require further surgery
- Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be permanent
- Implant rupture or leakage, requiring replacement
- Asymmetry, rippling, or a shape you are not happy with
- Scarring, which varies between individuals and cannot be predicted exactly
- Implants are not lifetime devices — expect further surgery at some point
- Breast implant associated ALCL and BIA-SCC — rare, and your surgeon will discuss current evidence
$9,500 – $14,000
all inclusive
A range, not a quote. It covers the surgeon, anaesthetist, facility and follow-up. Your written quote comes after the consultation, once the plan is decided.
Consultation required — surgery is scheduled with your surgeon.
Questions we get
Can I book the surgery online?
No. You can book a consultation. Surgery is scheduled with your surgeon after examination and a written quote — booking an operation from a web form would not be safe or appropriate.
Is it covered by MSP?
Not for cosmetic reasons. Reconstruction after mastectomy and some other indications are handled separately by North Shore Plastic Surgery, who bill MSP directly.
How do I choose a size?
In the consultation, with sizers and imaging, against your own chest measurements. A cup size is not a useful unit — implants are measured in volume and base width.
Silicone or saline?
Both are used. Your surgeon will explain the trade-offs for your tissue rather than recommend one in the abstract.
Will I be able to breastfeed?
Many people can, but it cannot be promised, and the incision and placement affect the odds. Raise it at the consultation if it matters to you.
How long until I look normal in clothes?
Usually a few weeks. Looking settled and final is a matter of months.