Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the size of a woman’s breasts to try and achieve an aesthetically pleasing size, shape and balance to them.

Breast enlargement can make you feel sexier and give you added confidence, but it is important that you fully understand any surgical procedure and any risks involved.

Augmentation is not just designed to enhance a small bust, it may also be suitable in the following circumstances such as: to correct breasts that have decreased in size following a pregnancy; where one breast is bigger than the other; or as a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.

A breast lift (the surgical name for which is a Mastopexy) can also help lift breasts making them appear more ‘perkier’ – particularly good if yours are starting to head South!

Breast implants are silicone shells which are filled with either silicone gel or saline (which is a salt-water solution) and which are inserted under your breasts to minimise any obvious signs of breast augmentation surgery such as scarring.

Problems experienced by women who have had surgical breast enlargement include capsular contracture (where the capsule around the implant tightens causing the breast to feel almost rock hard); loss of sensation in the nipples and infection around the implant itself.

Breast implants may also leak or break due to the normal movement and pressure on your breast and implant, which then causes the leak. While it is harmless if you have saline-filled implants in your breasts, if you have a gel-filled implant and there is a break and tear the silicone gel may move into surrounding tissue. This can then cause a change in the shape or feel of the breasts.

While the majority of the typical breast augmentation related problems can be treated, it may involve removing the implant after waiting for any infection to clear and replacing it with another or removing any resulting scar tissue.

As we said before, breast enhancement and enlargement can make you feel sexy and confident - many women say that having had their breasts enlarged has actually changed their life.

Generally surgical breast enhancement is straightforward. However, as with any surgical procedure – not just enlargement or augmentation - there are many factors involved, including risks.

This is why it is imperative that you fully research breast augmentation so that you fully understand the procedure and any risks or side effects. That way you can make an educated decision and choose either go down the surgical or non surgical route to enhance and/or enlarge your breasts.