Breast Augmentation in Vancouver

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that uses breast implants to increase breast fullness, volume and projection. Every woman has her own idea of how she would like her breasts to look, and this is a very personal decision.

Some common reasons women consider breast augmentation include:

• Enlarging naturally smaller breasts
• Restoring fullness following pregnancy or weight loss
• Improving symmetry in breast size and shape
• Creating better balance between the breasts and overall body proportions

Breast augmentation can achieve a range of appearances, from a subtle increase in fullness to a more noticeably augmented look. The goal is to understand the result you would like to achieve and determine which options are appropriate for your anatomy.

There are several important decisions involved in planning breast augmentation surgery. These include the type and size of implant, where the incision is made, and whether the implant is placed above or beneath the chest muscle. Each of these choices influences the final breast appearance, and they are discussed during your consultation with Dr. Ho.

Breast Implant Type: Silicone or Saline  

One of the first decisions is whether to use silicone gel or saline breast implants. Silicone gel implants are filled with a cohesive silicone gel and are often preferred by women who want a softer, more natural breast feel.

Saline implants have a silicone outer shell that is filled with sterile salt water. Because they can be filled after insertion, they may allow for smaller incisions. However, with modern insertion techniques, including the use of a Keller funnel, silicone gel implants can also be placed through relatively small incisions, reducing this traditional advantage of saline implants.

Where Are Breast Augmentation Incisions Made?

An important goal of breast augmentation surgery is to make the incisions as inconspicuous as possible. However, every surgical incision will leave a scar.

Two commonly used incision locations are:

• Inframammary fold incision: An incision made in the natural crease beneath the breast, where the breast shape helps conceal the scar.
• Periareolar incision: An incision placed along the lower border of the areola, where the natural colour change between the areola and surrounding breast skin can help make the scar less noticeable.

Where Are Breast Implants Placed?

Breast implants can be placed either above or beneath the pectoralis major muscle, which is the large muscle of the chest. Part of this decision depends on your existing breast tissue, your anatomy and the appearance you would like to achieve.

Placing an implant beneath the chest muscle provides additional soft tissue coverage over its upper portion. In some patients, this can help create a more gradual transition between the upper chest and breast. Placement above the muscle may also be appropriate for selected patients, depending on their anatomy and desired result.

There is a spectrum of breast augmentation results, ranging from a very natural breast appearance to a more noticeably augmented look. One of the main goals of your consultation is to understand where your ideal breast appearance falls along this spectrum and which surgical approach can safely help you achieve it.

How Do You Choose the Right Breast Implant Size?

Choosing implant size is one of the most important and exciting decisions in breast augmentation. Your ideal breast size, shape and appearance are personal. However, the appropriate implant size must also take into consideration your existing anatomy.

During your consultation, Dr. Ho will assess your chest and breast proportions and discuss a range of implant sizes that would be compatible with your anatomy. Using implant sizers and a custom sizing bra, you will have an opportunity to visualize how different implant volumes may change your breast appearance. This is an important part of the consultation because it allows you to explore your preferences before surgery.

Implant volume is measured in cubic centimetres (cc), but the same implant volume can produce a different result in different women. Breast width, existing tissue, implant profile and overall body proportions all influence the final appearance. The goal is to select an implant that achieves your desired degree of fullness while respecting the limitations of your breast tissue.

Breast augmentation and breast lift surgery address different concerns. Breast augmentation increases breast volume and projection. A breast lift, also called mastopexy, repositions the breast tissue and nipple to improve breast shape and position.

For women who have lost breast fullness after pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss, implants alone may provide the desired improvement if the nipple position and degree of skin laxity are suitable. However, when there is significant breast drooping or excess skin, adding an implant may not adequately correct the breast position. In these situations, a breast lift may be recommended, either alone or in combination with an implant. During your consultation, Dr. Ho will assess your breast shape, skin quality and nipple position to determine which approach best addresses your goals.

Breast augmentation is performed as an outpatient procedure at a private surgical facility, typically under general anesthesia. The procedure takes approximately two hours, although surgical time may vary depending on the individual plan. During surgery, incisions are made in the planned locations and a pocket is created to accommodate each breast implant. The implants are then placed using a Keller Funnel to facilitate a no-touch technique, and their placement and symmetry are assessed before the incisions are closed.

You will notice an increase in breast size immediately after surgery. However, the early appearance is not the final result. Initially, the breasts are swollen and the implants often sit higher on the chest than they will eventually. Over the following weeks and months, the swelling gradually subsides, the skin and tissues adjust, and the implants settle into a more natural position.

Immediately After Surgery

Following surgery, you will be taken to a recovery area where you will be closely monitored. Once you are stable and meet the discharge criteria, you can return home with a responsible adult. This is often approximately one hour after surgery, although recovery times vary. It is important to have someone stay with you for the first 24 hours. A dressing will be placed over the incisions and may remain in place for up to two weeks, depending on your postoperative instructions.

In Dr. Ho’s practice, patients wear a Surgical Couture postoperative bra by LaBratory to provide support during the healing period. Patients can generally begin showering the day after surgery, following the specific instructions provided for their dressings and incisions. Prescriptions for postoperative pain medication and antibiotics are provided before or on the day of surgery, when indicated. During the first couple of days, it can be helpful to set reminders for medications that need to be taken on a regular schedule. Follow the prescribed dosing instructions. You will receive detailed postoperative instructions and information about your follow-up appointments.

Recovery after breast augmentation varies depending on the individual and the surgical approach. Most patients experience swelling, tightness and discomfort during the first several days. The more acute discomfort often improves over the first one to five days, although soreness and intermittent discomfort can continue for several weeks. Some women also experience temporary changes in breast or nipple sensation as the nerves adjust following surgery.

The First Two Weeks

During the initial recovery period, it is important to rest and avoid strenuous activity or heavy lifting. Bleeding into the pocket surrounding the breast implant can occur during the early postoperative period, which is one reason activity restrictions are important.

You will be asked to wear a supportive postoperative bra during recovery to provide comfort and support as the tissues heal. Many patients feel well enough to resume light daily activities relatively quickly. However, when planning time away from work or important social commitments, allowing approximately two weeks is generally a safer window. Recovery may take longer for work that involves physical activity or heavy lifting.

Driving and Returning to Exercise

Patients can generally begin driving approximately one week after surgery, provided they are no longer taking sedating pain medication, can move comfortably, and can operate a vehicle safely. Exercise and heavy lifting should be restricted during the early recovery period. Upper-body exercises that do not engage the chest (pectoralis) muscles can generally resume around six weeks after surgery, provided recovery is progressing appropriately and you have been cleared to increase your activity.

We recommend avoiding chest exercises during the first three months to allow the tissue surrounding the implants to heal and the implant pockets to stabilize. Repeated contraction of the chest muscles during this early healing period may increase the risk of implant displacement, particularly toward the sides of the chest. At approximately three months, patients are generally cleared to return to all forms of exercise, including push-ups, chin-ups, chest presses, and chest flys, provided healing has progressed appropriately.

How Long Does It Take for Breast Implants to Settle?

Even when breast implants are positioned exactly where we want them during surgery, they often begin to sit higher on the chest in the hours following the procedure as swelling develops. During the first week of recovery, the implants may continue to appear higher as swelling and tightness in the surrounding tissues increase.

As the swelling subsides and the surrounding tissues gradually relax, the implants begin to descend and settle into a more natural position. This process is sometimes referred to as the implants “dropping and fluffing.”

It is normal for the appearance of the breasts to change during recovery as the skin and surrounding tissues adjust to accommodate the implants. Although much of the early swelling improves within the first few weeks, the implants continue to settle and the final breast shape can evolve over several months.

How Do Breast Augmentation Scars Heal?

All breast augmentation incisions result in scars, although their visibility depends on the incision location and individual healing. Dr. Ho uses dissolvable sutures beneath the skin, so there are generally no stitches that need to be removed. Scar management may include silicone tape and scar massage once the incisions have healed sufficiently. Instructions are provided during postoperative follow-up, with scar care typically emphasized during the first six weeks and beyond as appropriate. Scars continue to mature and generally become less noticeable over the first year, although individual healing and scar appearance vary.

As with any surgical procedure, breast augmentation carries risks. These will be discussed in detail during your consultation so that you can make an informed decision about surgery. In general, possible complications include bleeding or a hematoma (blood collection), seroma (fluid collection), infection, changes in nipple or breast sensation, and differences in breast size or shape. Other risks include wound-healing problems, tissue or nipple necrosis, implant malposition, visible or palpable implant rippling, and changes to the appearance of the breasts over time. General surgical risks also include blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and pulmonary embolism.

Capsular Contracture

When a breast implant is placed, the body naturally forms a layer of scar tissue around it, called a capsule. In some patients, this capsule can tighten or harden around the implant, a condition known as capsular contracture.This may cause the breast to feel firmer, change its shape, or become uncomfortable. More significant cases may require additional surgery.

Breast Implant Rupture and Replacement

Breast implants are not considered lifetime devices. A saline implant rupture is usually noticeable because the breast loses volume as the saline is absorbed by the body. Silicone implant rupture can sometimes occur without an obvious change in breast appearance. Implants may require removal or replacement because of rupture, capsular contracture, changes in breast appearance or other complications. Not every implant needs to be replaced at a fixed number of years, but ongoing awareness of implant condition and appropriate follow-up are important.

Other Long-Term Breast Implant Considerations

There are additional uncommon but important risks associated with breast implants. Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is an uncommon cancer of the immune system that can develop in the tissue or fluid surrounding a breast implant. It has been associated predominantly with textured-surface implants. 

If you are considering breast augmentation to increase breast volume, improve symmetry, or restore fullness after pregnancy or weight loss, Dr. Adelyn Ho can assess your anatomy and discuss the options that may be appropriate for you. Your consultation is an opportunity to explore implant sizes and placement, review the expected results and recovery, and understand the risks and costs before making a decision about surgery.

Prefer to contact us directly?
604-806-3650 | info@dradelynho.com

Medically reviewed by Dr. Adelyn Ho, MD, MPH, FRCSC | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon | Last reviewed: August 2026