Breast augmentation is also known as breast enlargement and breast implant surgery and is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures at Centre for Surgery in London. Although the majority of patients who have breast augmentation are most commonly younger women in their 20s, the proportion of women in their 40s and older who have breast augmentation has been steadily rising over the last ten years. Some studies show that the overall percentage of women over the age of 40 having breast augmentation matches the numbers having the procedure in their 20s. Reasons for having a breast augmentation in younger women are often much different to older women who are considering having the procedure.
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Although younger patients having breast enlargement surgery do so to achieve larger breasts, older women in their 40s and upwards are most commonly looking for a solution to breast sagging or loss of volume following pregnancy and childbirth, dramatic weight loss or menopause.
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Am I too old to have breast implants?
Our specialist breast surgeons commonly get asked if there is an upper age limit for breast augmentation or whether a woman could be too old to have the procedure. The answer to both these questions is no, as long as patients are in good health and have realistic expectations of what surgery can achieve. Women in their 40s can achieve just as good breast enlargement results as women 20 years younger.
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Can breast implants improve the appearance of saggy breasts?
Older women may often find the most common features of ageing to be in the face and neck, although the ageing process can affect any part of the body, including the breasts. The loss of volume in the breasts with a reduction in skin elasticity most commonly occurs due to the ageing process, which can result in the appearance of sagging and smaller breasts. Breast augmentation surgery can effectively improve the appearance of sagging breasts to restore volume and improve shape which can help to give a more lifted look. For patients with more severe degrees of breast sagging, a breast lift or uplift procedure may be more appropriate. Some women desire both an increase in volume and improvement in shape and it is possible to have breast uplift with implants in the same procedure for the best results.
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Should I wait to have breast implants until after having children?
Women in their mid to late 40s are highly likely to have completed their family and have no further plans to have any more children. Women who become pregnant and breastfeed often noticed significant changes to the size and shape of the breast and these may affect the results if you become pregnant after having a breast augmentation procedure. It is important to be aware of the options when deciding on the optimum timing to have breast augmentation. Breast implants themselves are not affected by pregnancy or breastfeeding and many women choose to have breast augmentation after having children.
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Is breast size affected by menopause?
Menopause is an inevitable part of the ageing process and occurs most commonly in women in their early 50s. There are several symptoms associated with menopause, including a change in breast size or shape as a result of falling oestrogen levels. With reduced oestrogen, the glandular component of the breasts begins to reduce in size, and this can result in breast sagging and loss of volume.
What does a breast augmentation in your 40s involve?
There are no special differences between older women in their 40s or 50s having breast enlargement surgery compared with women in their 20s. The same type of breast implants and the same techniques for breast implant insertion are used. It is important to bear in mind that patients have realistic expectations of what can be achieved from having breast implant surgery in their 40s or 50s.
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In some cases, your surgeon may not recommend having breast enlargement surgery to achieve the results you may be looking for. Alternative options which may meet your treatment goals include breast uplift surgery or breast lift with implants for women who have significant degrees of breast sagging. As with younger women, the breast augmentation procedure for older women is a day surgery procedure which means you’ll be admitted and discharged on the same day as this allows you to recover in the comfort of your own home. We would recommend that women take one week off work however, this will depend on the type of work that is undertaken with more strenuous jobs requiring up to 2 weeks off work. Breast augmentation recovery can take up to 6 weeks and patients will need to wear a specialist surgical support bra continuously for the first six weeks after surgery to support the breasts.
Breast Enlargement Surgery at Centre for Surgery
- Specialist breast surgeons with experience carrying out all types of breast augmentation surgery and breast lift
- 24/7 nursing care to ensure your breast rest enlargement recovery is as smooth as possible
- State-of-the-art day surgery facility in the heart of central London (95-97 Baker Street)
- Post-operative nursing care is described as “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission
- Hundreds of Trustpilot 5* verified reviews
- Comprehensive breast implant warranty including £1000 to cover costs of capsular contracture or implant rupture for ten years after your breast procedure
Consultant breast surgeons at Centre for Surgery
To learn more about breast enlargement surgery, please contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable patient coordinators at 020 7993 4849 to book a face-to-face consultation with an expert breast augmentation surgeon in London.
