Quick Answer
Breast augmentation increases breast volume and improves shape using either silicone implants or your own fat (fat transfer). Implants are the most effective option for patients who want a reliable, predictable increase in size and projection. Fat transfer suits patients who want a modest, natural enhancement using liposuction from another area and who accept that some of the transferred fat may not survive long-term. In Hyderabad, breast augmentation is one of the most commonly requested procedures at specialist clinics — and patient satisfaction rates are consistently high when expectations are properly aligned before surgery.
Who Is Breast Augmentation For?
Breast augmentation addresses several different concerns, not just volume increase. Patients come for:
- Small breast size that has not responded to weight gain or exercise
- Volume loss after pregnancy and breastfeeding (often combined with a lift)
- Significant asymmetry between the two sides
- Underdeveloped breasts (tuberous or constricted breast deformity)
- Desire to restore pre-pregnancy fullness in the upper pole
The right candidate is a woman in good health, at a stable weight, who is not planning pregnancy in the near future, and who has specific, realistic expectations rather than a vague desire to "look better."
Implants vs Fat Transfer: Which Is Right for You?
Silicone Implants
Silicone implants are the gold standard for breast augmentation because they produce a consistent, predictable result in terms of shape, size, and projection. Modern cohesive gel implants (commonly called "gummy bear" implants) hold their shape, feel close to natural breast tissue, and are designed to remain intact even if the outer shell develops a tear.
Implants are the right choice when:
- You want a reliable one or two cup size increase
- Upper pole fullness is a specific goal
- Your natural breast tissue is thin (little natural volume to work with)
- A precise shape outcome is important to you
Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation
Fat transfer uses liposuction to harvest fat from the abdomen, flanks, or thighs, processes it, and re-injects it into the breast. It produces a subtle, natural enhancement — typically half a cup to one cup size — using your own tissue. There is no implant and no implant-related risk, but the volume increase is more limited and a proportion of the transferred fat (typically 30–40%) is reabsorbed by the body in the months after surgery.
Fat transfer suits patients who:
- Want a modest, natural-feeling improvement
- Have an area suitable for fat harvest (adequate donor site)
- Are not seeking significant projection or upper pole fullness
- Prefer no foreign material in the body
For patients who want more than a modest enhancement, implants remain the more reliable approach.
How Breast Size Is Chosen
Choosing implant size is one of the most important and most misunderstood parts of breast augmentation. At Inform Clinic, Dr. Dushyanth Kalva uses a combination of breast base width measurement, tissue thickness assessment, and dimensional planning (not bra cup size, which varies by brand and country) to determine the appropriate implant volume range.
Patients view 3D simulation during the consultation, but it is used as a communication tool — to align on goals and discuss proportions — rather than a guarantee of exact outcome. The final implant volume is confirmed intraoperatively using sizers, with the patient's anatomy guiding the final decision.
The most common sizing mistake patients make is going too large relative to their frame. Implants that exceed the breast base width cause visible distortion, unnatural upper pole contour, and long-term complications including bottoming out and shoulder discomfort. Proportional sizing produces a result that looks natural, ages better, and avoids early revision.
Incision Options
Three incision approaches are used for implant placement:
- Inframammary (crease under the breast): The most common approach. The scar sits in the natural breast fold where it is not visible from the front. Provides the best access and precision for implant placement.
- Periareolar (around the nipple): A semi-circular incision around the lower edge of the areola. The scar blends with the colour change at the areola border in most patients. Slightly higher risk of temporary nipple sensation changes.
- Transaxillary (armpit): No scar on the breast itself. Access is more limited and requires an endoscope. Revision surgery is more difficult if needed later.
Most patients at Inform Clinic are suited to the inframammary approach, which offers the most reliable access, best ability to place the implant accurately, and a well-concealed scar.
Implant Placement: Over vs Under the Muscle
Implants are placed either above the pectoral muscle (subglandular) or beneath it (submuscular/dual plane). The choice depends on:
- Tissue thickness: Thin patients with little natural breast tissue get better coverage and a more natural result with submuscular placement
- Activity level: Submuscular placement in very athletic patients with highly developed chest muscles can cause implant animation (visible movement with muscle contraction) — a consideration for bodybuilders
- Shape preference: Subglandular placement can give more immediate projection; submuscular typically gives a more tapered upper slope
Dual plane placement — a partial submuscular technique — is the most commonly used approach because it combines the benefits of both: muscle coverage over the upper implant with gland-to-implant contact at the lower pole for natural shape.
What Happens During Surgery
Breast augmentation typically takes 60–90 minutes under general anaesthesia. It is performed as a day-care or overnight-stay procedure.
The sequence at Inform Clinic:
- Pre-operative markings with the patient standing, confirming crease position, midline, and planned pocket boundaries
- Anaesthesia induction; patient positioned supine
- Incisions made, pocket created via electrocautery following the planned anatomical boundaries
- Sizer implants placed and the patient briefly placed in a sitting position to assess position and symmetry
- Final implants placed, haemostasis confirmed, incisions closed in layers
- Light surgical bra applied before the patient wakes
Recovery Week by Week
Days 1–3
Significant tightness and pressure across the chest is the dominant sensation — not sharp pain, but the feeling of wearing a very tight band. Prescribed analgesia manages this well. Movement is limited. Sleep on your back with the head elevated. A surgical bra is worn at all times.
Days 4–7
Tightness eases. Most patients can move around the house independently and manage basic tasks. Bruising is visible at the crease if present. A review appointment checks the wound and assesses early positioning.
Weeks 2–3
Most patients with desk work return to office by day 10–14. The implants sit high at this stage — this is normal and expected as the pectoral muscle gradually relaxes. Avoid raising arms above shoulder height.
Weeks 4–8
Implants begin to drop and settle into final position (a process called "drop and fluff"). Upper pole fullness transitions to a more natural rounded shape. Light exercise and walking permitted from week 4. No upper body resistance training until week 8.
Months 3–6
Final implant position, softness, and shape are fully established. Incision scars continue to fade. Annual check recommended thereafter to monitor implant integrity.
Risks to Know
Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed and well-studied aesthetic procedures, but it is not risk-free:
- Capsular contracture: The body forms a capsule of scar tissue around every implant. In a small percentage of patients, this capsule thickens and contracts, causing firmness, shape distortion, or discomfort. It is the most common long-term complication and may require revision surgery.
- Implant rupture: Modern silicone gel implants are durable, but the shell can develop a tear over time. With cohesive gel implants the gel stays in place — it does not migrate — but the implant should be replaced.
- Position change: Bottoming out (implant drops below the crease), symmastia (implants migrate toward the midline), or lateral displacement can occur, particularly with oversized implants or inadequate pocket definition.
- Sensation changes: Temporary reduced or heightened nipple sensation is common and usually resolves. Permanent significant change is uncommon but possible.
- Implant lifespan: Implants are not lifetime devices. Most patients should expect to consider replacement or revision at some point — though many implants last 15–20 years without issue.
Breast Augmentation Cost in Hyderabad
Cost varies based on implant brand (domestic vs. imported cohesive gel), implant shape (round vs. anatomical), anaesthesia, facility fees, and whether the procedure is combined with a lift or other surgery.
At Inform Clinic, the cost for breast augmentation using quality silicone implants starts from approximately ₹1,20,000 and can vary based on the above factors. A transparent, itemised quote is provided after consultation — no hidden charges.
Why the Consultation Matters More Than the Procedure
The decision-making phase — choosing implant type, size, shape, and placement — determines most of the outcome. The surgery itself is technically straightforward for an experienced surgeon. This is why the consultation at Inform Clinic is detailed and unhurried: it is where goals are understood, anatomy is assessed, risks are discussed honestly, and the surgical plan is built around what is actually achievable for that specific patient's body.
If you are considering breast augmentation in Hyderabad, the first step is a consultation with Dr. Dushyanth Kalva at Inform Clinic to assess your anatomy and understand what is possible for your specific goals.