Dr Scott J Turner | Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) | Sydney
A patient told me recently that her sister had warned her off breast augmentation because “you have to replace them every ten years, don’t you?” Her mother had chimed in with concerns about autoimmune disease. Her friend mentioned something about not being able to breastfeed afterwards. By the time she sat down in consultation, she was carrying three pieces of information, and all three were wrong (or at least, badly out of date).
This happens at almost every first consultation. Myths get passed around. Some were true decades ago and aren’t anymore. Some were never true. A few are half true in a way that’s more misleading than just being wrong. Here are the 12 I hear most often, answered honestly.
I’m Dr Scott J Turner, a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS). I consult at our Bondi Junction and Manly clinics, and I’d rather you arrive at consultation for breast augmentation knowing what’s actually true than have to unpick Google’s version of the truth together.
Myth 1: “Implants Will Make My Breasts Look Fake”
Fair question. And honestly, it depends entirely on the implant size, the placement, and the patient’s existing anatomy. A too-large implant on a small frame will look obviously augmented. A 380cc round implant on a patient with a broad chest and natural tissue cover may be hard to identify as surgical at all.
Most of what people call the “fake look” comes down to two things. One: implants that are too big for the chest wall they’re sitting on, which produces visible upper-pole rounding and that shelf-like appearance at the top. Two: subglandular placement in patients with thin tissue, where the implant edge shows through.
Modern silicone gel implants, paired with careful sizing and submuscular or dual-plane placement, usually produce results that read as breast tissue rather than implant. But “fake” is partly a matter of choice too. If you want significant upper-pole fullness, that’s achievable. If you want something harder to identify as surgical, that’s also achievable. The conversation at consultation is about which direction you want, and how your anatomy can support it.
Myth 2: “I’ll Lose Sensation in My Nipples Permanently”
Reduced sensation in the first weeks after surgery is common. The nerves to the nipple and breast skin run through tissue that gets disrupted during the procedure, and they take time to recover.
Most patients regain normal sensation over weeks to months. A small number experience longer-term changes, ranging from increased sensitivity to reduced sensation, and a smaller number again experience permanent changes to one or both nipples. Specific risk depends on your anatomy, the implant size, the incision approach used, and individual variation in nerve healing. This is something we discuss at consultation in the context of your particular situation.
Myth 3: “Breast Implants Need to Be Replaced Every 10 Years”
This one comes from a misreading of older manufacturer guidance. The “10 years” figure was originally a study reference point, not an expiry date. Modern silicone gel implants don’t have a built-in lifespan that automatically requires replacement.
What’s true is that breast implants are not lifetime devices. They may need to be removed or replaced at some point because of capsular contracture, rupture, change in implant integrity over decades, or because the patient wants a different size or shape. There’s no calendar trigger. If your implants are in good condition, the surrounding capsule is soft, and you’re happy with how they look and feel, there’s typically no medical reason to replace them.
That said, ongoing monitoring matters. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recommends regular check-ups and imaging surveillance for women with breast implants, particularly silent ruptures of silicone implants which can occur without symptoms.
Myth 4: “Breastfeeding Won’t Be Possible After Augmentation”
Most women can breastfeed after breast augmentation. The factors that influence breastfeeding capacity are mostly the same with or without implants, including pre-existing milk duct anatomy, hormonal response after delivery, and individual variability in milk production.
Some surgical choices may have a small effect. The periareolar incision (around the nipple) carries slightly more risk of disrupting milk ducts than the inframammary fold incision (under the breast). If breastfeeding is important to you, raise this at consultation. We can plan the incision approach with that in mind.
What matters more than the implants for many women is that breast tissue itself changes substantially during and after pregnancy. The implant doesn’t change those tissue changes either way.
Myth 5: “Silicone Implants Cause Autoimmune Disease”
This myth has a long history. In the 1990s, silicone gel implants were temporarily withdrawn from the US market because of concerns about a link to connective tissue disease and autoimmune disorders. Subsequent large-scale studies didn’t establish a causal relationship, and they returned to market.
The current picture is more nuanced. There’s a recognised condition called Breast Implant Illness (BII), where some patients experience systemic symptoms they attribute to their implants. The medical community is still working through what BII represents, who is at risk, and why some patients improve after explant. It’s a real clinical phenomenon that warrants attention, and it’s something I discuss with patients before surgery.
There’s also Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), which is a rare cancer linked specifically to certain textured implants. Macrotextured implants are no longer used in Australia. Smooth and microtextured implants carry significantly lower risk.
The honest summary: there’s no established causal link between silicone implants and classical autoimmune disease, but there are recognised implant-related conditions that need to be part of an informed conversation.
Myth 6: “Breast Augmentation is Painful for Weeks”
Most patients describe the first few days after surgery as uncomfortable rather than severely painful. Tightness across the chest is the most common sensation. This is partly the implant settling into a freshly created pocket and partly the chest muscles responding to the procedure, particularly with submuscular placement.
Pain typically peaks in the first 48 to 72 hours and improves steadily from there. Most patients are off opioid pain medication within a week and managing with paracetamol or no medication at all by week two. By week three, most are back to a normal range of daily activity, with exercise restrictions still in place.
If your pain pattern doesn’t follow this trajectory, that’s something to flag at your post-operative review. Persistent or worsening pain is not normal and warrants assessment.
Myth 7: “Any Doctor Can Safely Perform Breast Augmentation”
In Australia, any registered medical practitioner can legally perform cosmetic surgery, regardless of their training. This is an important distinction.
A Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) has completed at least 12 years of medical and surgical training, including formal specialist training in plastic and reconstructive surgery accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). FRACS is a protected qualification.
The term “cosmetic surgeon” is not a protected title in Australia. A doctor with no specialist surgical training can use it. This isn’t a hypothetical concern. Revision surgery to correct outcomes from inadequate primary breast augmentation is a real and common reason patients present at our clinics. The cost of revision is typically considerably higher than appropriate primary surgery.
Before any cosmetic surgery, check your surgeon’s qualifications on the AHPRA register. Confirm specialist registration in plastic surgery specifically. Ask about case volume and where they trained.
Myth 8: “There’s One Best Type of Implant”
There isn’t. Round versus shaped, smooth versus microtextured, silicone gel versus saline, low profile versus high profile, larger versus smaller. Every choice is a tradeoff, and the right choice depends on your anatomy, your goals, and what’s realistic given the tissue you have to work with.
What I tell patients at consultation is that the “best” implant is the one that fits your chest wall measurements, suits your breast tissue characteristics, and produces the appearance you want. The same implant that’s perfect for one patient may be entirely wrong for another with different proportions.
Myth 9: “Scarring Will Be Obvious”
The scar from breast augmentation is real and permanent, but where it sits and how visible it becomes are largely a function of the incision approach.
The inframammary fold incision (under the breast) is the most common approach and typically produces a scar that sits hidden in the natural fold beneath the breast. Most patients find this scar fades to a fine line over 12 to 18 months, though scar quality varies between individuals based on skin type, healing response, and adherence to scar care.
Periareolar incisions (around the nipple) and transaxillary incisions (in the armpit) have different visibility profiles. Each has tradeoffs that we discuss at consultation. Scar care after surgery, including silicone gel or sheets, sun protection, and gentle massage once cleared, may help optimise scar appearance.
Myth 10: “Bigger Is Always Better”
This one carries genuine clinical risk. Implants that are too large for the patient’s chest wall measurements and tissue thickness create predictable long-term problems. Stretching of the breast skin over time. Visible implant edges. Capsular contracture risk increases with very large implants. Animation deformity is more pronounced. Long-term ptosis (sagging) is harder to manage if the implant exceeds what the surrounding tissue can support.
There’s a measurement-based approach to implant selection that uses chest wall width, soft tissue thickness, and skin elasticity to guide what size range is suitable for a particular patient. Going beyond that range is possible but accepts the longer-term consequences. This is a conversation worth having honestly at consultation.
Myth 11: “Implants Prevent Future Sagging”
Breast implants add volume. They don’t prevent the natural changes that affect all breast tissue over time, including the effects of gravity, pregnancy, weight changes, and ageing.
If you have significant breast ptosis (sagging) before augmentation, an implant alone won’t correct it. You may need a breast lift (mastopexy) combined with the implant, which is a more involved procedure than augmentation alone. The combination is sometimes performed in a single operation and sometimes staged across two operations, depending on the degree of ptosis and other factors.
Patients who undergo augmentation alone may notice some changes in breast position and shape over years, particularly with larger implants. This is normal and may eventually warrant additional procedures.
Myth 12: “Mammograms Don’t Work With Implants”
You can have effective breast cancer screening with implants in place. The technique is slightly different. Imaging centres familiar with augmented patients use additional views called Eklund displacement views, which compress the breast tissue forward and away from the implant to allow better visualisation.
Tell your imaging centre at booking that you have implants, and confirm they have experience with augmented patients. MRI and ultrasound are also available as supplementary imaging tools where mammography views are limited. Routine screening guidelines apply to women with implants the same as women without.
What This Guide Doesn’t Cover
Nothing in this piece replaces a consultation. Specific risks, candidacy, implant selection, and what’s realistic for your anatomy all depend on a physical examination and a proper conversation about what you want.
What’s built into that process by law is worth knowing upfront. Since July 2023, AHPRA guidelines require a GP referral before your consultation with a surgeon. You’ll then have at least two consultations with Dr Turner, a psychological evaluation, and a mandatory cooling-off period before any surgery is booked. That framework exists so decisions get made with time rather than under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my surgeon is qualified to perform breast augmentation? The AHPRA register lists every registered medical practitioner in Australia, including their specialty registration. A Specialist Plastic Surgeon will have specialist registration in plastic surgery, with FRACS qualification recognised by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. The term “cosmetic surgeon” is not a protected title and doesn’t indicate specialist surgical training.
Will my breast implants set off airport security? No. Modern breast implants do not contain metal components in their construction and don’t trigger metal detectors. Patients sometimes carry an implant identification card from their surgeon for reassurance, but this is not required for travel.
Can I get an MRI with breast implants? Yes. Breast implants are MRI-safe and don’t interfere with MRI imaging of other parts of the body. MRI is in fact one of the imaging techniques used to monitor implant integrity over time, particularly to detect silent rupture in silicone gel implants.
What’s the difference between cosmetic surgeon and plastic surgeon in Australia? Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) is a protected title requiring at least 12 years of medical and surgical training plus accredited specialist training in plastic and reconstructive surgery. “Cosmetic surgeon” is not protected and may be used by doctors without specialist surgical training. The distinction matters because revision surgery to correct outcomes from inadequately performed primary procedures is consistently more complex and more expensive than appropriate primary surgery.
Do breast implants need to be removed eventually? Not necessarily. There’s no fixed expiry date. Implants may need to be removed or replaced because of capsular contracture, rupture, change in patient preference, or other clinical reasons. If implants are in good condition, the surrounding capsule is soft, and you’re happy with how they look and feel, there’s typically no automatic medical requirement to remove or replace them. Ongoing monitoring with appropriate imaging is recommended for women with implants.
Will I be able to feel the implant under my skin? Sometimes, yes. Patients with thicker natural breast tissue and submuscular placement usually can’t feel the implant edge in normal positions. Patients with very thin tissue, larger implants, or subglandular placement may feel the implant more, particularly at the lateral edge or when lying on their side. This is something we assess by pinch-test at consultation, and it factors into which implant size and placement we recommend.
Consult with Dr Scott J Turner
Most of what I’ve covered above comes up every week in consultation. The rest of it, the things specific to your anatomy and goals, is what we actually talk about when you come in.
Consultations happen at our Bondi Junction and Manly clinics in Sydney. Dr Turner also consults at our Brisbane, Canberra, and Newcastle locations.
A quick note on the framework: since July 2023, breast augmentation in Australia requires a GP referral before your surgical consultation. You’ll have a minimum of two consultations with Dr Turner, a psychological evaluation, and a cooling-off period before any procedure is scheduled. These aren’t arbitrary. They exist so that decisions about surgery get made carefully, with time and information behind them.
To book a consultation, contact our clinic or call 1300 437 758.
