Breast Augmentation Surgery Canberra, ACT

Understanding Breast Augmentation in Canberra

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that uses implants to change the size and shape of the breasts. It’s one of the more frequently requested procedures at the Canberra clinic. For some patients it’s about restoring volume lost after pregnancy or weight changes. For others it’s about correcting natural asymmetry between the breasts, or simply addressing long-standing concerns about breast size.

This page focuses specifically on primary cosmetic breast augmentation using implants. Patients with significant breast sagging usually need a breast lift, either on its own or combined with implants. Patients with tuberous breast variation require a different surgical approach. Patients with existing implants considering exchange or removal need a revision pathway rather than primary augmentation. All of these are listed in the Related Procedures section at the end.

Dr Turner consults from The Clinic Skin Health & Wellness, located at G24/6 Provan St, Campbell ACT 2612, near the Campbell Shops precinct. The clinic is accessible for patients from across Canberra, including Braddon, Barton, Civic, Manuka, Kingston, Griffith, Deakin, Woden, Tuggeranong, Belconnen, Gungahlin, Ainslie, Dickson, and surrounding suburbs. Patients also travel from Queanbeyan, Yass, Goulburn, and the wider Southern NSW region. Consultations are held on Fridays by appointment.

Dr Turner personally conducts every consultation. There are no patient coordinators standing in. Each appointment is an opportunity to discuss your individual concerns in detail, examine the implant options, and ask questions in an unhurried setting.

How Do I Choose the Right Breast Implants?

There is no single best implant. The right choice depends on your existing breast tissue, body proportions, lifestyle, and the result you are working toward. Six main decisions are made together at consultation: size, shape, surface texture, profile, pocket placement, and incision location. Each is briefly covered below.

Size. Implant size is measured in cubic centimetres (cc), not cup sizes. The right implant fits your chest wall dimensions, your existing breast width, your soft tissue coverage, and your body proportions. Dr Turner uses sizing aids during consultation, takes measurements (chest wall width, breast width, height, skin elasticity), and considers photographs and your specific goals to recommend an appropriate range. The aim is an implant that suits your anatomy rather than a chosen volume number.

Shape. Round implants are the most commonly used implant worldwide. They tend to suit women who have reasonable existing breast tissue and want additional volume, particularly in the upper portion of the breast. Modern round implants placed in a well-planned dual plane pocket can produce a soft, proportionate breast shape. Anatomical (teardrop) implants are shaped to mimic the natural slope of the breast, with more volume at the base and less at the top. They may be considered for women with little natural breast tissue or where a softer upper pole transition is the goal.

Surface texture. Smooth surface implants and textured surface implants both have a role. The choice involves tissue characteristics, pocket placement, and individual factors. The current evidence and Dr Turner’s approach are discussed in detail at consultation.

Profile. Profile refers to how far the implant projects from the chest wall relative to its base diameter. Low, moderate, moderate-plus, high, and ultra-high profile options exist. Moderate profile is the most commonly used. Higher profile options may suit narrower chest walls or where more upper pole fullness is the goal.

Filling material. Silicone gel implants are the most widely used in modern practice. Saline implants are available but less commonly chosen. Both options can be discussed if you have a particular preference.

For a deeper look at implant choice specific to ACT patients, see the Breast Implant Options for Canberra Patients blog.

Am I a Suitable Candidate?

Suitability for primary breast augmentation depends on overall health, breast anatomy, skin quality, and your specific goals. A consultation with examination is required to determine whether breast augmentation is the right procedure for you, and which implant choices may suit your anatomy.

You may be a candidate if:

• You are in generally good health, with no medical conditions that impair healing or increase surgical risk
• You are at a stable weight (active weight loss or gain should generally settle before proceeding)
• You are a non-smoker, or willing to cease smoking and vaping for a minimum of 6 weeks before and after surgery
• You have realistic expectations about what implants can and cannot achieve
• You have completed a psychological evaluation (an AHPRA requirement since July 2023 for cosmetic surgery patients)
• You are at least 18 years of age (legal requirement for cosmetic breast augmentation in Australia)

Patients who commonly present for primary breast augmentation include those who have completed their families and want to address post-pregnancy volume changes, women with developmental asymmetry where one side is noticeably smaller than the other, those whose breast tissue has reduced following weight loss, and patients with long-standing concerns about breast size.

Some patients are better served by a different procedure or a combination. Significant breast sagging (ptosis) usually needs a breast lift, either on its own or combined with implants. Tuberous breast variation requires a different surgical approach. Patients with existing implants considering exchange or removal need a revision pathway. All of these are addressed openly at consultation if relevant to your anatomy.

If breast augmentation is not the right procedure for you, Dr Turner will say so. Honest assessment is part of the consultation process.

How Is Breast Augmentation Surgery Performed?

Breast augmentation is performed under general anaesthesia in an accredited private hospital. The procedure typically takes 60 to 120 minutes. Most patients stay in hospital overnight.

The surgical steps involve creating an implant pocket through a small incision, placing the implant, checking position and symmetry, and closing the incision in layers. The specific decisions about incision location, pocket placement, and implant positioning are made during pre-operative planning and confirmed on the day of surgery.

Incision options. Three incision sites are commonly used:

• Inframammary fold incision, placed in the natural crease beneath the breast. This is the most commonly used approach in modern primary breast augmentation. The scar is well concealed when standing and provides direct access to the implant pocket, allowing precise placement. Dr Turner most often uses this approach.
• Periareolar incision, placed at the edge of the areola. The scar may be partially concealed by the colour transition between the areola and surrounding skin, though visibility varies between individuals.
• Transaxillary incision, placed in the armpit, with no scar on the breast itself. This approach is used in selected cases where it suits the patient’s anatomy and implant choice.

Pocket placement. The implant is placed in one of three pocket positions:

• Subglandular (in front of the chest muscle), suitable for women with adequate natural breast tissue coverage
• Subpectoral (behind the chest muscle), provides additional soft tissue coverage of the implant edges
• Dual plane (a combination, with the upper portion behind the muscle and the lower portion in front), the most commonly used approach in modern primary augmentation. Tends to provide better coverage in the upper pole while allowing the lower pole to take a softer shape.

The right combination of incision and pocket placement depends on your existing breast tissue, skin quality, the implant being used, and individual anatomical factors.

Internal Bra technique. Dr Turner uses an Internal Bra technique in selected primary augmentation cases. This involves placing internal supportive sutures or mesh that aim to reinforce the implant pocket and support implant position over time. It may be particularly relevant for patients with thinner soft tissue coverage, larger implants, or anatomical considerations where additional internal support is helpful. Whether the Internal Bra approach is suitable for your case is determined at consultation. It is not used in every primary augmentation. Dr Turner will explain the reasoning if it is recommended for you.

Consultation Process at the Campbell Clinic

Under the regulations introduced by AHPRA in July 2023, all patients considering cosmetic surgery (including breast augmentation) must complete the following steps:

1. GP referral, a valid referral from your general practitioner is required before the initial cosmetic surgery consultation
2. Two consultations minimum, at least two separate consultations with the operating surgeon are required before any procedure can proceed
3. Cooling-off period, a mandatory waiting period applies between your initial consultation and proceeding with surgery (7 days for adults, longer for patients under 18)
4. Psychological evaluation, a formal psychological assessment is required before cosmetic surgery may be undertaken

Dr Turner’s practice follows these requirements in full. Plan for the consultation pathway to take several weeks at minimum.

At your initial consultation in Campbell, Dr Turner will review your medical history, examine the breast tissue, take measurements, discuss your goals, and explain the implant options and surgical approaches that may suit your anatomy. He’ll also be honest about what breast augmentation can and can’t do. If a different procedure (such as a breast lift, or a combined lift and implants) would better address your concerns, that will be discussed openly.

The consultation fee is $450. With a valid GP referral, a partial Medicare rebate may apply for the consultation. Contact the practice for current details.

Following consultation, you’ll receive a written surgical quote covering surgeon’s fees, hospital fees, anaesthesia, post-operative garments, and follow-up appointments. Time is then allowed for the cooling-off period and the second consultation before any surgical date is confirmed.

Canberra to Sydney: How the Surgical Pathway Works

Breast augmentation surgery requires the facilities and support infrastructure of an accredited private hospital. Specialist anaesthesia, theatre equipment, recovery monitoring, and overnight nursing care are all needed. Dr Turner performs surgery at accredited private hospitals in Sydney.

The pathway for Canberra patients works as follows:

Consultation in Canberra. Initial assessment, follow-up consultation, surgical planning, and pre-operative preparation all take place at the Campbell clinic. There’s no need to travel to Sydney at this stage.

Cooling-off period. The mandatory waiting period between your initial consultation and proceeding applies in full.

Surgery in Sydney. Surgery is performed at an accredited private hospital in Sydney. Canberra to Sydney is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours by road, or under an hour by air from Canberra Airport. Most patients arrive the evening before surgery and stay one to two nights post-operatively before returning to Canberra.

Follow-up in Canberra. Post-operative reviews are arranged at the Campbell clinic wherever possible. You don’t need to return to Sydney for every appointment. Telehealth review may be appropriate for selected follow-up appointments.

For more on planning a surgical stay from interstate or regional locations, see the Out of Town Patients page.

Recovery After Breast Augmentation

Recovery varies between patients depending on individual factors, the implant size, the pocket position, and whether the procedure is straightforward primary augmentation or a more complex case. As a general guide:

• First week: rest at home with arms supported. Most patients describe the first 3 to 4 days as the most uncomfortable. Prescribed pain relief is usually sufficient. A surgical bra is worn day and night.
• Weeks 1 to 2: most patients return to desk-based work within 7 to 10 days. Driving is usually possible at around 10 to 14 days, once you’re off prescription pain medication and can perform an emergency stop.
• Weeks 3 to 4: light walking and gentle daily activities are typically resumed. Lifting remains restricted.
• Weeks 4 to 6: progressive return to most normal activities. Heavier physical work and strenuous exercise remain restricted.
• 6 to 12 weeks: progressive return to sport and exercise as advised at follow-up. Implants take time to settle into final position. Breast shape continues to soften and refine over the first 3 to 6 months.

Final breast shape and implant settling typically take 3 to 6 months. Scar maturation continues for 12 to 18 months. Individual recovery varies and you should follow the specific instructions provided at your post-operative reviews.

Risks and Complications

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that carries risks. These will be discussed in detail at consultation and are documented in the consent process. Risks include but are not limited to:

• Bleeding or haematoma, collection of blood that may require additional intervention
• Infection, managed with antibiotics or, rarely, additional treatment
• Anaesthesia risks, general anaesthesia carries its own risks
• Capsular contracture, formation of scar tissue around the implant that may cause firmness, distortion, or discomfort. May require revision surgery.
• Implant rupture or deflation, silicone implants may rupture over time. Modern implants have very low rupture rates but are not lifetime devices.
• Asymmetry, some degree of post-operative asymmetry is common. Significant asymmetry may require revision.
• Changes to nipple sensation, sensation changes are common and are usually temporary, though permanent changes may occur
• Effect on breastfeeding, some women retain the ability to breastfeed after augmentation; others may not
• Implant malposition, the implant may sit too high, too low, too far to the side, or shift position over time
• BIA-ALCL and BIA-SCC, rare conditions associated with breast implants. Discussed in detail at consultation.
• Need for future revision surgery, implants are not lifetime devices and may require replacement, repositioning, or removal at some point in the future

A full discussion of the risks specific to your situation is part of the consultation process and the consent pathway. For broader information, see the Risks and Complications resource.

Costs and What’s Included

Primary cosmetic breast augmentation is not generally covered by Medicare. Patients should plan to pay the full cost out of pocket. Private health insurance does not typically contribute to cosmetic breast augmentation, though hospital coverage may apply in selected reconstructive cases.

A formal itemised quote is provided after your consultation, once the surgical plan is confirmed. The quote covers surgeon’s fees, hospital fees, anaesthesia, post-operative garments, and standard follow-up appointments. Implant costs are itemised separately. The exact figure depends on your individual surgical plan.

For broader information on plastic surgery pricing principles, see the Prices resource. For more on the breast augmentation procedure generally, see the main breast augmentation procedure page.

Related Procedures

Breast augmentation with implants is one specific procedure within a broader range of breast surgery options. If your primary concern doesn’t quite match what’s described above, the following procedures may be more relevant:

Breast Lift with Implants, for patients who have both volume loss and significant sagging. A breast lift on its own can reposition the breast, and an implant can add volume, but when both concerns are present, combining the two procedures may provide a more complete solution.

Tuberous Breast Correction, for patients with tuberous breast variation, where the breast base is constricted, the areola is enlarged, or the breast has a tubular shape. This requires different surgical techniques than primary augmentation.

Breast Implant Revision or implant removal, for patients with existing implants considering exchange, repositioning, or removal. See also the Breast Implant Removal Canberra blog for ACT-specific information.

Breast Fat Grafting, for patients seeking a modest volume increase (typically half to one cup size per session) without using implants, where adequate donor fat is available.

If you’re not sure which procedure is most relevant to your concerns, the consultation will cover this. Dr Turner will be honest if a different procedure (or a combination) would better address what you’re looking to change.

To arrange a consultation at the Campbell clinic, contact the practice online or call 1300 437 758.

Canberra Clinic: G24/6 Provan Street, Campbell ACT 2612 Email: [email protected] Consultations: Fridays by appointment