Most of the time small breasts are related to your genetics. Breast size does change according to your weight as well as pregnancy and breast feeding. As we age, breasts can lose youthful shape and volume and tend to droop somewhat.
Breasts can be made larger by placing a breast implant either under the breast tissue (most common) or behind the muscle on which the breast lies. Implants are usually inserted through small incisions, approximately 5 cm in the fold under the breast (i.e. inframammary fold). The operation is done under general anaesthesia and usually involves a 1-night stay. A more comprehensive list of the benefits, risks and limitations will be discussed with you at the consultation.
You may still have a mammogram with an implant in the breast but in some cases, a special x-ray is taken to view the breast tissue. An implant does not impede the detection of breast cancer. There are studies that show it is easier to detect breast cancer as the implant pushes the breast more forward making it easier to detect lump. An implant does not prohibit breast feeding and there is no evidence to show that silicone appears in the breast milk.
When any foreign material is inserted in the body as with a breast implant, the body forms a thin walled coating around it. It approximately 5 -7% of cases this covering or capsule thickens over time and may be problematic with potential pain or distortion of the implant. On some occasions the implant needs to be removed. The newer designs of implants have features to reduce the likelihood of this happening.
The vast majority of implants used would have an outer shell and filling made from silicone. Silicon (a naturally occurring substance) is the precursor of silicone. Many studies have been conducted to establish whether silicone breast implants are linked to certain diseases.
There is no evidence to suggest that silicone breast implants are associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer. There is also no evidence to suggest that these implants cause autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.