Many women are able to breastfeed after breast augmentation, but the ability to breastfeed cannot be guaranteed. Breastfeeding depends on several factors beyond the implant itself, including pre-existing breast anatomy, glandular development, pregnancy-related changes, incision choice and surgical technique.
Women who may want children in the future should discuss breastfeeding considerations with their surgeon before surgery.
Recovery varies according to the patient, implant plane and extent of surgery. During the first several days, patients may experience:
- swelling;
- tightness;
- soreness;
- temporary changes in breast sensation; and
- limitation of comfortable upper-body movement.
Most patients gradually resume light daily activities as their recovery progresses. More strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and vigorous upper-body activities generally need to be restricted until healing has advanced sufficiently and the surgeon has given clearance.
The breasts initially appear swollen and may sit higher than their eventual position. Over the following weeks and months, swelling decreases and the tissues gradually adapt around the implants.
The appearance immediately after surgery should therefore not be considered the final result.
breast augmentation philippines
What Is Capsular Contracture?
One of the most important decisions during breast-augmentation consultation is whether an implant or the patient's own fat is more appropriate.
Breast Implant Augmentation
Breast implants are generally preferable when the patient wants a predictable and substantial increase in breast volume.
Silicone implants are manufactured in predetermined dimensions, volumes and profiles. This allows the surgeon and patient to select an implant that corresponds to the dimensions of the breast and the desired amount of projection.
Implant augmentation is especially appropriate for patients who:
- want a significant increase in breast size;
- have insufficient donor fat for grafting;
- want predictable breast projection;
- desire more upper-pole fullness; or
- prefer a single-stage augmentation procedure.
Breast Fat Transfer
Breast fat grafting uses fat harvested from another part of the patient's body through liposuction.
The fat is processed and carefully transferred into the breasts.
This may be suitable for women who want a more modest and natural increase and have sufficient donor fat available.
Fat grafting can have the additional benefit of contouring the donor area through liposuction.
The amount of enlargement obtainable through fat transfer is generally more limited than with implants, and some transferred fat is naturally reabsorbed during healing.
For patients who desire a larger or more predictable increase in breast volume, implants may therefore be the more appropriate option.
NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center is located at Centuria Medical Makati in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines and receives both local and international cosmetic-surgery patients. Patients traveling from overseas may begin with an online assessment.
Useful preliminary information includes:
- age;
- height and weight;
- medical conditions;
- medications, vitamins and supplements;
- previous pregnancies and breastfeeding;
- previous breast procedures; and
- clear front, oblique and side photographs of the breasts.
This information allows Dr. Jaafar to make a preliminary assessment before the patient travels to Manila.
Adequate time should be allowed for preoperative assessment, surgery, early recovery and postoperative follow-up before departure.
How Is Breast Implant Size Selected?
Understanding Breast Implant Profiles
Breast augmentation should begin with an anatomical assessment rather than simply choosing a cup size or implant volume.
Dr. Al Farabi Jaafar can evaluate your existing breast dimensions, tissue thickness, nipple position, chest proportions and desired result to determine whether breast implants, breast fat transfer, breast lifting or another approach is most appropriate.
Patients outside the Philippines may begin through an online consultation by providing their medical information and photographs.
NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center
Centuria Medical Makati
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Breast Augmentation • Mentor Breast Implants • Breast Fat Transfer • Breast Lift • Breast Reduction • Nipple and Areolar Surgery
Individual results vary. Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure with potential risks and complications. Appropriate medical evaluation and informed consultation are required before surgery.
One of the most frequently asked questions in breast augmentation is:
“What breast implant size should I get?”
Patients often describe their desired result using cup sizes or implant volumes such as 250 cc, 300 cc, 325 cc or 350 cc.
These numbers are useful for discussion, but implant volume alone cannot determine the correct implant.
Dr. Jaafar evaluates several measurements before selecting an appropriate range.
1. Breast Width
The width or base diameter of the existing breast helps determine the appropriate implant diameter.
An implant that is excessively wide may extend unnaturally beyond the breast boundaries, while an implant that is too narrow may fail to produce appropriate breast shape.
2. Existing Breast Volume
The patient's natural breast tissue contributes to the final volume.
A 300 cc implant placed in a patient with an existing B cup will not produce the same result as the same implant placed in a patient with an almost flat A cup.
3. Upper-Pole Tissue Thickness
The amount of tissue covering the upper chest is assessed because it influences whether the implant edges can be adequately concealed.
This measurement can also help guide implant-plane selection.
4. Nipple-to-Inframammary-Fold Distance
The distance between the nipple and the natural fold beneath the breast provides information about the lower breast envelope and whether the existing fold can accommodate the proposed implant.
These measurements allow implant selection to become an anatomical decision rather than a guess based entirely on desired cup size.
How Is Breast Implant Surgery Performed?
What is the best breast implant size?
There is no single ideal breast implant size. The appropriate implant depends on breast width, existing breast volume, tissue thickness, chest dimensions and desired projection.
Is 300 cc or 325 cc considered a large implant?
Not necessarily. Implant volume must be interpreted relative to the patient's body. The same implant may appear subtle on one patient and relatively large on another.
Which breast implant profile should I choose?
Profile selection depends principally on breast width and desired projection. Dr. Jaafar selects a suitable range after measuring the breasts.
Is above-the-muscle or below-the-muscle placement better?
Neither is universally better. Tissue thickness, anatomy, implant dimensions and desired result determine the most appropriate plane.
How long does breast augmentation surgery take?
Operative duration varies according to anatomy and the surgical plan, but breast implant augmentation commonly requires approximately a few hours including preparation and surgery.
When can I return to work?
Many patients can resume light work during the early recovery period, but timing varies according to the nature of work, implant plane and individual healing.
Do breast implants need to be replaced every 10 years?
No. Ten years is not an automatic expiration date. Breast implants are not lifetime devices, but replacement is generally determined by clinical circumstances rather than the calendar alone.
Can breast implants rupture?
Yes. Both saline and silicone implants can rupture. Silicone rupture may sometimes be clinically silent, which is why long-term follow-up and appropriate imaging are important.
Can breast implants correct sagging breasts?
An implant can restore volume but cannot reliably correct substantial breast ptosis. A breast lift may be necessary when nipple position and excess skin are the primary problems.
Can breast augmentation improve breast asymmetry?
Yes, breast augmentation can often improve asymmetry, although perfect symmetry cannot be guaranteed because natural differences in breast anatomy frequently remain.
Can I have breast augmentation and another procedure together?
Selected patients may undergo breast augmentation with another procedure, but combined surgery must be individually evaluated according to health, operative duration and overall surgical risk.
How much does breast augmentation cost in the Philippines?
The cost depends on the implant, operative requirements, anesthesia and individual surgical plan. NEU provides an individualized quotation after assessment.
Yes. Women with breast implants should continue appropriate breast-health screening according to their age, history and physician recommendations. Patients should inform the mammography facility that they have breast implants because additional imaging techniques or views may be required.
Breast augmentation does not replace routine breast-health evaluation.
There is no universal conversion formula between breast implant volume and bra cup size.
Cup sizing differs among bra manufacturers, and the final result depends on the patient's existing breasts, chest dimensions and implant profile.
For this reason, statements such as “300 cc equals one cup size” are only rough approximations and should not be considered guarantees.
During consultation, implant sizers and anatomical measurements can provide a more useful indication of how different implant volumes may look on the patient's own body.
The goal is to select an implant that produces the desired improvement while remaining compatible with the patient's tissues and dimensions.
Breast Implants and BIA-ALCL
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or BIA-ALCL, is an uncommon lymphoma that has been associated predominantly with certain textured-surface breast implants. It is not breast cancer.
Patients considering breast implants should receive up-to-date information regarding implant surface, known implant-associated risks and the symptoms that should prompt medical assessment.
Persistent swelling, a new fluid collection, a breast mass or significant change around an implant should be evaluated by a physician.
Implant safety information continues to evolve, making long-term follow-up important for every patient with breast implants.
Breast Implant Surgery and Natural Fat Transfer by Dr. Al Farabi Jaafar at NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center, Makati
Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to increase breast volume, improve shape, restore fullness and create better proportion between the breasts and the rest of the body.
At NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, breast augmentation is individually planned by Dr. Al Farabi Jaafar according to the patient's existing breast anatomy, chest dimensions, tissue thickness and desired result.
Breast enlargement may be performed using silicone breast implants, the patient's own fat through breast fat grafting, or in selected cases a combination of both techniques.
The objective is not simply to create larger breasts. Good breast augmentation should create an appropriate relationship between breast width, projection, upper-pole fullness, nipple position and the patient's overall body frame.
For this reason, Dr. Jaafar does not choose an implant based solely on the cup size requested by the patient. Measurements of the breasts and chest are used to determine what implant dimensions can realistically and safely complement the patient's anatomy.
Whenever a breast implant is placed in the body, normal healing produces a layer of scar tissue or capsule around it. In most patients this capsule remains soft.
Capsular contracture occurs when this tissue becomes abnormally tight around the implant. Depending on severity, the breast may become firm, change shape or become uncomfortable. The condition may occur at different times after surgery and, when clinically significant, may require additional treatment or surgery.
Some women prefer to increase breast volume using their own fat rather than an implant. Fat is harvested through liposuction from areas such as the abdomen, waist or thighs, processed and transferred into the breasts.
Fat grafting may be attractive to patients seeking a more modest increase and those who want simultaneous body contouring. However, the available amount of donor fat, breast anatomy and desired increase must be considered. Not all transferred fat survives permanently, and achieving a large increase may require implants rather than fat alone.
Dr. Jaafar discusses these differences during consultation to determine whether breast implants, breast fat transfer or a combined strategy is more appropriate.
Another important breast-augmentation decision is the anatomical plane in which the implant is placed.
Common options include placement above the pectoralis major muscle and placement partly or substantially beneath the muscle.
Above-the-Muscle or Subglandular Placement
In this approach, the implant is positioned behind the breast tissue but above the pectoralis muscle.
For appropriately selected patients with sufficient soft-tissue coverage, this can produce an anatomical relationship similar to the location of natural breast tissue.
Potential considerations include recovery, tissue coverage and visibility of the implant.
Submuscular or Dual-Plane Placement
Patients with limited breast tissue or thin upper-pole coverage may benefit from additional muscle coverage over the implant.
This can help disguise the upper implant margin in selected thin patients.
Dr. Jaafar assesses upper-pole tissue thickness during consultation when deciding which plane may provide the most appropriate coverage.
There is no implant plane that is automatically best for every woman.
The appropriate position depends on anatomy, implant dimensions, tissue thickness and desired result.
Breast augmentation is performed in an operating-room environment using an appropriate anesthesia plan.
The general stages include:
1. Preoperative Marking
The breasts and important anatomical landmarks are evaluated and marked while the patient is upright.
2. Anesthesia
Anesthesia is administered (usually IV sedation) and the patient is monitored throughout the operation.
3. Incision
The selected incision is created according to the preoperative plan.
4. Implant-Pocket Creation
A pocket is carefully developed in the planned anatomical plane
Control of bleeding and precise pocket dimensions are important because the shape of this pocket influences the final implant position.
5. Implant Insertion
The selected breast implant is introduced using careful handling and appropriate sterile technique.
6. Symmetry Assessment
Implant position, breast shape and symmetry are evaluated before closure.
7. Wound Closure
The incisions are closed and appropriate dressings and postoperative support are applied.
The exact technique varies according to the patient's anatomy and surgical plan.
Above or Below the Muscle?
Breast augmentation involves considerably more than inserting two implants of the same volume. Successful planning requires decisions regarding:
- implant dimensions;
- implant profile;
- tissue coverage;
- implant plane;
- incision location;
- inframammary-fold position;
- symmetry; and
- the patient's desired breast proportions.
Dr. Al Farabi Jaafar has approximately two decades of clinical experience in cosmetic surgery and a surgical background that includes General Surgery training followed by dedicated training in cosmetic surgery.
At NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center, he personally evaluates breast-augmentation patients and plans the operation according to their individual breast measurements and anatomy. His approach emphasizes measurement-based implant selection rather than choosing implant size by cup size alone.
The purpose is to achieve an appropriate balance between the implant and the patient's existing breast tissue, chest dimensions and desired appearance.
Breast Implant Safety and Possible Risks
When evaluating breast-augmentation photographs, patients should look beyond breast size. Important features include:
- proportion to the chest;
- implant width;
- upper-pole contour;
- cleavage;
- nipple position;
- lower-pole shape;
- symmetry; and
- overall relationship between the breasts and body.
Patients should also compare photographs of individuals whose original anatomy resembles their own. Every woman's chest width, existing breast tissue and skin envelope are different, so another patient's result cannot guarantee an identical outcome.
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Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
Breast Augmentation Recovery
Breast implants vs. Breast Fat Transfer
what is breast augmentation
Breast Implant Incisions
Breast augmentation, sometimes called breast enlargement or augmentation mammoplasty, is surgery performed to increase or restore breast volume.
Women may consider breast augmentation because of:
- naturally small breasts;
- breast asymmetry;
- loss of breast volume after pregnancy or breastfeeding;
- changes following weight loss;
- loss of fullness with aging;
- congenital breast differences; or
- a personal preference for increased breast volume or projection.
There are two principal ways of increasing breast volume at NEU:
Breast implants and autologous breast fat transfer.
Each has advantages and limitations, and the appropriate procedure depends on the patient's anatomy and desired degree of enlargement.
Breast implants can be inserted through several incision locations.
Inframammary Incision
The incision is positioned within or near the fold beneath the breast. This provides direct access to the implant pocket and allows the scar to be concealed beneath the breast.
Periareolar Incision
The incision is positioned along part of the border between the areola and surrounding breast skin. Its suitability depends on areolar dimensions, implant size and other anatomical considerations.
Transaxillary Incision
The incision is placed within the armpit and a surgical tunnel is created toward the breast. Each incision has advantages and limitations.
The appropriate approach is selected according to breast anatomy, implant dimensions, planned implant position, previous surgery and patient preference.
A suitable breast-augmentation candidate is generally an adult in good overall health with fully developed breasts and realistic expectations regarding the procedure.
During consultation, Dr. Jaafar evaluates:
- current breast size;
- breast asymmetry;
- chest and breast width;
- skin quality;
- breast-tissue thickness;
- nipple position;
- nipple-to-breast-fold distance;
- previous pregnancy or breastfeeding;
- previous breast surgery;
- medical conditions;
- medications and supplements; and
- the patient's desired appearance.
Breast augmentation is not performed according to implant volume alone.
Two patients requesting the same 325 cc implant, for example, may have very different chest widths, breast dimensions and tissue coverage. The same implant can therefore produce very different results in different women.
The implant must fit the patient—not simply the number requested.
What Breast Implants Does NEU Use?
Breast Augmentation Cost in the Philippines
Breast implants are not considered to increase the ordinary risk of developing breast carcinoma simply because an implant is present. However, certain uncommon malignancies have been associated with the capsule surrounding some breast implants, including BIA-ALCL.
This is different from ordinary breast cancer. Patients should understand these distinctions and continue routine breast-health screening.
Do Breast Implants Cause Breast Cancer?
The cost of breast augmentation in the Philippines varies according to several factors. These may include:
- type and brand of breast implant;
- implant specifications;
- operating-room requirements;
- anesthesia;
- complexity of the operation;
- previous breast surgery;
- whether breast lifting is also required;
- postoperative medications and care; and
- other components of the individualized surgical plan.
For this reason, price should ideally be quoted after the surgeon has reviewed the patient's anatomy and treatment requirements.
A patient choosing breast augmentation should consider more than the implant price alone. The surgeon's training and experience, operating facility, anesthesia, implant authenticity, surgical planning and postoperative follow-up are important components of the overall treatment.
NEU provides an individualized quotation after assessment.
Book an appointment with breast surgeon Dr. al Jaafar
(use contact form or send a message to +63 9189853668 Viber/Whatsapp).
Dr. Al Lee Jaafar, will personally do the procedure for you. He is the surgeon of Neu Advanced Aesthetics Centre in Centuria Medical Makati.
see more of his credentials
see his reviews
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How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Augmentation
Breast Implant Rupture and Long-Term Monitoring
Can You Breastfeed After Breast Augmentation?
Breast Augmentation for International Patients in the Philippines
Breast Augmentation With Fat Transfer
Schedule a Breast Augmentation Consultation in Makati, Philippines
Breast implants can rupture.
A saline implant generally decreases in volume when its shell fails because the saline is absorbed by the body.
A silicone implant rupture may be less obvious because cohesive silicone gel can remain within or around the implant capsule. This is sometimes referred to as a silent rupture.
For this reason, patients with silicone breast implants may be advised to undergo periodic ultrasound or MRI according to current recommendations and individual clinical circumstances. Patients should also seek evaluation if they notice a new change in breast size, firmness, shape, pain, swelling or another unexplained symptom.
Breast augmentation and breast lifting solve different problems.
An implant primarily adds volume.
A breast lift or mastopexy primarily addresses breast sagging by reshaping and repositioning breast tissue and removing excess skin.
A woman with small breasts and minimal sagging may require augmentation alone. A patient with substantial breast drooping may require a breast lift, with or without an implant. Increasing implant size does not always correct significant breast sagging and may sometimes place additional weight on already lax tissues.
The appropriate operation therefore depends on breast volume, skin quality and nipple position.
Breast implants with similar volumes can have very different shapes.
Implant profile refers broadly to how far an implant projects forward relative to its width.
Depending on the manufacturer and implant line, profiles may include moderate, high and other projection options.
For example, two implants may both contain approximately 300 cc of silicone gel, yet one may have a wider base with less forward projection while another may have a narrower base and greater projection.
Profile selection therefore depends on:
- breast width;
- chest width;
- desired projection;
- existing breast volume;
- skin and tissue characteristics; and
- the patient's aesthetic preference.
This is why selecting a breast implant by volume alone is incomplete.
Volume tells us how much the implant contains. Width and profile help determine how that volume will appear on the body.
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Breast implants should not be considered lifetime devices, but they do not automatically require replacement simply because a fixed number of years has passed. Some patients retain their implants for many years without requiring replacement, while others may need additional surgery because of implant rupture, capsular contracture, changes in breast appearance, patient preference or another clinical reason.
The longer implants remain in place, the greater the cumulative possibility that additional breast surgery may eventually be required. Patients with breast implants should therefore maintain appropriate long-term follow-up.
Silicone implants may also require periodic imaging to evaluate for silent rupture according to current medical recommendations.
Can You Still Have Mammograms With Breast Implants?
Breast Implant Size vs Cup Size
Breast Augmentation Before and After Results
Breast Augmentation vs Breast Lift
A natural breast-augmentation result does not necessarily mean choosing the smallest implant. Natural appearance depends on whether the implant dimensions correspond appropriately with the patient's anatomy.
Dr. Jaafar considers breast width, tissue coverage, existing volume, projection and the desired upper- and lower-pole contour when selecting an implant. The objective is for the implant to complement the patient's body rather than dominate it.
For some women this means a relatively conservative implant. For others, a larger implant may remain proportionate because they have a wider chest and larger breast dimensions.
There is therefore no universal implant volume that produces a natural result in every patient.
Breast augmentation is surgery and carries potential complications. These may include:
- bleeding or hematoma;
- infection;
- changes in nipple or breast sensation;
- asymmetry;
- implant displacement;
- implant rupture;
- visible or palpable rippling;
- scarring;
- capsular contracture;
- need for revision surgery; and
- anesthesia-related complications.
Breast implants are also associated with uncommon implant-specific conditions that should be discussed during informed consent. The purpose of consultation is not simply to choose an implant size. Patients should understand the expected benefits, alternatives, limitations and potential complications before deciding to undergo surgery.
NEU Advanced Aesthetics Center uses MENTOR™ silicone gel breast implants for appropriate breast-augmentation patients.
MENTOR breast implants are manufactured in different volumes, widths and profiles, allowing implant selection to be individualized according to the patient's breast dimensions and desired projection.
Rather than selecting an implant according to brand or volume alone, Dr. Jaafar considers the interaction between:
implant width + implant projection + breast width + tissue thickness + existing breast volume.
This approach helps avoid choosing an implant that is disproportionately wide, excessively projecting or poorly suited to the patient's chest.
The specific implant model and dimensions recommended for an individual patient are discussed during consultation.