Breast augmentation in Switzerland: implants, fat and the right choices

Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures in Switzerland. It gives volume to breasts that are underdeveloped, emptied after pregnancies or weight loss, or asymmetrical. It most often relies on implants, sometimes on fat transfer or a combination of the two. Well prepared, it gives highly appreciated results, but it involves important choices: volume, shape, placement plane, incision approach, and long-term implant follow-up. This page guides you through these choices and explains the procedure, recovery, risks and how things are organised in the 26 cantons. For an overview of breast surgery, see our breast surgery guide.

Breast augmentation with implants takes about an hour under general anaesthesia, usually as day surgery. The volume is chosen according to the width of the breast and the thickness of the tissues, not just a cup size. The implant can be placed in front of or behind the muscle, through an incision in the fold under the breast, around the areola or in the armpit. A return to office work is possible after about a week, sport after four to six weeks. Implants are not permanent and require follow-up. The procedure is at the patient's expense. Budget guidelines on our page on breast augmentation prices in Switzerland.

Breast augmentation, or augmentation mammoplasty, increases the volume of the breasts and improves their contour. It is aimed at women whose breasts remained underdeveloped after puberty, whose breasts have emptied after pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss, or who have volume asymmetry. It can also be part of a feminisation pathway for trans women.

There are three approaches: implants, by far the most widely used, which offer a clear, predictable volume gain; fat transfer, which gives a moderate, natural augmentation; and the hybrid technique, which combines the two. The choice depends on body shape, the desired volume and each woman's preferences.

The reasons are varied and personal. Some women have always had underdeveloped breasts, which they feel are out of balance with their figure or make dressing difficult. Others have seen their breasts empty after one or more pregnancies, or after weight loss, and want to regain the lost volume. Others still have marked asymmetry, visible under clothing.

In all cases, the plan must be personal. The most satisfied patients are those who sought to improve their own figure, not to resemble an image or meet other people's expectations. The surgeon takes time to explore these motivations at the consultation.

Breast augmentation is a commitment for many years. It is worth letting your decision mature: finding out, consulting, trying volumes, talking to trusted people close to you, then waiting a few weeks before setting a date. A good surgeon never pushes you to decide on the day of the first consultation. This reflection time also allows you to check that the plan meets a personal, lasting wish, not an impulse or outside pressure.

No two pairs of breasts are identical, nor even two breasts on the same woman. Shape, volume, areola position, skin quality, chest width and gland distribution vary from one woman to another. That is why augmentation is always planned to measure: the same volume will not give the same result in two different women. Photos of other patients are useful, provided you choose body shapes similar to yours.

• "Implants have to be changed every ten years": they are monitored, not changed at a fixed date.
• "You can no longer breastfeed": breastfeeding remains possible for the vast majority of women.
• "Implants prevent mammography": it remains possible with an adapted technique.
• "The bigger the better": excessive volume ages badly and increases complications.
• "An implant always lifts the breasts": only if the descent is slight.
• "Implants cause breast cancer": they do not increase this risk.

For many women, breasts they consider too small or emptied are a source of daily discomfort: a limited choice of clothes, always relying on padded bras, feeling ill at ease on the beach or in intimacy. Studies show that a well-prepared augmentation often improves body image and self-confidence.

It does not, however, resolve deeper distress about body image or relationship difficulties. When the preoccupation seems disproportionate, or the request seems to come from outside pressure, an attentive surgeon will suggest talking about it, or even postponing the plan.

Images of breasts circulating online are often retouched, taken from a flattering angle, with lingerie that pushes the breasts up, or show very large implants presented as natural. They distort your reference points. Before choosing a volume, look at real results, at one year, in women with a body shape close to yours, and talk to the surgeon about what is realistic for your body.

Forums, social media and advertising are full of information about augmentation, of very uneven quality. Favour medical sources: plastic surgery societies, hospitals, Swissmedic for implants, and above all the explanations of a qualified surgeon. Be wary of promises of results with no scars or follow-up, cut-price offers and organised trips for surgery without a prior consultation.

Sometimes a partner encourages or wants an augmentation. The surgeon always makes sure that the decision is yours: a procedure carried out to please someone else gives satisfaction less often. Your partner's support remains invaluable during recovery, for daily tasks, children and patience during the weeks when the implants are still high.

An augmentation is a personal plan, but talking it over with one or two trusted people often helps clarify your motivations, prepare for recovery and feel supported. You can bring someone to the consultation to ask questions and take notes. You have no obligation to justify your choice to those around you. Some women prefer to keep the plan to themselves until the end, others share it widely: both attitudes deserve respect, and only the one that genuinely makes you comfortable — you and no one else — matters.

Several anatomical features guide the choice of implants: the width of the breast base, which defines the maximum implant diameter; the thickness of the tissues in the upper breast, which determines whether the implant needs to be covered by the muscle; skin elasticity, which limits the reasonable volume; the distance between the areola and the fold, which indicates possible ptosis; and the shape of the chest, which influences the final appearance.

The surgeon measures these parameters on each side, which also reveals asymmetries. These measurements explain why two women who want the same cup size may receive very different implants.

The shape of the ribcage greatly influences the result. A rounded chest naturally projects the breasts forward; a flat or sunken chest, as in pectus excavatum, makes them look wider apart or lower. Scoliosis or rib asymmetry can make one breast look higher or more forward. The surgeon examines the chest and explains what implants can correct and what will remain, as an implant does not change the shape of the ribs.

Augmentation often slightly enlarges the areolas, stretched by the added volume. If your areolas are already wide or puffy, as in tuberous breasts, a reduction can be performed at the same time, with a scar around the areola. Conversely, very small areolas may limit the choice of the periareolar approach. Mention your areolas at the consultation if their appearance matters to you.

• Your breasts have finished developing and your weight is stable.
• You are in good health and do not smoke, or agree to stop.
• Your breast screening is up to date.
• Your areola is above the fold, or you accept a combined lift.
• You understand that implants require lifelong follow-up.
• Your expectations are realistic and the plan is your own.

These criteria are not obstacles but reference points. The surgeon assesses each situation and may suggest waiting, modifying the plan or combining other procedures.

After one or more pregnancies, the gland can lose some of its volume, particularly in the upper breast, while the skin remains slightly stretched. An augmentation fills this envelope and restores contour. If the areola has stayed above the fold, an implant alone is often enough; if it has descended, a lift is combined. It is advisable to wait at least six months after weaning and, ideally, to have completed your plans for pregnancy. See our page on breast ptosis.

When the breasts are both empty and sagging, the question arises of performing the augmentation and lift together or separately. In one stage, a second anaesthetic is avoided and there is only one recovery, but the procedure is more complex, with more tension on the scars and a slightly less predictable result. In two stages, the lift is performed first, then the implant a few months later, which allows the volume to be adjusted. The surgeon recommends the strategy suited to your situation.

Some women have breasts that remained underdeveloped after puberty, sometimes with a narrow base or asymmetry. This is the situation in which augmentation often gives the most spectacular and lasting results, as the skin is generally firm. The surgeon checks that these are not tuberous breasts, which require specific correction, and chooses an implant suited to the often narrow base.

A difference in volume between the two breasts is very common; it becomes bothersome when it shows under clothes or means padding one side. Augmentation can correct it by choosing two implants of different volumes, adding fat on the smaller side, or combining a small reduction on the larger side. The surgeon also measures the position of the areolas and folds, as volume asymmetry is often accompanied by height asymmetry.

Perfect symmetry does not exist, even in women who have not had surgery. The goal is a satisfying visual balance, particularly in lingerie and under clothing.

Tuberous breasts can be recognised by a narrow base, a high fold, an elongated or tube-shaped breast, and a wide, puffy areola. A simple implant placed behind such a breast would give a "double-bubble" appearance. Correction combines releasing the constricted gland, lowering the fold, reducing the areola and then adding volume with an implant or fat. It is sometimes done in two stages. Marked forms may be the subject of a request for coverage.

Poland syndrome is a rare malformation, present from birth, which combines partial or total absence of the pectoralis major muscle on one side, often an underdeveloped or absent breast, and sometimes hand abnormalities. Correction uses implants, sometimes custom-made, repeated fat transfer or muscle flaps. It calls for experienced surgeons and may be covered by insurance as a congenital malformation.

In trans women, feminising hormone therapy develops the breasts over one to two years, often modestly. When the volume remains insufficient, an augmentation can be offered. The chest is often wider, the pectorals more developed and the areolas smaller, which points towards implants with a wider base and an adapted placement plane. Coverage may be requested as part of a gender dysphoria care pathway. See our page on body feminisation.

After losing a lot of weight, for example after a gastric bypass or sleeve, the breasts empty and their skin remains stretched. An implant alone would fill the envelope, but the breasts would stay low; a lift is almost always combined. You need to wait until your weight has been stable for several months and your nutritional status is good. See our guide to bariatric surgery.

After fifty, the gland decreases and the skin loses elasticity; the breasts often look empty and lower. An augmentation remains possible, often with a moderate-volume implant and sometimes a lift. A recent mammogram is requested, and general health is assessed. The result is often greatly appreciated, provided it remains measured: an implant that is too large on thin skin ages badly.

Requests for augmentation are common among women aged twenty to thirty. At this age, it is worth bearing in mind that implants will require follow-up for decades, that pregnancies will change the breasts and that one or more exchange procedures are likely during a lifetime. Choosing a reasonable volume suited to your body shape is the best way to preserve the result in the long term.

Sportswomen have particular needs. An implant placed under the muscle moves and distorts when the pectorals contract, which can bother weight training, climbing, gymnastics or CrossFit. An implant in front of the muscle does not move on contraction, but requires sufficient coverage. Volume matters too: a moderate volume is less of a hindrance for running and high-impact sports.

Talk to the surgeon about your activities before deciding. Training resumes gradually, and pectoral work generally waits eight weeks or more. A high-support sports bra is then essential.

Jobs that strain the arms and upper body, such as nursing, childcare, hairdressing, logistics or crafts, require a longer recovery, often three to four weeks before a full return. People in image-related or public-facing jobs may wish to wait until the breasts have taken on a more natural shape. Discuss with the surgeon the timescale suited to your work and, if needed, a temporary adjustment of your duties.

• Julie, 27, underdeveloped breasts, firm skin: round implants in a dual plane, moderate volume.
• Sophie, 35, two children, emptied breasts, well-positioned areola: implant alone through the fold.
• Clara, 31, very slim, thin skin: hybrid augmentation to avoid visible edges.
• Amélie, 42, empty, sagging breasts: implant combined with a vertical lift.
• Inès, 29, marked asymmetry: two different volumes and fat transfer on one side.
• Laura, 24, tuberous breasts: reshaping of the base, lowering of the fold, then implant.
• Nadine, 46, wants a moderate, natural gain: fat transfer in two sessions.
• Léa, 33, trans woman, two years of hormones: wide-base implants suited to her chest.

The choice is made with the surgeon according to body shape, the amount of fat available, the desired volume and tolerance of implant follow-up. See also our page on breast fat transfer.

During a fat augmentation, the surgeon harvests fat with fine cannulas from one or more areas, often the abdomen, hips or inner thighs. The fat is filtered, decanted or centrifuged, then reinjected in very small amounts, in multiple passes and at different depths, so that each particle is surrounded by tissue with a blood supply. This technique promotes fat survival.

The gain obtained is about one cup size per session, depending on the amount available and the skin. Some of the fat is resorbed in the first few months; the result is judged at around six months. A second session is often offered. The donor area is slimmed, which is appreciated. The breasts must be imaged before the procedure, and the radiologist informed afterwards. See our page on breast fat transfer.

Fat transfer is attractive for its natural appearance and the absence of an implant, but it has limits. The gain per session is moderate, and you need enough fat: very slim women often do not have enough. Some of the fat is resorbed, which makes the result less predictable than with an implant. Grafted fat can form small cysts or calcifications, benign but visible on imaging, which must be interpreted by an informed radiologist. It does not give the projection or marked upper contour that an implant provides.

Fat transfer alone suits women who want a discreet gain, about one size, with a very natural result, who have fat to harvest and who prefer to avoid an implant and its follow-up. It is also useful for correcting a slight asymmetry, mild tuberous breasts or irregularities. It is less suitable for very slim women or those who want a large volume gain.

Hybrid augmentation combines a moderate-volume implant with fat transfer to the areas where the implant risks showing: the upper cleavage, the space between the breasts, the sides. The implant provides projection and volume, the fat softens the transitions and thickens the coverage. This approach particularly suits slim women with thin skin who want a clear volume with a natural appearance.

It lengthens the procedure slightly and adds the after-effects of fat harvesting. See our page on hybrid breast augmentation.

Hybrid augmentation suits slim women with thin skin who want a clear volume gain but fear the visible edges of an implant, or whose cleavage is hollow. It allows a slightly smaller implant to be chosen, complemented by fat where it is most useful. It requires a little fat to be available and slightly lengthens the procedure.

Many women want both to enlarge their breasts and to slim another area, such as the abdomen, hips or thighs. Combining liposuction with augmentation means a single anaesthetic and sometimes allows the harvested fat to be reused to complement breast volume. The procedure is longer and recovery a little more demanding, with a compression garment worn on the treated areas. See our page on breast augmentation with liposuction.

Breast implants have evolved considerably since they first appeared in the 1960s. Current models have a reinforced, multilayer silicone shell and are filled with a cohesive gel that keeps its shape even if the shell cracks. Their average lifespan has lengthened and the risk of rupture has decreased, without disappearing.

The texture of the shell has also changed. For a long time, very rough models were widely used; their association with a rare lymphoma led to smooth or microtextured surfaces being favoured. Implants used in Switzerland are certified medical devices, traceable by batch number and monitored by Swissmedic.

The first attempts to enlarge the breasts, in the early twentieth century, used materials that caused serious complications. The first silicone implant was placed in the early 1960s. Since then, implants have gone through several generations: thicker, multilayer shells, more cohesive gels, new shapes and surfaces. Episodes have marked the specialty, such as the discovery of fraudulent implants from a European manufacturer in 2010, or the withdrawal of certain heavily textured implants in 2019.

These episodes strengthened traceability, monitoring by the authorities and patient information. Current implants are safer and more durable, without lasting forever.

Choosing the volume takes place in several stages. The surgeon first measures the width of the breast base, which limits the implant diameter, and the thickness of the tissues. They propose a range of volumes compatible with your body shape. You then try sizers in an unpadded bra, with a close-fitting T-shirt, in front of a mirror, possibly over two consultations.

Think about your activities: running, swimming, yoga, carrying loads. Imagine yourself in ten or twenty years, as a very large volume ages less well. Be wary of cup sizes, which vary from one brand to another. And remember that the implant, placed under the tissues, often looks slightly smaller than the sizer placed on the chest.

• Choosing a volume based on a celebrity photo or a cup size.
• Aiming for the largest possible volume "so as not to regret it".
• Forgetting your body shape: a narrow base cannot support a very large implant.
• Neglecting your activities: running, combat sports, yoga, a physical job.
• Not thinking about the future: pregnancies, weight changes, skin ageing.
• Deciding alone at a single consultation, without trying sizers or reflecting.

Studies show that some women who exchange their implants do so to change the volume, often to reduce it. A well-considered choice from the outset limits this risk.

Sizers placed in a bra during the consultation are a simple and effective way of picturing the result. To make them representative, wear an unpadded bra and a fitted T-shirt, look at yourself from the front and in profile, and try several volumes. Some practices offer a 3D simulation based on a scan of the chest, showing the effect of different implants.

These tools make discussion easier but remain approximate: the skin, the muscle and healing change the actual result. Consider them a decision aid, not a guarantee.

A well-performed augmentation gives volume, fills the upper breast, improves volume asymmetry and often restores confidence. It does not lift clearly sagging breasts, does not remove stretch marks, does not correct tuberous breasts without specific procedures, and does not freeze the breasts in time. Implants require follow-up, and one or more procedures during a lifetime are likely.

Knowing these limits from the outset allows you to set realistic expectations and fully appreciate the result.

• 1. Clarify what you want: volume, contour, symmetry.
• 2. Find out about the options: implants, fat, hybrid.
• 3. Consult a qualified surgeon, take measurements, try volumes.
• 4. Understand the trade-offs: scars, recovery, lifelong follow-up.
• 5. Take time to reflect, possibly ask for a second opinion.

• When the volume of your breasts has bothered you for a long time.
• After your pregnancies, once the breasts have stabilised.
• If an asymmetry shows under clothes.
• If your old implants have changed in appearance or worry you.
• Simply to find out your options, without commitment.

An information consultation commits you to nothing. It allows you to understand what is possible for your body shape and to let your plan mature.

• It does not lift clearly sagging breasts.
• It does not remove stretch marks.
• It does not guarantee perfect symmetry.
• It does not last a lifetime without follow-up.
• It does not replace breast cancer screening.
• It does not on its own resolve distress about self-image.

• Choosing a surgeon solely on price or a promotion.
• Aiming for a volume that is excessive for your body shape.
• Placing an implant alone in clearly sagging breasts.
• Continuing to smoke before or after the procedure.
• Resuming pectoral training too early.
• Losing your implant card.
• Neglecting late swelling of a breast.

• Reflection, initial enquiries, photos for a first opinion.
• Consultation: measurements, sizers, choice of volume, plane and approach.
• Second consultation and reflection period.
• Preparation: stopping smoking, tests, purchases, organisation.
• Procedure, often as day surgery.
• Recovery and check-ups in the first year.
• Regular implant follow-up throughout life.

Beyond volume, the shape and projection of the implant determine the appearance of the breast. For the same volume, a wide-base, low-profile implant gives a spread-out, discreet breast, while a narrow-base, high-profile implant gives a rounder, more projected breast. The surgeon chooses the base according to the width of your breast, then the profile according to the desired effect and the thickness of your tissues.

An implant that is too projected on a narrow base gives a round, artificial look; an implant that is too wide spills over to the sides or towards the breastbone. The goal is a breast in proportion with your chest and figure.

Anatomical implants were developed to mimic the natural slope of the breast, fuller at the bottom than at the top. They suit very underdeveloped breasts or certain reconstructions well. But they must stay perfectly oriented: rotation distorts the breast. Round implants give slightly more fullness at the top, but when standing, the gel moves downwards and the shape naturally becomes fuller at the bottom.

In many cases, a moderate-profile round implant gives an equally natural result. The surgeon chooses according to your body shape, tissue thickness and the desired effect, without dogma.

The surface of the shell influences how the implant interacts with the tissues. Smooth surfaces slide freely in their pocket, giving natural movement; slightly textured surfaces, known as microtextured, grip the tissues a little more. Heavily textured surfaces, long used to stabilise anatomical implants, have been associated with a rare lymphoma, which led to them being largely abandoned.

The surgeon chooses the surface according to the shape of the implant, the placement plane and their practice. Do not hesitate to ask why they prefer a particular type of surface.

Not all silicone implants contain the same gel. Some gels are firmer and hold their shape better; others are softer and give a more natural feel but may ripple more under thin skin. The choice depends on tissue thickness and the desired shape. Current gels, known as cohesive gels, do not leak if the shell cracks, which limits the consequences of a rupture.

The surgeon chooses the plane according to your tissue thickness, your sport, the shape of your breasts and your tolerance of initial discomfort. This choice also influences the risk of capsular contracture and long-term durability.

Placing the implant in front of the muscle, directly under the gland, mainly suits women who have sufficient tissue coverage, at least two centimetres in the upper breast, and slightly sagging breasts that the implant can fill. Recovery is faster and less painful, and the implant does not move when the pectorals contract, which sportswomen appreciate. In very slim women, however, the edges of the implant risk being visible or palpable.

Placing the implant behind the pectoralis major muscle offers better coverage of the upper breast, which softens the contours in slim women and makes mammograms easier to read. Some studies suggest a slightly lower risk of capsular contracture. The drawbacks are more marked pain in the first few days, a slightly longer recovery, and distortion of the breast when the muscle contracts, known as animation deformity, which can bother some sportswomen.

In the dual plane, the surgeon releases the lower part of the muscle from its attachments, so that the top of the implant remains covered by the muscle while the bottom rests directly under the gland. Depending on the extent of this release, different types of dual plane are described, adapted to tissue quality and any slight sagging of the breast. This technique combines good coverage at the top with a natural shape at the bottom and reduces animation. It is widely used in slim to average women.

During the procedure, the surgeon prepares a space, called a pocket, to the precise dimensions of the chosen implant. A pocket that is too small compresses the implant and encourages distortion; a pocket that is too wide allows the implant to move downwards or to the sides. The surgeon respects the natural limits of the breast, particularly the lower fold and the midline, and may lower the fold slightly when the lower part of the breast is too short.

They control bleeding to limit the risk of haematoma, irrigate the pocket, then check the shape with sterile sizers before placing the definitive implant.

Many women want more marked cleavage, with the breasts closer together. The gap between the breasts depends mainly on anatomy: the position of the pectoral muscle attachments on the breastbone and the width of the chest. An implant cannot bring the breasts closer together beyond these limits without risk: forcing them together can create symmastia, a bridge of skin between the two breasts. Cleavage is achieved mainly with lingerie, which brings the breasts together, rather than through surgery alone.

The approach through the fold under the breast is the most widely used: the four-to-five-centimetre incision is hidden in the fold, and the surgeon has a direct view of the pocket where the implant is placed. It does not pass through the gland, which preserves breastfeeding and limits contamination of the implant by bacteria from the ducts. It also makes any later procedure easier.

The approach around the areola places the incision at the junction between the areola and the skin, where it is often very discreet, but it passes through the gland and requires an areola wide enough for the implant to pass. The axillary approach, in the hollow of the armpit, leaves no scar on the breast; it makes precise positioning of the implant more delicate and is often performed with a camera. Each approach has its indications.

In the inframammary approach, the incision is placed in the fold under the breast, or slightly above it when the fold needs to be lowered. It generally measures four to five centimetres, depending on the size of the implant. The surgeon has a direct view of the pocket, allowing precise control of position, careful haemostasis and insertion of the implant using a sleeve. The scar is hidden by lingerie and swimwear. It is the most widely used approach in Switzerland, as elsewhere.

In the periareolar approach, the incision follows the lower edge of the areola, at the junction between the pigmented skin and the lighter skin, where it often becomes very discreet. It requires an areola wide enough for the implant to pass through. The surgeon passes through or around the gland to reach the pocket. This approach can a little more often change areola sensation or interfere with breastfeeding, and it exposes the implant more to bacteria from the ducts. It is appreciated when a minor procedure on the areola is combined.

In the axillary approach, the three-to-four-centimetre incision is placed in a natural crease in the hollow of the armpit. The surgeon creates a tunnel to the breast and prepares the pocket, often under the muscle, sometimes with the help of a camera to control the dissection precisely. The advantage is the complete absence of a scar on the breast. The limitations are slightly less direct control of the lower fold, a more demanding technique, and the fact that a later procedure is often performed through another approach.

The first consultation often lasts forty-five minutes to an hour. The surgeon listens to your wishes, your history, your pregnancies, weight changes, activities and medical history, particularly any family history of breast cancer. They then examine the breasts standing up, measure the breast base, tissue thickness and the position of the areolas and folds, and assess skin quality.

They explain the suitable options: type of implant, plane, incision approach, any combined procedures. You try sizers and discuss the volume. They present the risks, recovery, long-term follow-up and cost. A second consultation is often planned before setting the date, to confirm the choices and answer outstanding questions.

Many surgeons offer a second consultation before setting the date. It allows you to revisit the volume after a few days of reflection, try the sizers again, ask questions that have come up in the meantime, go through the consent form and quote together, and check that the plan is still yours. It is also an opportunity to bring a trusted person with you, if you wish.

• Which volume, shape and profile do you recommend, and why?
• In front of or behind the muscle, in my case?
• Through which approach, and where will the scar be?
• Should a lift or fat transfer be combined?
• Which manufacturer and implant surface do you use?
• How many augmentations do you perform each year?
• What long-term follow-up do you offer?
• What happens if there is a complication or if the volume does not suit me?

• Bare-chested, standing, hands on hips and then arms by your sides.
• Three angles: front, each side, and a three-quarter view.
• Natural light, a light-coloured wall behind you, no filters.
• As a bonus, an image of breasts you like.

These photos allow a first opinion on the likely options, before the essential in-person consultation.

• Stop smoking several weeks before and after.
• Bring your breast screening up to date according to your age.
• Mention all your treatments and supplements; stop those that encourage bleeding on medical advice.
• Buy two support bras in the indicated size.
• Plan clothes that fasten at the front.
• Arrange help for the first few days and the journey home.
• Avoid infections: treat any urinary, dental or skin infection before the procedure.

A few days to a few weeks before the procedure, an anaesthesia consultation is arranged. The anaesthetist asks about your health, medical history, treatments, allergies, previous experiences of anaesthesia and your tobacco and alcohol consumption. They assess your risk of thrombosis and nausea, explain how the anaesthesia and waking up will proceed, and answer your questions. They give you instructions on fasting and taking your medicines on the day of the procedure.

• Quote signed and consent read.
• Mammogram or ultrasound up to date.
• Stopped smoking several weeks ago.
• Medicines and supplements to stop, according to the instructions.
• Two support bras.
• Clothes that fasten at the front, pillows to sleep propped up.
• Someone to accompany you home and for the first night.
• Prescription collected and the team's number saved.

Nicotine reduces blood supply to the tissues and slows healing. In smokers, the risk of infection around the implant, poor healing and capsular contracture is higher. Stopping completely several weeks before and after the procedure, including vaping and nicotine substitutes according to the instructions, is strongly recommended. It is also an opportunity to stop for good, for the health of your skin and breasts.

Well-controlled diabetes, controlled high blood pressure or treated thyroid disease do not contraindicate an augmentation, but they require preparation with your GP. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of infection around the implant. Autoimmune diseases and treatments that modulate immunity must be mentioned and discussed, particularly because of the questions raised by systemic symptoms attributed to implants. Clotting disorders and anticoagulants require special precautions.

Before the procedure, mention all your medicines, including food supplements and herbal products. Aspirin, certain anti-inflammatories, omega-3s, ginkgo, garlic capsules or vitamin E increase the risk of bleeding and haematoma; stopping them a few days beforehand is decided with the doctor. Prescribed anticoagulants must never be stopped without the prescriber's advice. Hormonal contraception is discussed with the anaesthetist according to your risk of thrombosis.

Before an augmentation, a clinical breast examination is performed, and a mammogram or ultrasound is requested depending on your age and family history. This examination checks that there is no lesion before the implants are placed and serves as a reference for the future. If an abnormality is found, it is investigated before any cosmetic procedure. Women with a genetic predisposition to breast cancer have specific follow-up to discuss with their team.

You arrive having fasted at the time indicated. The surgeon makes the markings with you standing, reviews the chosen volume and plane with you, and answers your last questions. After the anaesthetic, the procedure takes about an hour: incision, creation of the pocket, checking with sterile sizers, placement of the definitive implants, checking symmetry in a sitting position, closure in several layers.

On waking, a support bra is in place. The chest feels tight and tense. After a few hours of monitoring, you go home, accompanied, with the instructions, painkillers and the number to call.

Several precautions aim to reduce the risk of infection and capsular contracture: careful skin disinfection, antibiotics at the time of the procedure according to protocols, irrigation of the pocket with antiseptic solutions, changing gloves before handling the implant, insertion through a sleeve to avoid contact with the skin, and protection of the areolas. These steps, invisible to the patient, are part of the quality of the procedure.

Breast augmentation is usually performed under short general anaesthesia. Anaesthetists frequently add a nerve block around the chest or in the muscle, which markedly reduces pain in the first few hours and the need for opioids. The anaesthesia consultation assesses your health, treatments and risk of thrombosis. For limited fat transfer, local anaesthesia with sedation is sometimes possible.

On waking, you are in the recovery room, under the care of the anaesthesia team. You feel strong tightness in the chest, like a weight, and sometimes nausea, treated if necessary. The support bra is in place. After one to two hours, you go to your room or the day-surgery lounge, drink and eat lightly, and get up with a nurse's help. The surgeon often comes to see you before discharge.

For the journey home, someone must accompany you, as you will not be able to drive. Settle in an armchair or bed with your upper body raised. Take the painkillers as prescribed, drink regularly and eat lightly. Get up and walk a little every hour during the day to prevent thrombosis. Keep your phone and the team's number within reach, and do not stay alone on the first night.

Most augmentations are performed as day surgery: you arrive in the morning and go home in the evening, accompanied. This type of care requires good organisation at home: someone present on the first night, painkillers within reach, the team's number saved. A night at the clinic may be offered if you live alone, if a combined procedure is performed or depending on how you are on waking.

The first two or three days are the most uncomfortable: tightness, a feeling of weight on the chest, difficulty raising the arms, fatigue. Painkillers taken regularly provide relief. Sleep on your back with your upper body raised, and get up to walk several times a day. Avoid carrying anything heavy and raising your arms above your head.

Showering is generally allowed after forty-eight hours, depending on the dressing. Keep the support bra on day and night. More swelling on one side, increasing pain or fever require contacting the team without delay.

• Keep the support bra on day and night.
• Sleep on your back, upper body raised.
• Avoid raising your arms above your head and carrying loads.
• Walk every day, without intense sport.
• Care for the scars as instructed.
• No baths, swimming pools or saunas before complete healing.
• Report any sudden swelling, fever or increasing pain.

• At around day 7: scars and absence of bleeding.
• At around six weeks: go-ahead for sport and lingerie.
• At three months: position and softness of the implants.
• At one year: review, then periodic follow-up.

These appointments are an opportunity to ask your questions: sport, lingerie, scars, any asymmetry you notice. Report any unusual change between appointments.

The dominant sensation after an augmentation is tightness, like a weight on the chest, especially if the implant is under the muscle. The arms are hard to raise for the first few days. Painkillers taken at fixed times, without waiting for pain, rest and cold applied briefly through a cloth bring relief. The discomfort decreases markedly within a week. Pain that increases, especially on one side only, requires a call to the team.

Intimacy can resume around the third week, taking care of the breasts until the implants have fully settled, about six weeks. Areola sensation may be temporarily altered. Many women report feeling more at ease and having a better body image in intimacy after augmentation.

• Two consultations: measurements, trying volumes, choosing a round implant in a dual plane.
• The day: a one-hour procedure, home in the evening.
• Days 1 to 3: strong tightness, difficulty raising the arms, rest.
• One week: check-up, back to working from home, breasts high and firm.
• Six weeks: night-time bra no longer needed, back to running with a sports bra.
• Four months: implants settled, natural shape; scars still pink.
• One year: first annual implant check-up.

• The consultation: wish for a moderate gain, fat available on the abdomen and thighs.
• First session: harvesting and reinjection, two hours, compression garment on the treated areas.
• Three weeks: bruising gone, breasts slightly larger.
• Six months: some of the fat has been resorbed; second session scheduled.
• One year: breasts fuller by one and a half sizes, natural feel, slimmer figure.

• The consultation: empty breasts and areolas below the fold after three pregnancies; implant and vertical lift proposed.
• The day: a two-and-a-half-hour procedure, one night at the clinic.
• Two weeks: small opening at the bottom of one scar, local care.
• Three months: breasts lifted and filled, vertical scar thinning.
• One year: stable result, happy not to wear padded bras any more.

A successful augmentation gives fuller, better-proportioned breasts and often restored confidence. It does not create breasts identical to a photo, does not guarantee perfect symmetry and does not stop ageing. Implants change over time and require follow-up. The most satisfied women are those who chose a volume suited to their body shape, understood the trade-offs and judged the result after several months.

Large follow-up studies of women with breast implants show high satisfaction, with improved body image and well-being. They also point out that implants have a limited lifespan: a significant proportion of women have further surgery within ten to fifteen years, for capsular contracture, rupture or a change of volume or shape. Complications are more common with large volumes and in smokers.

These data should not be discouraging, but should help you choose a reasonable volume and an experienced surgeon and accept the principle of long-term follow-up.

Women who have chosen an augmentation often describe relief: no longer padding their bras, wearing the clothes they like, feeling more at ease in a swimsuit or in intimacy. Many mention being surprised by the tightness of the first few days and impatient while the implants settle. Regrets mainly concern volume — sometimes considered too discreet, more often considered too large as the years pass — and the need for follow-up that they had not anticipated.

Just after the procedure, especially when the implant is placed under the muscle, the breasts look high, square and firm. The muscle and skin, still tight, hold the implant high. Over the weeks, the tissues relax and the implant gradually descends into its pocket, while the lower breast rounds out. This is sometimes called the "drop and fluff" effect.

This process generally takes two to four months. It can be faster on one side than the other, creating a temporary asymmetry. It is important not to judge the result too early. Some surgeons prescribe an elastic band above the breasts to help this descent.

Depending on the type of implant and the surgeon's practice, massage may be advised after a few weeks, to soften the tissues and help the implants find their place. It is not recommended for all implants, particularly some textured surfaces that need to adhere to the tissues. An elastic band placed above the breasts is sometimes prescribed to help implants that have stayed high to descend. Follow the instructions carefully, without taking initiatives of your own.

It is common for one breast to look higher, more swollen or firmer than the other during the first few weeks. The two sides do not heal at exactly the same rate, and the muscle may be tighter on one side. This asymmetry generally eases over a few weeks to a few months, as the implants settle and the swelling disappears. It is only judged after three to six months.

After that, a high-support sports bra is recommended for comfort and to limit breast movement.

For desk work, people generally return after about a week, sometimes earlier working from home. Jobs that involve raising the arms, carrying loads or moving people, such as care work, childcare or crafts, require three to four weeks, sometimes longer if the implant is under the muscle. The sick note does not mention the nature of the procedure.

An augmentation shows little during recovery: the support bra is discreet under a loose top, and bruising remains limited. Most women resume a normal social life after a week. Nothing obliges you to tell your employer or those around you the nature of the procedure; the sick note does not mention it. Some choose to tell only a few close friends, others talk about it freely: it is a personal choice.

Driving generally resumes after about a week, when you can turn the steering wheel, look over your shoulder and brake suddenly without pain, and are no longer taking medicines that cause drowsiness. The seat belt may be uncomfortable for the first few days; a small cushion between the strap and your chest improves comfort. Driving on the day of the procedure is forbidden.

Working from home often allows a return after a few days. Set yourself up comfortably, with the screen at eye level and the keyboard close to your body, to keep your elbows near your trunk and avoid raising your arms. Take regular breaks to walk. Fatigue in the first few days is normal; do not overestimate your strength.

Short journeys can be considered quickly, without a heavy suitcase. For a long trip, wait at least until the first check-up, one to two weeks after the procedure. Take your medicines, your support bras and the team's contact details, and avoid swimming and intense sun on the scars. Implants pose no problem at security checks.

Once recovery is over, implants do not limit skiing, hiking or mountaineering. Changes in altitude and pressure have no significant effect on silicone implants. During the first few weeks, avoid sports with a risk of falling and heavy backpacks whose straps press on the chest, and protect the scars from the sun, which is intense in the mountains.

The support bra, without underwiring, is worn day and night for about four weeks, then during the day until six weeks. It limits swelling, supports the implants and protects the scars. Underwiring is allowed later, when the fold scar is strong and the implants have stabilised. Have yourself measured a few months after the procedure, as your size will have changed. For sport, a high-support sports bra is essential.

A few months after the procedure, have yourself measured: the cup size has changed, and sometimes the band size. Many women discover they can wear unpadded styles, bralettes or triangle bikinis they used to avoid. For sport, choose a high-support sports bra. Underwiring should sit in the fold without pressing on the scar; if an underwire is uncomfortable, change style.

After augmentation, many women notice that their breasts look larger in some clothes and more discreet in others. A padded bra, a tight top or a V-neck accentuate the volume; a loose jumper or a shirt hide it. This variation also explains why the volume of the sizers, tested with a T-shirt, is a good reference: it reflects the effect under everyday clothes.

Swimming is possible after complete healing, generally four to six weeks. Recent scars must be protected from the sun for at least a year, with high-factor sunscreen or a swimsuit that covers them, to stop them becoming pigmented. The implants themselves are not affected by sun, heat, salt water or chlorine.

Augmentation scars are short, a few centimetres, and placed in the fold under the breast, around the areola or in the armpit. They are pink in the first few months, sometimes slightly thick between the second and sixth months, then pale and thin out over one to two years. Care includes gentle massage once the skin has closed, silicone sheets or gel if advised, and sun protection for at least a year. Darker skin requires particular monitoring.

Showering is generally allowed after forty-eight hours, depending on the dressing. Let the water run over the scars without rubbing them, then pat dry with a clean towel. Strips or glue fall off on their own. Once the skin has fully closed, gently massage the scars and apply the recommended silicone gel or sheets. Avoid perfumed creams on recent scars.

Olive and dark skin, as well as people with a family tendency to thick scars, are more prone to keloids and hypertrophic scars. For an augmentation, this can guide the choice of incision approach: a scar in the fold or the armpit is often preferable to one around the areola. The surgeon closes without tension and may offer preventive treatment with silicone or injections. Mention any history of thick scars at the consultation.

Areola sensation depends mainly on a nerve that reaches the breast from the side. During the procedure, this nerve can be stretched when the pocket is created, all the more so if the implant is large. In the first few weeks, the areola may be numb or, on the contrary, hypersensitive, with tingling or shooting sensations. In the vast majority of women, sensation returns gradually over a few months.

A lasting decrease is possible but rare. Choosing a reasonable volume and an approach through the fold reduces this risk. If sensation is important to you, discuss it before the procedure.

In the first few weeks, sleep on your back, with your upper body raised on two pillows or a wedge cushion, wearing the support bra. A pillow under the knees relieves the lower back. Sleeping on your side is generally possible after two to three weeks, and on your front after four to six weeks, according to the instructions.

At first, it is better to delegate anything that works the arms: shopping bags, children, high cupboards, even pulling on a jumper. Those close to you need to know the warning signs, such as one breast suddenly swelling, fever or breathlessness, and the team's number. Their support also matters when the breasts still look high and firm in the first few weeks.

• "Does it hurt?" Strong tightness in the first few days, which passes within a week.
• "What size did you go for?" A volume suited to my body shape, rather than a cup size.
• "Is it for life?" Implants last a long time but require follow-up.
• "Will you be able to breastfeed?" In the vast majority of cases, yes.
• "Does it show?" With a measured volume, the result looks natural.

It is possible, provided someone takes you home and, ideally, you are not alone on the first night. Place everyday items within easy reach so you do not have to raise your arms, prepare simple meals, choose clothes that fasten at the front and keep your phone charged. If an implant is placed under the muscle, the first few days are more restrictive; help is then strongly advised.

Carrying a young child pulls on the muscles and scars, and can move a newly placed implant. It is advisable to avoid carrying children for three to four weeks, longer if the implant is under the muscle. Organise childcare, journeys and bath times in advance, and explain to the children that they should avoid throwing themselves against your chest for a while.

For a mother of young children, recovery requires particular organisation: not being able to carry the children for several weeks, fatigue, sometimes disturbed nights. Plan help from a relative, a babysitter or a nursery, prepare meals in advance and choose a period when you can rest. An implant in front of the muscle often allows a slightly faster recovery, which may be taken into account in the choice.

The body surrounds any implanted material with a thin scar envelope: this is normal. Sometimes this envelope thickens and tightens like a fist around the implant; the breast loses its softness, hardens, changes shape or becomes painful. The causes are not fully known; minor bacterial contamination, a haematoma or radiotherapy encourage it.

Preventive measures include rigorous asepsis, the no-touch technique, and the choice of implant plane and surface. When capsular contracture is bothersome, treatment involves removing the capsule and replacing the implant, often in another plane. Recurrence remains possible.

Over time, an implant shell can crack. With current cohesive gels, the gel usually remains contained within the capsule, and the rupture is silent, discovered on MRI or ultrasound. More rarely, the gel escapes from the capsule and can cause nodules or lymph nodes in the armpit. A confirmed rupture generally leads to removal of the implant and the gel, and replacement if you wish.

Depending on the manufacturer, a warranty may contribute to replacement; keep the documents given to you after the operation.

Rupture is often silent. Some signs should nevertheless prompt a consultation: a change in the shape or volume of a breast, hardening, new pain, a feeling of a lump or nodule, a lymph node in the armpit. The surgeon examines the breasts and requests an ultrasound or MRI. If a rupture is confirmed, exchange or removal of the implant is generally proposed, not as an absolute emergency but within a reasonable time.

There is a rare form of lymphoma, a tumour of the immune cells, which arises not in the gland but in the fibrous envelope or fluid surrounding the implant. The cases described mainly concern implants with a very rough surface. It generally appears years after the operation, most often as a breast that suddenly swells because fluid accumulates around the implant.

Caught in time, it almost always disappears after complete removal of the implant and its envelope. Health authorities do not advise preventively removing implants that cause no problems; however, any breast that swells years after the operation justifies a prompt appointment.

A haematoma shows in the first few hours or days as a breast that swells clearly more than the other, becomes tight, painful and sometimes bluish. It often requires a short return to theatre to drain the blood and reduce the risk of capsular contracture. An infection tends to appear a few days to a few weeks later, with redness, warmth, increasing pain, sometimes fever or discharge from the scar.

In both cases, contact the team immediately. Prompt treatment often preserves the result. In an emergency outside opening hours, go to the emergency department or call 144.

Some patients report, sometimes years after augmentation, a set of complaints that are difficult to link to a cause: exhaustion, painful joints, disturbed sleep, difficulty concentrating. On social media, this is called breast implant illness. Research has not established that implants are the cause, and other medical explanations should be explored first.

These complaints deserve to be taken seriously. If the discomfort persists and the patient requests it, removing the implants remains an option, provided the uncertainties are discussed frankly. Some women feel better afterwards, others do not.

An implant can move within its pocket in several ways. It can drop too low, below the original fold, which lengthens the lower breast and makes the areola look too high. It can slide towards the armpit, especially when lying down, or towards the centre, bringing the two breasts together to the point of creating a bridge of skin over the breastbone, called symmastia. An anatomical implant can also rotate and distort the breast.

These complications are encouraged by an excessive volume, a pocket that is too wide, thin skin or early exertion. They are corrected by a procedure that tightens the pocket with internal stitches, sometimes changing the plane or the implant.

In very slim women or those with thin skin, folds in the implant shell may be visible or palpable under the skin, especially at the sides and lower part of the breast, or when leaning forward. This phenomenon is more common with implants in front of the muscle, soft gels and large volumes. It is prevented by a placement plane that covers the implant well, a suitable volume and sometimes covering fat transfer, which can also correct it afterwards.

A few rare complications are worth knowing about. A hard cord under the skin, below the breast or towards the abdomen, a few weeks after the procedure, often corresponds to inflammation of a small vein, called Mondor's disease; it disappears within a few weeks. Milk discharge outside pregnancy can occur temporarily, linked to nerve stimulation. A collection of fluid around the implant, early or late, must be investigated by ultrasound. Report any unusual phenomenon to the surgeon.

After a few weeks, augmented breasts should no longer be painful. A minority of women nevertheless feel prolonged pain, linked to muscle tension with a submuscular implant, irritation of a small nerve, early capsular contracture or an implant that is too large. This pain must be reported: an examination and sometimes imaging allow the cause to be found. Simple treatments, physiotherapy or, more rarely, further surgery relieve it.

In the days after the procedure, a little fluid forms around the implant, then is reabsorbed. Rarely, a larger collection, called a seroma, persists and makes the breast more swollen; it may require aspiration. Swelling that appears months or years after placement is different: it must always be investigated with ultrasound and aspiration to look for the cause, notably the rare lymphoma associated with certain implants.

The risk of a blood clot in the leg veins is low after an augmentation, which is a short procedure, but it is not zero. It increases with hormonal contraception, smoking, being overweight, a personal or family history and a longer combined procedure. Prevention relies on getting up early and walking from the evening, sometimes compression stockings and anticoagulant injections. Mention your history at the anaesthesia consultation.

Once recovery is over, the implants are part of your body, but they are not permanent. A check-up with the surgeon or a trained doctor every one to two years allows the breasts to be examined and any hardening, distortion or lymph node to be detected. If in doubt, an ultrasound or MRI checks the integrity of the implants. This follow-up is in addition to the usual breast cancer screening, which remains essential.

Between appointments, watch for changes: a breast that swells, hardens, changes shape or becomes painful, or a lump under the arm. Keep your implant card, with the brand, reference and date of placement, close to hand, and give it to any new doctor.

A regular review, ideally every year or every two years, allows the condition of the implants to be checked, changes in the breasts to be assessed and any wishes for modification to be discussed. It is also an opportunity to update your file and make sure your breast screening is up to date. This simple follow-up is the best guarantee of a result that stays satisfying over the years. Note the date of your next check-up in your diary as soon as the consultation ends, so as not to let several years go by without checking your breast implants.

In Switzerland, breast implants are medical devices monitored by Swissmedic. Serious incidents must be reported, and the authorities can publish alerts or withdrawal measures if there is a problem with a model. Each implant placed is identified by its reference and batch number, recorded in your file and on the card given to you. This traceability allows you to be contacted in the event of an alert.

Most implant manufacturers offer warranties, with varying conditions: replacement of the implant in the event of rupture for a certain period, sometimes for life, a contribution to surgical costs for a few years, special conditions in the event of capsular contracture. Some warranties require registration after the procedure. Ask the surgeon which warranty applies to your implants and keep all the documents.

Several breast implant manufacturers are present on the Swiss market, all subject to medical device certification. They differ in their ranges of shapes, profiles and surfaces, the characteristics of their gels, their warranties and the amount of long-term data available on their models. Surgeons generally work with one or two manufacturers they know well. Ask why they chose them, how much long-term data exists on the proposed model and which warranties apply.

Keeping a precise record of your implants — brand, reference, volume, batch number, date and place of the procedure, surgeon's name — is essential. This information allows you to be informed in the event of an alert, to make a warranty claim, and makes any future procedure easier, even with another surgeon or in another country. Photograph your implant card and keep a digital copy with your health documents.

Having implants does not exempt you from screening. During a mammogram, the radiographer uses specific views that push the implant backwards to better visualise the gland. An ultrasound often complements the examination. Always mention your implants when booking, and bring your previous examinations. Mammogram compression does not burst an implant in good condition.

Once the breasts have healed, implants do not limit daily life: sport, travel, flying, saunas, baths, diving and massage are all possible. Most women quickly forget they are there. Some can feel the edges of the implant to the touch, especially at the sides, or feel it move slightly when leaning forward; this is normal. Pectoral contractions can distort the breast if the implant is placed under the muscle, which sometimes bothers certain strength sports.

A pregnancy with implants proceeds normally. The breasts increase in volume under the effect of hormones, the gland develops in front of the implant, then decreases after breastfeeding. This cycle can stretch the skin and change the result, sometimes with lower breasts. Breastfeeding is possible for the vast majority of women, especially when the incision was made in the fold. Silicone does not pass into milk.

If the breasts have changed after pregnancies, a correction can be considered at least six months after weaning: implant exchange, a lift, or both.

If you plan to have children, two strategies are possible. Waiting until you have had your children and breastfed allows breasts that will have changed to be corrected in a single procedure, often with a better lasting result. Having an augmentation beforehand allows you to enjoy the result sooner, knowing that a pregnancy will change the breasts and that a touch-up might be wanted. Breastfeeding remains possible in the vast majority of cases, especially if the incision is made in the fold. Both choices are legitimate; discuss them with the surgeon.

Weight affects the natural part of the breast, fat and gland, but not the implant. Weight gain increases overall volume; significant weight loss can make the implant more visible, with more marked edges, and accentuate descent. A stable weight preserves the harmony achieved. If you plan to lose a lot of weight, it is better to do so before the augmentation.

Sometimes the chosen volume no longer suits a few years later: too discreet, too large, or unsuited to a figure that has changed. An implant exchange is then possible, generally reusing the same scar. Increasing the volume requires checking that the skin allows it; reducing it may require a lift if the skin has been stretched. See our page on breast implant replacement.

Some women decide, years later, to have their implants removed: a complication, the wish for a more natural body, symptoms they attribute to the implants, or a change of priorities with age. Removal is always possible. It can be performed with or without capsule removal, depending on the situation. After removal, the breasts often look empty and lax; a lift and fat transfer can give them a harmonious shape again.

Knowing that it is possible to go back often reassures women who are hesitating. See our page on implant removal with a lift.

An implant augmentation is not a one-off expense. You need to plan for regular check-ups, imaging if in doubt, and probably one or more exchange procedures during a lifetime, generally at a cost comparable to the initial augmentation. Manufacturers' warranties sometimes cover part of these costs. Fat transfer, without an implant, avoids this follow-up but offers a more limited volume gain.

Ten years after an augmentation, many women are still happy with their breasts, which have changed with age, any pregnancies and weight. The gland has often decreased a little, the skin has slackened slightly, and the implant may look a little more visible or a little lower. Some then want to change the volume, add a lift or have their implants removed.

A check-up, possibly supplemented by MRI, allows the condition of the implants to be checked. There is no need to change them if they are fine and you are happy with the result. If you want a change, the surgeon assesses the quality of the skin and proposes a suitable strategy.

At menopause, the gland decreases and the skin loses elasticity. In a woman with implants, the breasts may then look firmer at the top and more lax at the bottom, with a more noticeable implant. Some women choose at this point to reduce the volume, add a lift or have their implants removed. Breast cancer screening, which becomes more important with age, continues using techniques adapted to implants.

A touch-up is sometimes wanted in the first year: asymmetry, an implant that is too high or too low, a widened scar, a small shape defect. It is discussed after six months to a year, once the shape has stabilised, and is often performed through the same scar. The financial conditions of a touch-up — fees waived or not, clinic and implant costs — should be known before the first procedure.

Sometimes a woman is not satisfied with her result: a smaller or larger volume than hoped, the shape, asymmetry, a scar. It is important to wait until the shape has stabilised, after three to six months, before judging. Then talk frankly to the surgeon about what bothers you. A touch-up, a change of volume or additional fat transfer can be considered, generally after six months to a year. A second opinion is also possible.

A successful result is first and foremost one that you like. During recovery, note how you feel: comfort, your reflection in the mirror, how your breasts feel in clothes. The first few weeks can be disconcerting, with high, firm breasts that do not yet look like the final result. If, after several months, something bothers you, talk to the surgeon. Adjustments are often possible, and open dialogue is the best way to find a solution.

Breast augmentation is one of the procedures most frequently performed by plastic surgeons, who are present in most cantons. In the small cantons of central and eastern Switzerland, patients often consult in Lucerne, Zug, Zurich or St. Gallen.

In French-speaking Switzerland, Geneva and Lausanne have the largest number of plastic surgeons, but the Riviera, La Côte, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Sion and the Chablais also offer good-quality provision, often closer to home. Patients from Jura frequently travel to Neuchâtel, Biel/Bienne or Basel.

In German-speaking Switzerland, Zurich and its region have the densest provision, followed by Basel, Bern, Lucerne, St. Gallen and Zug. In Ticino, Lugano, Bellinzona and Locarno have plastic surgeons, with consultations in Italian. For an augmentation, proximity makes check-ups in the first few weeks and long-term implant follow-up easier.

These differences are indicative and vary according to the surgeon, the clinic and the implants chosen. Details are on our page on breast augmentation prices.

These indices are consistent with those in our breast surgery guide.

A cosmetic augmentation remains at the patient's expense; supplementary insurance does not generally cover it. Exceptions exist when the augmentation corrects a malformation, such as marked tuberous breasts or Poland syndrome, when it is part of a reconstruction or symmetrisation after cancer, or in certain gender dysphoria care pathways. A prior cost approval request, with a medical report and photos, is then necessary. Wait for your insurer's written reply before setting the date.

After reconstruction of a breast following cancer, the other breast can be adapted to restore symmetry: augmentation, lift or reduction. This procedure is part of the reconstruction and is covered by compulsory insurance. It is discussed with the oncology team and the plastic surgeon, generally once the reconstruction has stabilised.

• FMH specialist in plastic surgery, title viewable online on MedReg.
• Regular practice of breast augmentation and the different techniques.
• Precise examination, measurements, and a reasoned proposal for volume and plane.
• Ability to advise against an excessive volume or an unsuitable implant alone.
• Photos of results at one year in patients with a similar body shape.
• Detailed quote, touch-up conditions in writing, organised follow-up.

A good surgeon helps you choose what will suit you best, not just what you ask for. Take time to compare, and be wary of promotions and hasty decisions.

To judge a surgeon's results, look at photos of women whose starting breasts resemble yours, taken under the same conditions before and after: same angle, same light, without a bra. Photos at one year or more show the final shape and the appearance of the scars. Be wary of photos taken just after the procedure, when the implants look high, and of those where the pose or lighting changes between before and after.

A second opinion is useful if the volumes or planes proposed by two surgeons differ greatly, if you are offered an implant alone when your breasts are sagging, or if you are hesitating between an implant and fat. Compare the explanations, measurements, results shown and how cautious the proposals are. A more moderate proposal is often a sign of seriousness.

Before the procedure, you receive a document describing the technique, the chosen implant, the plane and incision approach, short- and long-term risks, the need for follow-up and the likelihood of future surgery. Read it at home, ask all your questions and keep a copy. A reflection period is the rule, and you can withdraw until the last moment.

The price of the procedure is supplemented by support and sports bras, medicines, scar care, any unpaid days off work and travel. In the long term, you need to think about regular check-ups, imaging and probably an implant exchange procedure during your lifetime. Thinking long term helps you make an informed choice.

A deposit is often requested at booking, particularly because the implants are ordered for you. Ask about the conditions for postponement in the event of illness, infection or very heavy periods, and what happens to the deposit if you cancel; have everything confirmed in writing.

Autumn and winter are often preferred: loose clothes hide the support bra, the scars are less exposed to the sun and swimming is not on the agenda. Summer means giving up the pool and the beach for about six weeks. Avoid scheduling the procedure just before a holiday, a wedding or an important event, and plan help if you have young children.

The decisions to be made — size, implant position, scar location — require you to understand everything. In French-speaking Switzerland, there is no difficulty. In Zurich, Basel or Bern, many plastic surgeons speak French or English: tell the practice your preference. South of the Alps, expect Italian. A written summary of the consultation helps you review the choices calmly.

For residents of Alpine valleys or small cantons, the consultation and procedure often take place in a neighbouring town. Combine consultations on the same day, start with a remote opinion, book accommodation if the journey is long, and check with the practice which check-ups can be done by phone or by a doctor in your area. For long-term implant follow-up, a closer surgeon can take over, with your file.

• Breast augmentation: a procedure that increases the volume of the breasts.
• Breast implant: a silicone shell filled with gel or saline.
• Subglandular plane: implant placed in front of the muscle.
• Submuscular plane: implant placed behind the muscle.
• Dual plane: implant partly under the muscle.
• Profile: the forward projection of the implant.
• Capsule: the membrane formed around the implant.
• Capsular contracture: hardening of this capsule.
• Fat transfer: transfer of the patient's own fat.
• Hybrid augmentation: implant combined with fat.

• Implants, fat or hybrid: the choice depends on body shape and the desired volume.
• The volume is chosen according to the breast base and tissue thickness, not a cup size.
• The plane and incision approach are decided with the surgeon.
• Sagging breasts often require a combined lift.
• Implants are not permanent and require follow-up.
• Cosmetic augmentation is at the patient's expense.

A successful breast augmentation is first and foremost a well-chosen augmentation: a volume suited to your body shape, a technique suited to your tissues, a qualified surgeon and regular follow-up. Take time to find out, try, compare and reflect. The best result is one that suits your figure and that you will still appreciate in ten or twenty years.

Enlarging your breasts is a personal choice, which deserves to be made freely, knowing the benefits, constraints and long-term follow-up. Whether you choose implants, fat, a hybrid technique or ultimately decide not to change anything, what matters is making a decision that reflects who you are, supported by a qualified surgeon who listens to you and advises you honestly. An information consultation is often the best way to start seeing clearly, without any commitment. Bring your questions, your reference photos and your doubts: a good surgeon will take the time to answer them, show you what is realistic for your body, and let you decide at your own pace, without pressure or unrealistic promises.

Medespoir Suisse helps you clarify your plans, understand the options and their trade-offs, and find an experienced plastic surgeon in your region and your language. A first opinion based on photos lets you know the realistic options for your body shape before any consultation.

A first opinion based on photos lets you know quickly which options are realistic for your body shape — implant alone, fat, hybrid technique or combined lift — as well as a budget range. It does not replace the consultation, where the surgeon takes measurements, examines the tissues and lets you try volumes. Medespoir Suisse can help you obtain this first opinion and find an experienced plastic surgeon, free of charge and without obligation.

Breast augmentation is a well-established procedure that often transforms women's relationship with their figure. Its success depends on well-considered choices: a volume suited to body shape, a technique and plane suited to the tissues, an experienced surgeon and regular implant follow-up. To find out more, see our pages on the breast lift, the breast fat transfer and implant replacement.

Budget

Price differences between cities and cantons, the quote breakdown and ways to save are detailed on our page Breast augmentation: prices in Switzerland.

Related procedures

• Breast lift in Switzerland
• Breast ptosis in Switzerland
• Breast reduction in Switzerland
• Breast fat transfer in Switzerland
• Breast implant replacement in Switzerland

Combined procedures

• Breast augmentation and liposuction in Switzerland
• Hybrid breast augmentation in Switzerland

Our guides

• Breast surgery in Switzerland
• Breast surgery guide for Switzerland
• Cosmetic surgery in Switzerland

Answers to the most frequent questions about breast augmentation in Switzerland.

Understanding augmentation

What does breast augmentation involve? It involves increasing the volume of the breasts, most often by placing an implant behind the gland or behind the pectoral muscle, sometimes by injecting your own fat. It also improves the contour, particularly the fullness of the upper breast. The procedure takes about an hour and is generally performed as day surgery under general anaesthesia.

Who can benefit from breast augmentation? Healthy adult women whose breasts are underdeveloped, have emptied after pregnancies or weight loss, or show volume asymmetry. The breasts must have finished developing, weight must be stable and expectations realistic. Trans women can also benefit as part of their feminisation pathway.

From what age? Cosmetic augmentation is performed in adulthood, once the breasts have developed, generally from eighteen and often a little later. For young women, it is worth taking time to reflect, as the breasts may still change and implants will require lifelong follow-up.

Is there an age limit? There is no strict limit. Women of fifty or sixty have augmentations, often combined with a lift. Health, skin quality and up-to-date breast screening count more than age.

Implants, fat or hybrid: how to choose? Implants offer a clear, predictable volume gain; fat gives a very natural result but a moderate gain, of about one size per session, and requires fat to harvest; the hybrid technique combines a moderate-volume implant with fat to soften the contours. The surgeon helps you choose according to your body shape and wishes.

Does augmentation lift the breasts? An implant can slightly lift and fill slightly emptied breasts and correct pseudoptosis. But if the areola is clearly below the fold, an implant alone does not lift it enough and may even accentuate the descent over time. A lift is then combined. See our page on breast ptosis.

Does augmentation correct asymmetry? Yes, by choosing implants of different volumes or adding fat on one side. An asymmetry of position or shape may require additional procedures, such as a lift on one side. Perfect symmetry is not possible, but the improvement is often significant.

Can I choose my cup size? Not exactly. The volume is chosen in millilitres, according to the width of the breast, the thickness of the tissues and the elasticity of the skin. The cup size obtained also depends on the lingerie brand and the band size. Describing the figure you want and trying sizers is more reliable than aiming for a precise cup size.

Will the result look natural? With a volume suited to your body shape, a placement plane that covers the implant well and an experienced surgeon, the result can be very natural, both to the eye and to the touch. The risk of an artificial look increases with excessive volume, thin skin without sufficient coverage, or an implant that is too projected for the breast base.

How long does the procedure take? About an hour for an implant augmentation, longer if fat transfer or a lift is combined. You generally spend half a day at the clinic, including preparation and monitoring on waking.

Do I need to stay in hospital? Usually not: augmentation is performed as day surgery, with a return home the same evening, accompanied. A night may be offered depending on the procedure, your health or arrangements at home.

Is it done under general anaesthesia? Yes, usually, sometimes supplemented by a nerve block around the chest that reduces pain after the procedure. Some fat augmentations can be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation.

Is augmentation painful? You mainly feel strong tightness and discomfort when moving your arms for the first few days, more marked when the implant is placed under the muscle. The prescribed painkillers provide effective relief. The discomfort decreases markedly after a week.

Can I breastfeed after an augmentation? In the vast majority of cases, yes, especially when the implant is placed through the fold under the breast, without touching the gland. The approach around the areola passes through part of the gland and can a little more often interfere with breastfeeding. Implants do not contaminate milk.

Do implants interfere with mammography? No, mammography remains possible with an adapted technique that displaces the implant to better see the gland. Always tell the radiology centre about your implants. An ultrasound often complements the examination.

Do implants need changing every ten years? There is no automatic deadline. An implant that is fine can stay in place; it is replaced if it causes a problem or if you change your mind about the volume. Follow-up simply becomes more important as the years go by.

Can implants rupture? It is possible over the years, often without any sign. The gel in modern implants, which is very compact, generally stays in place. MRI is the most reliable test to confirm it; the implant is then replaced or removed.

What is capsular contracture? Capsular contracture is the hardening of the membrane that always forms around an implant. When it tightens, the breast becomes firm and then hard, can become distorted and tender. The solution is to remove this membrane and place a new implant, often positioned differently. It has become less common thanks to current precautions.

Do implants cause cancer? Implants do not increase the risk of breast cancer. A rare lymphoma, associated mainly with heavily textured implants, exists; it generally shows as late swelling of one breast and is usually cured by removing the implant and its capsule. Smooth or microtextured surfaces are favoured today.

Does augmentation change nipple sensation? A temporary change in sensation, reduced or increased, is common in the first few months. It returns in the vast majority of women. A lasting decrease is possible but rare, slightly more common with large implants or the approach around the areola.

Can the breasts be enlarged without an implant? Yes, by fat transfer. Fat harvested from the abdomen, hips or thighs is reinjected into the breasts. The gain is moderate, about one size per session, with some of the fat being resorbed. You need to have enough fat available.

Is breast fat transfer lasting? The fat that survives after the first few months is lasting and then changes with weight, like the rest of the body. Some of it, often a third to a half, is resorbed; a second session is sometimes needed to reach the desired volume.

What is hybrid augmentation? It is the combination of a moderate-volume implant and fat transfer. The implant provides the main volume, the fat softens the contours, covers the edges of the implant and improves the cleavage. It suits slim women with thin skin well.

Can tuberous breasts be augmented? Yes, but correcting them requires specific procedures: widening the breast base, lowering the fold and reducing the areola, in addition to adding volume with an implant or fat. A simple augmentation would give an unsatisfactory result.

Is augmentation possible after breast cancer? After cancer, we speak rather of reconstruction or symmetrisation, which are covered by insurance. A cosmetic augmentation of the other breast is discussed with the oncology team and the plastic surgeon.

Can trans women benefit from an augmentation? Yes. After one to two years of hormone therapy, if the volume remains insufficient, an augmentation can be offered. The implants are often wider, suited to a wider chest. Coverage may be requested as part of a gender dysphoria care pathway.

Can I have an augmentation after weight loss? Yes, once your weight is stable. After significant weight loss, the breasts are often empty and sagging; a lift is then often combined with the implant or fat.

Do implants change posture? Implants of reasonable volume have no significant effect on posture. Very large implants can, like large natural breasts, put more strain on the back and neck. This is another reason to choose a volume suited to your body shape.

What if the volume no longer suits me? Exchanging implants for a smaller or larger volume is possible, generally after at least six months to a year. Removal is also possible. See our page on breast implant replacement.

Does augmentation affect intimate life? Many women report feeling more at ease in intimacy after an augmentation, linked to a better body image. Breast sensation may be temporarily altered in the first few months, and pressure on the chest should be avoided for a few weeks.

Choosing your implants

What types of implants exist? Most current implants are filled with cohesive silicone gel; some are filled with saline. They come in round or anatomical shapes, with smooth or microtextured surfaces, and in different profiles, more or less projected, and volumes. The surgeon chooses the suitable model with you.

Silicone or saline? Silicone gel gives a more natural feel and does not deflate if it ruptures. Saline deflates visibly if it ruptures, without danger, but can cause more visible rippling. In Switzerland as elsewhere, the vast majority of implants placed are silicone.

Round or anatomical? A round implant fills the cleavage more and stays the same if it rotates. A teardrop implant follows the natural slope better, but rotation would distort it. In practice, a round implant of the right dimensions often looks just as natural; your body shape guides the choice.

What is an implant's profile? It is its projection, that is, how far the implant extends forward for a given base. A low profile is flat and wide, a high profile is more rounded. The profile is chosen according to the width of your chest and the desired effect; a profile that is too high on a narrow base can look artificial.

How is the volume chosen? The surgeon measures the width of your breast base, the thickness of the tissues and the elasticity of the skin, which defines a range of suitable volumes. You then refine it using sizers in a bra, simulations or result photos. A volume that is too large for your body shape exposes you to more complications.

What is a sizer? Sizers are soft implants placed in a bra during the consultation, with close-fitting clothing, to give you an idea of the volume. They give a useful approximation, but the actual result also depends on the position of the implant under the tissues.

Are 3D simulations reliable? They help visualise a trend and discuss with the surgeon, but they remain approximate: they do not perfectly reproduce skin elasticity, healing and final position. They are not a promise of results.

Which implant surface should I choose? Smooth and microtextured surfaces are favoured today, because of the lymphoma risk associated with heavily textured surfaces. The choice also depends on the placement plane and the shape of the implant. The surgeon explains the advantages and limitations of each surface.

Do implants come with a warranty? Many manufacturers offer a warranty covering replacement of the implant, and sometimes a contribution to costs, in the event of rupture or certain complications for a given period. Conditions vary; ask the surgeon about them and keep the documents.

What is the implant card? After the operation, you are given a sheet or card that precisely identifies your implants: brand, reference, size and manufacturing batch. Keep it with your important documents; it will be used at check-ups, in the event of a product recall or for future surgery.

Can I choose two different volumes? Yes, in the case of volume asymmetry between the breasts. The surgeon chooses implants of different volumes or profiles, or combines fat transfer on one side, to balance the breasts.

Are implants compatible with MRI? No problem at all: implants contain no metal. MRI is in fact the preferred test for checking their condition, and security scanners do not detect them.

Do implants move over time? They may descend slightly in the first few months as they settle, which is normal. Rarely, an implant may drop too low, move to the side or rotate, which may require correction. The support bra and following the instructions limit this risk.

Does a small implant hold better than a large one? Generally, yes. A moderate-volume implant suited to the breast base puts less tension on the skin and tissues, which reduces the risk of stretching, descent, visible edges and ptosis over time. A very large volume increases long-term complications.

Do implants have weight? Yes, an implant weighs roughly its volume in grams. A three-hundred-millilitre implant therefore weighs about three hundred grams. This extra weight can accentuate the descent of the breasts over time, particularly if the skin is thin.

Surgical technique

Where are the incisions placed? Usually in the fold under the breast, where the scar is hidden. Other approaches exist: at the lower edge of the areola, or in the hollow of the armpit, which avoids a scar on the breast. Each approach has its advantages and limitations, discussed with the surgeon.

Which incision approach is best? The approach through the fold under the breast is the most widely used, as it offers excellent control of the implant position and does not pass through the gland. The approach around the areola leaves a discreet scar but passes through the gland. The axillary approach avoids any scar on the breast but offers slightly less control.

In front of or behind the muscle? In front of the muscle, the implant does not move when the muscle contracts, but its edges may show if the tissues are thin. Behind the muscle, it is better covered, at the cost of more pain initially and movement on contraction. The dual plane, partly under the muscle, is a frequently chosen compromise.

What is the dual plane? In the dual plane, the upper part of the implant is covered by the pectoral muscle, and the lower part is placed directly under the gland. This compromise offers good coverage in the upper breast and a natural shape in the lower breast. It is widely used, particularly in slim women.

How long does the scar take to fade? Scars are pink in the first few months, sometimes slightly thick, then pale and thin out over one to two years. In the fold under the breast, they measure a few centimetres and are hidden by lingerie.

Does the surgeon use drains? Rarely for a simple augmentation. Drains may be used if a procedure is combined or bleeding is heavier, and are removed after one to two days.

What is the no-touch technique? It is a set of precautions to limit the implant's contact with the skin and air during insertion: careful disinfection, changing gloves, an insertion sleeve. These measures aim to reduce the risk of implant contamination, one of the factors that encourage capsular contracture.

Can the procedure be combined with a lift? Yes, when the breasts are empty and have descended. Augmentation with a lift, sometimes called augmentation-mastopexy, fills and lifts the breasts. It is a more demanding procedure, with more scars. See our page on the breast lift.

Can liposuction be combined? Yes, liposuction of the abdomen, hips or thighs can be performed at the same time, and the harvested fat is sometimes reinjected into the breasts. See our page on breast augmentation with liposuction.

How does the surgeon check symmetry? During the procedure, the patient is placed in a sitting position on the operating table to compare the height, volume and shape of both breasts. Sterile sizers may be used before the definitive implants are placed.

Recovery

How long does recovery take? The first few days are the most uncomfortable. A return to office work is often possible after five to ten days, driving after about a week, gentle sport after three weeks and full sport after four to six weeks, longer for the pectorals if the implant is under the muscle.

How long should a support bra be worn? Allow about six weeks, first continuously, then during the day only. It reduces swelling and holds the implants in place while they settle.

Do the implants look high at first? Yes, this is common, especially under the muscle: the implants look high and firm in the first few weeks, then gradually settle and soften. This is often called the implants "dropping and fluffing". The final shape is judged after three to six months.

When can I sleep on my front? Generally after four to six weeks. In the first few weeks, sleep on your back, with your upper body slightly raised.

When can I resume weight training? Leg training resumes after three to four weeks. Upper body training waits six to eight weeks, longer for pectoral exercises if the implant is under the muscle, which can temporarily distort the breast.

When can I go swimming again? After four to six weeks, once the scars have fully closed. Start with gentle strokes.

Should I massage my breasts? Some surgeons recommend massage to help the implants settle and soften the capsule, others do not, depending on the type of implant and surface. Follow your surgeon's instructions.

When can I wear an underwired bra? Once the implants have settled and the fold scar is strong, at around six weeks, if the surgeon confirms.

Can the breasts be asymmetrical at first? It is common: each side loses its swelling and softens at its own pace. Wait three to six months before assessing symmetry.

When will I see the final result? After three to six months, when the swelling has gone and the implants have stabilised. The scars continue to improve for one to two years.

Risks and follow-up

What are the risks of breast augmentation? The general risks of surgery, such as haematoma, infection and healing problems, and the risks specific to implants: capsular contracture, rupture, displacement, visible rippling, rare implant-associated lymphoma, and systemic symptoms attributed to implants by some women. Most are rare and treatable.

What is a haematoma? It is a collection of blood around the implant, generally in the first few hours or days. It shows as a breast that suddenly swells and becomes painful. It often requires prompt revision surgery to drain it. Call the team immediately.

Is the risk of infection high? No, it is low thanks to sterile precautions and sometimes antibiotics. An infection around an implant shows as redness, pain and fever; it may require temporary removal of the implant. Seek advice promptly if you notice these signs.

Can the edges of the implant be visible? Yes, in very slim women or those with thin skin, especially if the implant is in front of the muscle or large, folds or rippling may be visible or palpable, often at the bottom and sides. The submuscular plane, a suitable implant and covering fat transfer reduce this risk.

What is breast implant illness? Some women describe systemic symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain or difficulty concentrating, which they attribute to their implants. Studies have not shown a clear link, but some of them feel better after removal. These complaints must be listened to and assessed.

What follow-up is needed after placement? Regular clinical check-ups, at least every one to two years, and imaging if in doubt or according to the surgeon's recommendations. Breast cancer screening continues according to age. Late swelling of a breast, distortion or new pain require medical attention.

What should I do if one breast swells late? Seek advice promptly. Significant swelling that appears years after an implant was placed must be investigated with an ultrasound and sometimes aspiration, to rule out implant-associated lymphoma, which is rare but must be diagnosed early.

Can the implants be removed later? Yes, at any time. After removal, the breasts may look empty and lax; a lift or fat transfer can then be combined. See our page on implant removal with a lift.

Is pregnancy after augmentation a problem? No, pregnancy proceeds normally. The breasts will enlarge and then shrink, which may change the result and sometimes cause descent. A touch-up can be considered after weaning if necessary.

What should I do in the event of a safety alert about an implant? Check your implant card to see whether the model is affected, then call the practice. The authorities, in Switzerland Swissmedic, communicate the recommendations to follow. It is generally not necessary to remove implants without symptoms, but a check-up is useful.

Practical questions

How should I prepare for the consultation? Note what you want, bring photos of breasts you like, your recent breast examinations, the list of your treatments and your medical history. Think about your sporting and professional activities, which influence the choice of plane and volume.

Is a mammogram needed beforehand? Depending on age and history, a recent mammogram or ultrasound is often requested. It also serves as a reference examination before the implants are placed.

Do I need to stop smoking? Yes, it is strongly advised to stop several weeks before and after the procedure. Smoking increases the risk of infection, healing problems and capsular contracture.

Should I stop the pill? Not automatically. The anaesthetist weighs up your risk of thrombosis and decides with you on a pause or protective measures; do not change anything on your own.

What should I prepare at home? Two support bras in the indicated size, clothes that fasten at the front, pillows to sleep propped up, your medicines and help for the first few days, especially if you have young children.

When can I drive again? At around one week, as soon as turning the steering wheel no longer pulls and you have stopped taking medicines that make you drowsy.

Can I carry young children? It is better to avoid carrying young children for three to four weeks, especially if the implant is under the muscle. Arrange help for this period.

When can I return to work? After five to ten days for office work, three to four weeks for a physical job, longer if you have to carry heavy loads or raise your arms repeatedly.

Can I fly with implants? Yes, without any problem. After the procedure, wait for the first check-ups before a long trip. Implants pose no problem at security checks.

Can I go diving with implants? Yes, after healing. Pressure changes at depth do not significantly affect silicone implants.

Should I tell my gynaecologist? Yes, so that they take it into account during breast examinations and screening. Send them the operative report and a copy of the implant card.

Can I have a chest tattoo? Yes, once healing is complete, generally after six months to a year. Avoid tattooing directly on recent scars and tell the tattoo artist about your implants.

Do implants interfere with sport? Once recovery is over, most sports are possible. Submuscular implants can move when the pectorals contract, which can bother some disciplines. A suitable sports bra is recommended.

Which season should I choose? Autumn and winter are often preferred, to avoid sun on the scars and swimming in the first few weeks. What matters is choosing a period when you can rest and avoid exertion.

Is a deposit required? Often, yes, when booking the date, particularly because the implants are ordered in advance. Ask about the conditions for postponement and cancellation and ask for them in writing.

Price, insurance and locations in Switzerland

How much does breast augmentation cost in Switzerland? The price depends on the surgeon, the clinic, the type of implants and any combined procedures. We express it as relative indices on our price page. Compare quotes that include the same elements: fees, anaesthesia, clinic, implants, bra and check-ups.

Is breast augmentation reimbursed? No, a cosmetic augmentation is at the patient's expense. Exceptions exist: reconstruction after cancer, symmetrisation, certain malformations such as marked tuberous breasts or Poland syndrome, or certain gender dysphoria care pathways, after a cost approval request.

Are the implants included in the price? Generally yes in an augmentation package, but check this on the quote, as well as the model, volume and manufacturer's warranty.

What should the quote contain? The surgeon's and anaesthetist's fees, clinic costs, the implants with their model, bras, any medicines, check-ups included, touch-up conditions and the period of validity.

Is Geneva more expensive? Our indices use Geneva as the point of comparison; along with Zurich, it is one of the most expensive locations. Elsewhere in the country, fees are frequently 5 to 20% lower. For an augmentation, it is better to prioritise the surgeon's experience than a few per cent of savings.

Where can I have surgery in Switzerland? Plastic surgeons who perform it regularly can be found in all major urban areas and many medium-sized towns. Check their specialisation in the federal MedReg register.

How do I choose my surgeon? Favour an FMH plastic surgeon who frequently operates on breasts, helps you choose a suitable rather than maximum volume, shows you long-term results and gives you a clear quote.

Can I consult in French in German-speaking Switzerland? Often yes in the major centres; mention it when booking.

Is a second opinion needed? It is useful if the volumes or planes proposed differ greatly from one surgeon to another, or if you are offered an implant alone when your breasts are sagging. Compare the explanations and the results shown.

Can Medespoir guide me? Gladly. Two photos, from the front and in profile, together with the volume you have in mind, are enough for a plastic surgeon to tell you the realistic options. We then put you in touch with augmentation specialists near you, free of charge.

Send a photo from the front and one in profile, with the volume you have in mind. A plastic surgeon will give you a first opinion on the options suited to your body shape. Free and without obligation.