01Article · Breast augmentation
Choosing implant size —
honestly.
Choosing breast implant size is one of the conversations that most often shapes how a patient feels about their result years later. It is also the conversation most easily rushed. This article walks through how implant size is actually decided at consultation — the role of tissue check, frame width, lifestyle, and existing breast tissue — so you can arrive informed and ask better questions.
02In short
Implant size is not a number you pick from a catalogue. It is the result of a tissue assessment that combines your existing breast width, your chest frame, your skin and soft-tissue thickness, your goals, and your lifestyle. A 350cc choice that suits one patient is wrong for another with similar height and weight. The honest answer at consultation is a narrow range — usually 50-75cc wide — not a single number.
03Why size is the wrong first question
The conversation —
starts somewhere else.
The first consultation conversation most patients arrive expecting is "what cc". The conversation that actually produces the best long-term result starts somewhere else: with what your tissues will tolerate, what your frame can carry, and what you want your day-to-day life to look like after surgery.
Implant size that exceeds tissue tolerance — meaning the breast skin and soft tissue cannot comfortably support the implant volume — is one of the most common reasons patients return for a revision years later. The skin stretches, the implant sits lower than intended, the upper-pole fullness disappears, and the result no longer matches what was planned at consultation. The point of the tissue assessment is to avoid that.
For the broader clinical overview of breast augmentation at our practice, see our breast implants page. Patients who have read carefully tend to ask better questions, which leads to better decisions.
04The four inputs
What actually —
determines the range.
Implant size is the output of four measurements and conversations, not a guess. These are the inputs we work with at consultation.
- 01Breast base width — the horizontal width of your existing breast sets the natural ceiling for implant base width.
- 02Chest frame and shoulder width — two patients at the same height and weight can have very different chest frames.
- 03Soft-tissue thickness (the pinch test) — measured at the upper pole, the side, and underneath; informs placement choice.
- 04Lifestyle and intent — what your week looks like, how active you are, and what the result needs to feel like in your real life.
05Beyond volume
Other decisions —
that change the result.
Implant choice involves more decisions than volume alone. Each of these affects the result and should be part of the consultation conversation.
- 01Profile — moderate, full, or extra-full projection from the chest wall.
- 02Shape — round (most common) or anatomical (small rotation risk that is part of the consent conversation).
- 03Surface — smooth or textured. Industry preference has shifted toward smooth for safety considerations.
- 04Brand and product line — different manufacturers have slightly different shells and warranty profiles, all regulated by the TGA.
- 05Placement — sub-fascial (under the connective-tissue layer) or sub-muscular (under the muscle). Each has trade-offs.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates which implants can be used in Australia and maintains a public list. The point of the consultation is not to make every one of these decisions for you — it is to explain the trade-offs so you can make informed decisions in line with Medical Board of Australia guidelines.
06Regulatory framework
Same protections —
as any cosmetic surgery.
Breast augmentation in Australia operates under the cosmetic surgery framework introduced by the Medical Board of Australia in July 2023. The non-negotiable steps are the same as for any cosmetic procedure.
- 01A referral from your usual GP — independent of the operating practice.
- 02At least two consultations, with at least one face-to-face.
- 03A psychological screening using a validated tool, looking for body dysmorphic disorder or other underlying concerns.
- 04A seven-day cooling-off period between the second consultation and the operation.
07The sizing consultation
What a good consultation —
actually involves.
A good sizing consultation is not a model walking around with sample implants. It is a structured assessment with Dr Kishen Nara (MBBS FACCSM(Surg), AHPRA MED0001201549) that covers:
- 01Measurements — breast base width, intermammary distance, chest frame, sternal notch to nipple distance.
- 02Tissue check — pinch test at the upper pole, lateral border, and inframammary fold; skin elasticity assessed.
- 03Discussion of goals — what you want to be able to wear, how you want to feel in a swimsuit, whether you want to be noticeably larger or subtly fuller.
- 04Implant range proposal — a narrow range, usually 50-75cc wide, based on what the assessment supports.
- 05Trial sizers — silicone sample implants you can hold against your chest, often inside a soft bra, to see what the volumes feel like.
- 06Honest "no" answers — the volumes outside the recommended range and why they are outside it.
You leave with written information and the implant range in writing — not a single number, not a same-day decision, and not a promise of any specific outcome.
08When augmentation alone is not the answer
Sometimes the right —
procedure is different.
Some patients arrive expecting augmentation when the right conversation is mastopexy (breast lift), augmentation-mastopexy (both procedures combined), or — sometimes — neither, with a different conversation about what their goals actually are.
If the nipple sits below the inframammary fold, or if the skin has significant laxity from pregnancy or weight changes, an implant alone will not produce the result the patient is imagining. The implant will fill volume but not lift position. Adding a lift to the augmentation is one option; addressing the lift on its own via breast lift surgery is another. Patients with post-pregnancy presentations often need a combined plan; the tummy tuck page covers related conversations.
This is the conversation that benefits most from a second opinion. The honest answer is sometimes that the procedure being asked for is not the procedure that will produce the result the patient wants.
09Risks & considerations
Risks discussed —
openly at consultation.
All surgery carries inherent risks. Breast augmentation carries a recognised set of risks that should be worked through carefully at consultation rather than buried in the consent paperwork.
The recognised risks include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, sensation changes (sometimes permanent), wound healing issues, capsular contracture (where scar tissue around the implant tightens and changes the breast shape or firmness), implant rupture, rippling visible through thin tissue, the possibility of needing revision surgery, and the small recognised risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), which is monitored by the TGA.
Most patients will not experience most of these complications. Capsular contracture rates and revision rates are part of the consent conversation. The full list of risks for cosmetic surgery is on our risks of surgery page, and we recommend reading it before the second consultation. A second opinion from a qualified health professional is encouraged for any cosmetic procedure.
10Frequently asked questions
Questions patients —
actually ask.
How do I know what size will suit me?
You will not know on your own — that is what the consultation is for. The recommended range comes from your measurements, tissue check, frame, and goals. Trial sizers help you feel what the volume is like physically. The decision is yours within the range we identify as anatomically appropriate.
Will my final result look like the sizer at consultation?
The sizer gives a reasonable physical approximation, but the final result depends on placement, profile choice, healing, soft-tissue thickness, and individual variation. The sizer is a guide rather than a promise of the exact result. We discuss this explicitly so expectations stay realistic.
Will the implants need replacing?
Modern implants are designed for long-term use but are not "lifetime" devices. Some patients require revision surgery — for capsular contracture, rupture, change of preference, or other reasons — at some point in their lives. The TGA maintains a public register of breast implants and recommends ongoing surveillance.
Will I be able to breastfeed afterward?
Most patients who undergo breast augmentation can still breastfeed, but there is a small recognised risk that augmentation may affect breastfeeding ability. This is part of the consent conversation, particularly for patients who plan to have children in the future.
How much does breast augmentation cost in Melbourne?
Cost varies based on implant choice, placement technique, anaesthetic fee, theatre fee, hospital stay if needed, and whether a lift is combined. A formal quote is only provided after your individual consultation, by Cate, the practice manager. The wide range exists because implant choice and procedure complexity vary considerably from patient to patient. Dr Nara is a cosmetic doctor — private health insurance and Medicare rebates do not apply.
What is the recovery like?
The first week is when most of the discomfort settles. Return to desk work is usually around 7-14 days, depending on your role. Light cardio at 4 weeks, full upper-body exercise at 6 weeks. The final result settles between 3 and 6 months as the implants drop into position and the soft tissues remodel.
11When to call the clinic
Contact us if —
you experience any of these.
- Heavy or sudden bleeding from any incision site
- Rapidly worsening pain not relieved by simple analgesia
- Fever above 38°C
- Significant swelling, redness, or warmth at one breast that appears asymmetric
- Significant calf pain or swelling (concern for clot)
- Significant shortness of breath
- Any concern that does not feel right, even if it does not match the list above
Our risks of surgery page covers these in more detail.
If breast augmentation is something you would like to discuss, the first step is a referral from your usual GP, followed by an in-person consultation with Dr Nara. You can begin a confidential enquiry at any time.
RevAesthetic is located at Chadstone Shopping Centre, G 120A / 1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148, with alternate consultation locations in Cooee (Tasmania) and Stepney (South Australia).
12About the practitioner
Dr Kishen
Nara.
Dr Kishen Nara is a registered medical practitioner. He sees patients across Melbourne, Tasmania and Adelaide. The team at RevAesthetic includes practice manager Cate, Patient Liaison Jenny, and registered nurses, all involved in supporting your enquiry.
- MBBSBachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery — Monash University
- FACCSM(Surg)Surgical Fellow, Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine
- AHPRARegistered medical practitioner — General Registration MED0001201549
13Continue reading
More from
the journal.
- 2026 Nipple Inversion Correction — When to Operate, and When Not
Inverted nipples are common — present in under 9% of the population. A plain-language guide to when correction is appropriate, when it isn't, and what the published evidence shows. - 2024 Three Recommendations for Breast Implant Surgery
Three practical recommendations from Dr Kishen Nara on breast augmentation in Melbourne. - 2022 Just Breast Implants?
An editorial guide for anyone new to breast implants — what to ask, why training matters, honest cautions about size, and how to choose a doctor who has taken time to understand you.
Disclaimer: All cosmetic procedures have inherent potential risks and complications. We encourage you to seek a second opinion from a qualified medical professional before any procedure. Material on this page is educational in nature and is not generalisable — outcomes vary significantly between patients depending on genetic composition, medical history and individual circumstances. Dr Kishen Nara — MBBS, FACCSM(Surg), AHPRA Registration MED0001201549. General Registration.