Breast augmentation enhances the size, shape, and proportion of the breasts. There are two ways to do it: silicone implants, which is the most common path globally, and fat grafting, which uses your own fat for a more modest, natural change. The right choice depends on your body, your goals, and an honest conversation about what each option realistically delivers.
1.5 to 2 hours
General anaesthesia
1 to 2 weeks off work
Long-lasting, implants 15 to 20 years
Both are valid, real procedures. They do different things, and the right one for you depends on what you have to work with, what you want to achieve, and your honest answer to whether you want foreign material in your body or prefer to use your own tissue.
This page focuses on breast augmentation with silicone implants, the most common path. The next section explains the honest trade-off so you can decide for yourself which method suits you better.
Most patients who research breast augmentation know about implants but are not always aware that fat grafting is an option. Both have their place. Here is the honest comparison:
Patients wanting significant volume increase, lift along with augmentation, or correction of tuberous breasts.
Patients wanting a modest, natural enhancement with no foreign material.
Predictable, can be substantial. Implants come in sizes from small to large.
Modest, usually one cup size. Limited by how much fat you have available to transfer.
Medical-grade silicone implant (USFDA approved).
Your own fat, taken from the abdomen, flanks, or thighs by liposuction.
Small scar hidden within natural skin creases.
None on the breast mound itself.
Not needed.
Liposuction of a donor area is part of the procedure, providing bonus contouring.
Typically 15 to 20 years, sometimes longer.
The surviving fat is permanent. Approximately 70 to 75 percent survives long term.
May need replacement if the implant shell thins over time.
May need a second session if additional volume is desired.
Want predictable, significant volume, want a lift combined with augmentation, or have tuberous breasts.
Want a natural, modest result without foreign material and have unwanted fat elsewhere.
These are fair questions, and the honest answers matter more.
Modern silicone implants approved by the USFDA are well studied and safe for the vast majority of patients. They are not linked to breast cancer. Scientific evidence shows no conclusive proof that breast augmentation causes breast cancer. Women with implants can still breastfeed normally, because the implants are placed behind the breast tissue without disturbing the milk ducts.
There is one rare condition worth knowing about. A specific type of lymphoma, called BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma), has been linked to a specific type of textured-surface implants. The risk is rare, around 1 in 50,000 patients. It is one of the reasons the global plastic surgery community has moved more toward smooth-surface implants and the reason some women in the news have chosen to have their implants removed. Anyone considering breast implants should know this honestly before deciding.
What makes the procedure safest in real life is not just the implant brand. It is the combination of three things: a qualified plastic surgeon (not a generalist), USFDA-approved implants (not unbranded ones), and a fully accredited hospital with proper anaesthesia and emergency support. When all three are in place, the safety record is excellent.
Breast augmentation with silicone implants typically takes one and a half to two hours, performed under general anaesthesia in an Apollo theatre. The steps below describe the standard approach. Dr. Vasu adapts the technique based on your body and goals.
A precise incision is made in one of three places: under the breast in the natural fold, around the lower border of the areola, or in the armpit. The location is chosen for what hides the scar best in your skin and matches your anatomy.
A pocket is created either under the chest muscle (sub-muscular) or directly behind the breast tissue (sub-glandular). The choice depends on your existing breast tissue, skin thickness, and the look you want.
The selected silicone implant is carefully placed inside the pocket. Dr. Vasu adjusts position and orientation to achieve symmetry, upper pole fullness, and natural cleavage as discussed in your consultation.
The incision is closed in multiple layers with absorbable sutures, so there is nothing to remove later. A surgical bra is fitted before you leave.
The whole procedure is performed as day care surgery. Most patients are discharged the same evening. A few cases may stay one night for observation.
Dr. Vasu examines you thoroughly, taking total body proportions into consideration, especially breast measurements, waist-hip ratio, skin thickness, quality of skin, and tightness of the chest wall. He discusses implant size, shape (round or anatomical), profile, texture, placement, incision location, and the look you want. You receive a full written plan.
General anaesthesia, given by a qualified anaesthetist in an Apollo theatre. You feel nothing during the procedure.
The chosen implant is placed through the chosen incision, in the chosen pocket. Symmetry, position, and cleavage are checked carefully before closing.
Most patients are discharged the same evening. You leave wearing a surgical bra, with prescribed pain medication and a clear written recovery plan.
Mild soreness in the breasts, easily relieved with prescribed medication. Sleep on your back with the upper body slightly raised. Surgical bra stays on. Most patients are surprised by how manageable this feels.
Dressings come off around days 5 to 7. You can take a bath after that. Swelling is still present but settling. Pain medication may not be needed by end of week.
Most patients return to a sedentary desk job in 1 to 2 weeks. Avoid raising arms beyond 30 degrees. Surgical bra continues 24/7.
Surgical bra is replaced by a supportive (not underwired) bra worn for another 4 to 6 weeks. Daily activities resume normally. Sleeping face down or belly down still avoided.
Cleared for gym, exercise, heavy lifting, and full activity. The final result is appreciable now as swelling fully subsides. The implants settle into their natural position over the following weeks.
Patients are often relieved to discover that breast augmentation pain is more manageable than they feared.
Most patients describe the first 2 to 3 days as a 4 to 5 out of 10, mostly a tight, sore feeling rather than sharp pain. By the end of the first week, the soreness eases to a 2 or 3, and many patients are off pain medication entirely. By two weeks most patients feel comfortable enough for desk work and gentle activity.
The tightness, which is more common when implants are placed under the muscle, comes from the chest muscle stretching to accommodate the implant. It loosens up over a few weeks. Pain is well controlled with prescribed medication throughout.
It is a real surgery, but it is not the worst pain people fear. Most patients say afterwards that it was easier than they expected.
Breast augmentation is one of those procedures where the long-term result depends almost entirely on the surgeon’s judgement. Implant choice, pocket creation, symmetry, scar placement, sizing for your body proportions, all of it is a series of small decisions made during the surgery that no patient sees but feels for the next fifteen years. Get those decisions right and the result looks like it was always meant to be there. Get them wrong and the patient lives with it.
A fully accredited tertiary care hospital with sterile theatres, full anaesthesia support, and ICU backup. Breast augmentation is performed in a real hospital setting, not a clinic.
Performed personally by Dr. Vasu, who considers your total body proportions, breast measurements, waist-hip ratio, skin thickness, and chest wall to choose the implant that suits you, not the one that suits everyone.
Dr. Rajesh Vasu has 30+ years of clinical experience and 5,000+ procedures performed. He is a member of ISAPS, internationally fellowship trained in aesthetic surgery, with specific emphasis on body contouring and aesthetic breast surgery from his Barcelona fellowship at Dr. Javier de Benito’s Institute.
Breast augmentation cost in Hyderabad depends mainly on three things: the type and brand of implant chosen (USFDA-approved implants from established manufacturers cost more than unbranded alternatives), the surgical complexity of your case, and any combined procedures like a breast lift.
Dr. Vasu provides a full written treatment plan with the cost broken down before anything is scheduled. Surgeon, hospital, implants, anaesthesia, garments, follow-ups, all included. No hidden charges.
For NRI and international patients, breast augmentation in Hyderabad delivers internationally trained surgical expertise at a meaningful fraction of the cost of the same procedure in the UK, US, or Gulf.
Real patients. Real repairs. All photographs published with written consent.
Patient 1 · Female, 34 3 months post
Patient 2 · Female, 34 3 months post
Patient 3 · Female, 34 3 months post
Individual results vary. Photographs are representative, not guaranteed outcomes. Consultation required to assess suitability.
Most adult women who are unhappy with the size, shape, or symmetry of their breasts are potential candidates. Common reasons include smaller breasts for the body size, asymmetry, or loss of volume after breastfeeding. A consultation tells you honestly whether implants, fat grafting, or a combination with breast lift is the right path for your case.
Yes, this is the goal. Careful planning of size and shape, the right implant for your body, and excellent surgical technique together deliver a natural, balanced look. Most patients want something that fits their body, not something that announces itself. Dr. Vasu’s approach is to match the implant to the patient, not the other way around.
Silicone implants are the most commonly used and come in different shapes, surfaces, and profiles. Shape is either round (gives more upper-pole fullness) or anatomical, also called teardrop (mimics the natural slope of the breast). Surface is either smooth or textured. Profile refers to how much the implant projects forward from the chest, with options from low to high projection. Dr. Vasu uses only USFDA-approved silicone implants and discusses the right combination for your body and goals in the consultation.
The right implant size is not decided by you naming a cup size. Dr. Vasu examines you taking total body proportions into consideration, especially your breast measurements, waist-to-hip ratio, skin thickness, the quality of your skin, and the tightness of your chest wall. The goal is an implant that looks balanced with the rest of your body, not the biggest one you can fit. Most patients are surprised to learn this is a calculation, not a request.
Implants are placed either under the chest muscle (sub-muscular) or directly behind the breast tissue (sub-glandular). Sub-muscular placement gives more natural upper-pole appearance in thin patients and reduces the chance of seeing or feeling the implant edge, but recovery is slightly longer because the muscle is stretched. Sub-glandular placement has a faster recovery and works well in patients with adequate existing breast tissue. The right choice depends on your anatomy, and Dr. Vasu decides based on examination, not a default preference.
Most patients describe the first 2 to 3 days as a 4 to 5 out of 10, mostly a tight, sore feeling rather than sharp pain. By the end of the first week, soreness eases to a 2 or 3 and many patients are off pain medication. Pain is well controlled with prescribed medication throughout.
No. Scientific evidence shows no conclusive proof that breast augmentation causes breast cancer. There is one rare condition called BIA-ALCL, a type of lymphoma linked specifically to certain textured-surface implants, affecting around 1 in 50,000 patients. This is one reason the global plastic surgery community has moved more toward smooth implants. Dr. Vasu discusses your implant choice in the consultation.
Several reasons. The most discussed is BIA-ALCL awareness (a rare lymphoma linked to specific textured implants). Others remove implants because they no longer match the body they want, or because implants are nearing the typical 15 to 20 year lifespan. None of this means implants are unsafe for everyone. It does mean the decision to have them, and the choice of implant, deserves a genuinely informed conversation.
Typically 15 to 20 years, sometimes longer. After this time the implant shell may become thin and the implant may need to be removed or replaced. It is not a one-time decision for life. Knowing this honestly upfront is part of making an informed choice.
Women who want to breastfeed in future can usually do so normally. The implants are placed behind the breast tissue without disturbing the milk-producing ducts, so they do not interfere with feeding.
The scars are small and placed in natural skin creases or hidden areas (under the breast, around the lower areola, or in the armpit). With the scar modulation protocol followed in the postoperative period (scar reduction creams, massage, silicone gel sheets), the scars become barely visible over 12 to 18 months.
Most patients return to sedentary desk work in 1 to 2 weeks. Avoid raising your arms beyond 30 degrees for the first 2 weeks. Gym, strenuous exercise, and heavy lifting are avoided for 6 weeks to prevent blood clots and implant displacement.
As with any surgery, possible risks include infection, bleeding, haematoma (blood clot), seroma (fluid collection), and rare anaesthesia risks. Infection and bleeding are very rare. Haematoma and seroma are also rare and, if they occur, may need a small intervention to drain. Capsular contracture (scar tissue around the implant) is the most discussed long-term risk and can sometimes need further surgery. Dr. Vasu reviews all risks honestly with you in the consultation.
Yes. A breast lift (mastopexy) is the most common combination, for patients who have both lost volume and have some sagging. Augmentation can also be combined with other body procedures as part of a mommy makeover after pregnancy. Dr. Vasu will advise what is safe to combine in one session based on overall surgery time and your health.
Fat grafting is a real alternative for patients who want a modest, natural enhancement using their own fat and no foreign material. The trade-off is the volume change is smaller (typically about one cup size) and limited by how much fat you have to transfer. Implants suit patients wanting significant volume, a lift combined, or correction of tuberous breasts. Fat grafting suits patients wanting subtle change and no implant in the body. See our Breast Fat Grafting page for the full picture, or discuss both options in your consultation.
If you are considering breast augmentation, the most important step is the consultation, where Dr. Vasu can tell you honestly which method suits you, what implant size and type fits your body, what the realistic result will look like, and what your recovery would involve. A 15 to 20 minute consultation at Apollo Hospitals or virtually is the simplest place to start. No pressure to proceed. Just honest, expert advice.