It used to be only the playground of hollywood stars and the rich, but today cosmetic surgery procedures including breast augmentation have become a common occurrence. Whether it's due to an ongoing desire to be a little bigger, a need for lift after weight loss or aging or a need to balance your breast size after an operation, it's more and more common to consider it as a realistic option for you.



Because it is an operation that alters your appearance it's really important to take time to look over your options before you commit to having the procedure carried out. Even taking time to consider the end result in terms of final size and shape is important. This is your chance to get the shape you desire, so it's important to read up and take advice from professionals.



If you decide to go ahead, you can expect to have a firm layer of silicone placed inside each breast, which is then filled with either salt water or a silicone gel. The type of implant available to you will depend on a series of factors including the planned size increase, your age and other related factors. You can expect them to last around ten years, although many people say they find they last longer than that with no issues.



If you have not yet had children, and would like to breastfeed, then this is still a possibility for you. You just need to talk to your doctor about this as he or she can adjust the way they operate to protect your milk ducts. There is no evidence of silicon being found in the milk of women who have had a breast augmentation. However they can effect the way a mammogram is read, so if you are going for one of these it's important to tell them you've had the procedure done.



It's a good idea to try and work out how your top half will look once the operation is carried out. One idea is to fill a bag with rice and lay it flat across your own chest, under your clothes to see how your new silohouette will look. You can even take it out bra shopping to try on lingerie you've always avoided before. Then you'll feel more confident that the breast augmentation will give you the effect you desire.