Pectoral implants (chest implants) at Spire Dunedin Hospital

You may be unhappy with the way you look because the ageing process, or changes in your weight, have weakened your chest muscles and caused them to sag.

Sometimes working out at the gym doesn’t achieve the results you want and with today’s busy lifestyles it’s hard to find the time you need to spend there.

Chest implants are inserted through small incisions along the armpit crease and placed directly under the chest muscle. Any scarring should be hidden in the armpit.

If you decide to have your treatment with us, you will be looked after by an experienced multi-disciplinary care team.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They’ll be with you every step of the way: from giving advice at your first consultation, through to offering ongoing support after your treatment.

A cosmetic surgeon's reputation, qualifications and experience are vitally important, so we only work with consultant grade specialists. These are highly experienced consultants who have completed years of medical training.

All our consultants are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council (GMC), and many are also members of the UK’s leading cosmetic and plastic surgery associations.

Cosmetic surgery can be a life enhancing decision and we're here to help you make the right one. Our experienced cosmetic surgeons will guide you through every step of the way.

It's important to meet with your chosen consultant before treatment so that you are completely comfortable with them and they know what you want to achieve. It's helpful to bring in some pictures and a friend or family member to your initial meeting to help articulate your thoughts.

You should also ask to see some of the surgeon's recent before and after pictures of similar operations they've performed.

This is an important decision and we're here to listen and help you achieve your goals.

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

We understand that undergoing surgery can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you, holding your hand, every step of the way.

Chest implants are inserted under general anaesthesia, which means you will be asleep during the procedure, which lasts up to two hours.

During the procedure, your surgeon will insert the chest implants through small incisions along your armpit crease, directly under the chest muscle.

After this, you will be taken to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home.

You will usually be allowed to return home on the same day of your surgery, although sometimes you may need to stay in hospital overnight

Pain relief

After the surgery, you'll feel tightness and swelling in your chest. Please continue to take pain relieving medication as advised by the hospital if you need them.

Recovery time

After chest implant surgery, your consultant will advise you on how to make your recovery as quick as possible. Your cuts should be healed in about two weeks and the implant itself should heal in around six weeks.

You will need to plan one to two weeks off work to recover, and should avoid exercise for up to six weeks following the operation.

How your loved ones can help

Once you’re ready to be discharged from hospital, you’ll need to arrange a taxi, friend or family member to take you home as you won’t be able to drive. You should also ask them if they can run some light errands such as shopping for you as you won’t feel up to it for a few days.

Looking after you

Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. Before you leave the hospital, you will be given a contact number for advice and a follow-up appointment to see your surgeon.

Like all medical treatments, complications following chest implant surgery can occur but most people are unaffected. Specific complications of this procedure include excessive bleeding and infection and it's also possible for the implant to move from its original position which may require further surgery. We will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.

If you have any questions or concerns, we're here to help.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.