A lift to a woman's physical appearance has a huge effect on her level of confidence. Surgical breast enhancement often does just that. Many women who have undergone breast augmentation report increased self-esteem and as a consequence enjoy improved relationships and are even more confident in their professional abilities. But despite the positive results that follow a visit to a reputable London breast clinic, many women are still concerned about the level of discomfort they may expect from a breast enlargement procedure.

Typically the level of discomfort following breast augmentation depends on the patient's physical condition, the quality of the surgeon performing the procedure and the size and placement of the implants. Accordingly, you should be careful when choosing a London breast clinic and surgeon to assess your physical health and carry out the operation. When it comes to the size of the implants, women who opt for a more dramatic change in size feel more discomfort because the implants push against the flesh, and the body needs to adjust. This discomfort will eventually go away but for larger implants, it will take more time. The incision itself is another source of discomfort, the degree of which will in large part depend upon on its size. The degree of the post-op discomfort is also affected by the technique chosen for your breast enlargement surgery. If your implants are positioned in the subglandular (over the pectoral muscle but under the mammary gland) then you will experience less discomfort than if you have your implants positioned submuscular (under the pectoralis muscle).

It is important to note that discomfort, including swelling, bruising and numbness is common and absolutely normal to experience after your visit at a London breast clinic. Typically this discomfort lasts for up to two weeks for subglandular surgery and a little longer if the breast implants were placed bellow the muscle. The numbness goes away in a week or two. Expect one to two weeks of mild to moderate discomfort if your breast implant is above the muscle. If you undergo a submuscular operation however you may experience severe discomfort for one to two weeks. Yet in all cases this pain and discomfort does go away after the body adjusts to the implants and the skin and muscle stretches to accommodate.

While there is a time frame and scale of intensity for the post-op discomfort, you can also help the process of healing. Keeping your breasts supported by the surgical bra or elastic bandage provided after surgery will help to reduce the pain. Avoiding unnecessary movement and especially more intense physical activity is very important. Getting bed rest for at least 24 hours following the operation will also help the body heal quicker. Make sure you follow your surgeon's instructions in regards to the recovery period and seek their advice for other ways to cope with the pain. Many surgeons prescribe medication or recommend ice packs around the area of the incision or on the breast area itself to numb the skin. While this will not completely eliminate the discomfort, it should help reduce the levels significantly.

We have all heard the expression €No pain, no gain€. Most women would likely agree the discomfort caused by breast augmentation is nothing to keep you from getting breast implants, with the benefits of the procedure certainly worth the temporary discomfort for women not happy with their breasts' size or shape. Selecting a skilled plastic surgeon and a reputable London breast clinic can help make the procedure as pain-free as possible.