Breast augmentation at a glance
- DurationAbout 1 hour
- AnaesthesiaGeneral, or local with sedation
- Hospital stayDay surgery or one night
- Time off work7 to 10 days
- Final shapeAt 3 months
- Price€5,000 to €10,000
Breast augmentation increases the volume of the breasts and brings their shape into harmony with the figure, using silicone gel implants, the patient’s own fat (lipofilling), or a combination of the two (composite augmentation). With implants, the operation lasts about 1 hour, under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation, as day surgery or with a one-night stay at Clinique Oxford in Cannes. Time off work is 7 to 10 days; the volume is final at 2 months and the shape at 3 months.
Price: €5,000 to €10,000, on a written quote after a consultation (€100).
Dr Médard de Chardon’s experience in breast augmentation
- MD thesis on cosmetic breast augmentation (Nice Faculty of Medicine, 2008)
- Qualified plastic surgeon, former Chef de Clinique (university hospital senior registrar), Nice Faculty of Medicine
- Management of complications and revision surgery: capsular contracture, double bubble, rotation, rippling
- Member of SOFCEP (French Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), SOFCPRE (French Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) and ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)
Implants, lipofilling or composite augmentation: which technique?
| Breast implants | Breast lipofilling | Composite augmentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | All patients, especially for a large gain in volume or a change of shape | Moderate augmentation, natural feel; enough fat reserves | Slim patients, asymmetry, cleavage to fill, implant edges to disguise |
| Gain in volume | As chosen, depending on your build | About one cup size per session | As chosen |
| Scar | Armpit, lower edge of the areola, or the fold under the breast | A few millimetres | The implant scar + a few millimetres |
| Duration | About 1 hour | 2 to 3 hours | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Anaesthesia | General, or local with sedation | General | General |
| Hospital stay | Day surgery or one night | Day surgery or one night | Day surgery or one night |
| Time off work | 7 to 10 days | 3 to 7 days | 7 to 10 days |
| Final result | 3 months | 3 months | 3 months |
| Over time | Implant to be monitored; average lifespan 12 to 15 years | Volume follows changes in weight | Both |
| Price | €5,000 to €10,000 | €5,000 to €10,000 | €5,000 to €10,000 |
If the breasts are sagging (moderate to severe ptosis), the augmentation is combined with a breast lift; minor sagging can be disguised by the implant alone.
How are the implants chosen?
There is no implant, scar or position that is “best” in absolute terms: the plan is built for each patient in consultation, according to her measurements, the quality of her skin and breast tissue, and her wishes.
Ergonomic
Round, with a softer gel that takes on a teardrop shape when you stand and becomes round again when you lie down; a natural result, with no risk of rotation.
Anatomical
Teardrop-shaped: long used to change the shape of a breast; since the end of macrotextured implants (2019), it rotates much more often and Dr Médard de Chardon no longer recommends it.
Everything about anatomical implantsFront view, then in place in a standing patient. Dr Médard de Chardon uses cohesive silicone gel implants with a multilayer shell: the gel stays inside the implant even if it ruptures.
The profile sets the projection
Low, moderate or high: for the same implant width, the higher the profile, the more the breast projects when seen from the side.
Moderate profile
The volume is chosen on the basis of four elements. An excessive volume is not advisable: it stretches the tissues and speeds up the ageing of the breasts.
- Measurementsof the chest and breasts
- Trial implant sizersin consultation
- Similar casesoperated on by Dr Médard de Chardon
- 3Dsimulation
Three possible scars
Click on an approach to locate it on the diagram.
In front of the muscle
prepectoralThe implant moves naturally with the breast, but is more visible and palpable in a very slim patient.
Find out moreBehind the muscle
subpectoralDisguises the contours and reduces the risk of capsular contracture, but the implant moves slightly when the muscle contracts.
Find out moreDual plane
top behind, bottom in frontThe top of the implant is behind the muscle and the bottom in front of it: it combines the advantages of both. The position chosen in most cases.
Composite augmentation
A fat injection (lipofilling) is often combined with the implants to disguise the implant’s contours, make it less palpable, correct an asymmetry, fill the cleavage or correct a double bubble.
Who is it for, and from what age?
Breast augmentation is for women whose breasts are small from birth (breast hypoplasia) or have lost volume after pregnancy, breastfeeding or hormonal changes (hypotrophy). It is performed on adult women. Breast asymmetry can be corrected at the same time, using implants of different volumes or profiles.
Implants or lipofilling?
Lipofilling suits a moderate augmentation, of about one cup size, in a patient who has fat reserves; the figure is refined at the same time. It is contraindicated if a mammogram shows a suspicious abnormality, or if a familial genetic breast cancer is suspected.
How does breast augmentation with Dr Médard de Chardon work?
- First consultation€100, at the practice, 101 rue d’Antibes in Cannes: your expectations, examination and measurement of the breasts, photographs, trial implant sizers and a 3D simulation.
- Second consultationFinal choice of implant, scar and position. Detailed written quote and the SOFCPRE information sheet; a mammogram and an ultrasound scan are requested.
- Cooling-off periodAt least 15 days, required by law, between receiving the quote and the operation.
- PreparationAnaesthetic consultation; stop smoking and stop taking aspirin.
- OperationAt Clinique Oxford in Cannes, about 1 hour. No drain, no compression bandage, no stitches to remove. You go home with the implant card for your implants: traceability is ensured by you, by the clinic and by Dr Médard de Chardon.
- Follow-upCheck-ups at 6 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year, then every two years with imaging.
Patients coming from abroad: the first consultation can take place by video, with the examination completed at the practice before the operation.
What is the recovery like?
Where will you be?
14 days after the procedure
What are the risks?
In addition to the risks of any surgery (haematoma, infection, anaesthesia), breast augmentation carries its own specific risks:
Capsular contracture
Tightening of the membrane that forms around the implant, which hardens the breast; less than 1% in the series studied in Dr Médard de Chardon’s thesis.
Rippling, visibility, palpability
Mainly in slim patients; harmless, and reduced by the dual plane position or by lipofilling.
BIA-ALCL
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma: very rare, mainly described with textured implants.
Choosing a qualified, experienced and reputable surgeon reduces these risks, and can even eliminate some of them.
How long do implants last, and how are they monitored?
A silicone gel implant lasts 12 to 15 years on average. It is not replaced as a matter of routine: a clinical check-up and imaging every two years are enough as long as there is no rupture and the result remains satisfactory. When a replacement is needed (rupture, capsular contracture, a different volume), it is described on the breast implant replacement page.
Before and after photos
Mondor's disease after breast augmentation through the armpit
A cord under the skin, running from the armpit towards the chest
Primary breast implants
Primary breast implants
Primary breast implants
Primary breast implants
Primary breast implants
Asymmetry corrected: 270 cc on the right (moderate profile), 265 cc on the left (low profile), through the endoscopic transaxillary approach.
See all before and after breast augmentation photos
How much does breast augmentation cost in Cannes?
€5,000 to €10,000
On a written quote after the consultation (€100, free of charge for a patient already followed at the practice). Includes the surgeon’s and the anaesthetist’s fees, the clinic charges and the implants. Not reimbursed by Assurance Maladie. See our prices.
Frequently asked questions about breast augmentation
What is the best breast implant?
There is no best implant in absolute terms. The shape (round or ergonomic), the profile and the volume are chosen according to the patient’s build, measurements and wishes, after trial sizers and a 3D simulation.
Implant in front of or behind the muscle?
In front of the muscle, the implant moves naturally but is more visible in a slim woman; behind the muscle, it is better disguised. Dr Médard de Chardon most often uses the dual plane position, which combines the advantages of both.
What scar does breast augmentation leave?
Three scars are possible: in the armpit (endoscopic approach), along the lower edge of the areola, or in the fold under the breast. The choice depends on your anatomy and your preference; the scars reach their final appearance at 12 months.
Can you enlarge your breasts without implants?
Yes, with lipofilling: the patient’s own fat is harvested by liposuction and then re-injected into the breasts. The gain is about one cup size per session and requires sufficient fat reserves. See breast augmentation without implants.
How long do you need off work after breast augmentation?
Allow 7 to 10 days off work after augmentation with implants, with no driving for 7 days. Exercise resumes after 4 weeks for the lower body and 6 weeks for the upper body.
Do breast implants need replacing every 10 years?
No, not as a matter of routine. A silicone gel implant lasts 12 to 15 years on average; if imaging shows no rupture and the result is still satisfactory, regular monitoring is enough. See breast implant replacement.
Can you breastfeed after a breast augmentation?
Yes, breastfeeding remains possible in the vast majority of cases after breast augmentation with implants, whatever the incision used.
Do breast implants interfere with mammograms?
No, mammograms are still possible with breast implants; simply tell the radiologist that you have them, and the views will be adapted.
How much does breast augmentation cost in Cannes?
The price ranges from €5,000 to €10,000, on a written quote after the consultation (€100). It includes the surgeon’s and the anaesthetist’s fees, the clinic charges and the implants; the operation is not reimbursed by Assurance Maladie.