Guide To Breast Augmentation in Malaysia (2018)

Breast Augmentation is the name of the plastic surgical procedure used to place breast implants and it's one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures done in Malaysia. If you have tried searching the web for breast augmentation related information in Malaysia, you have probably been overwhelmed by the information available online. The aim of this article is to provide you with one-stop useful information related to breast enlargement procedure in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and Selangor, Malaysia.

In this article, we'll cover all the essentials you need to know before seeing your plastic surgeon in Malaysia. This includes:

• Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Breast Lift and Breast Fillers? 
• Guidelines on Aesthetic Medical Practice in Malaysia 
• Breast Augmentation Malaysia Prices (and a breakdown of the costs) 
• Are there Non-Surgical options for breast augmentation in Malaysia?
• What’s the most common breast implant brand used in Malaysia?
• What's the most popular breast implant shape and size chosen in Malaysia?
• Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift Techniques
• How is a Breast Augmentation with Lift Surgery Performed?
• Care After Breast Augmentation Surgery 
• How do you choose the best plastic surgeon in Malaysia for breast augmentation?

Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Breast Lift and Breast Fillers?



Before you visit your plastic surgeon, you may wish to understand a bit more about breast implants, breast lift and breast augmentation in order to have a better conversation with your cosmetic surgeon.

There are 2 main types of breast augmentation surgeries:

• Fat grafting with your own fat (also known as fat transfer), or
• Inserting silicone breast implants

However, breast augmentation alone cannot correct sagging or drooping breasts. Simply increasing the volume, or size, of the breast will only cause the breast to sag more with time. When performed as a standalone procedure, breast augmentation can increase or balance the size of the breast, restore the breast volume, and restore the shape of the breast after partial or total loss. In contrast, during a breast lift procedure, loose, excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is tightened. As a result, the overall shape of the breasts is improved, and they are lifted to a new, more upright position. In combination, breast implants and a breast lift result in total rejuvenation, not only increasing the size of the breast, but restoring a firmer, perkier appearance as well.

There is also some confusion on breast fillers vs breast implants around forums and review sites. Here are some answers by board certified plastic surgeons:

Ban on Macrolane Breast Enhancement Confirms FDA Predictions - Recently, patients who were treated with the Macrolane dermal filler to enlarge their breasts, were urged to have their doctor do extra screening with their mammograms. The manufacturers of MacrolaneTM, have ceased marketing this product for breast enhancement until further notice. Some radiologists have reported difficulty reading mammograms of patients who have had Macrolane breast enhancement.
Read more: https://www.nvpsaz.com/ban-on-macrolane-breast-enhancement-confirms-fda-predictions/

Hyaluronic acid has come to represent the most widely used injectable cosmetic product in the world. Brought into being by the Swedish company Q-Med, in 2007 Macrolane™ was authorized for use in France, and the year after, it received official European approval as a means of breast augmentation. Since then, however, numerous controversies pertaining to its side effects have led to its withdrawal from the worldwide breast augmentation market. 
Ref: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260113146_The_latest_information_on_Macrolane_Its_indications_and_restrictions

Guidelines on Aesthetic Medical Practice in Malaysia

It is clear from browsing around forums and popular blogs that there is a lot of confusion out there. Since breast augmentation is one of the most sought after cosmetic surgery procedure performed to enhance body image and self esteem, many Malaysians have gone for 'cheap breast augmentation' procedure locally and abroad. But a growing number of them have gone to see 'unqualified doctors' and have ended up with serious infections, asymmetry and botched results. The most vulnerable demographic is the 18-26 year old women seeking breast surgery. Bombarded with misinformation about ethical plastic surgery, and the peer pressure for enhancing their breasts; unqualified doctors have taken advantage of their naivety.

Thankfully, the Malaysian Government has come out with guidelines on aesthetic medical practice to address some of the confusion and to protect the consumers. It's clearly stated in the guidelines that breast implant procedures are major procedures and have to be performed by a qualified plastic surgeon in an operation theater at a hospital or a licensed ambulatory care center.

Related:“Beauticians can be hauled up by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) if they portray themselves as doctors or they carry out procedures that only doctors can do under the guidelines on aesthetic medical practice,”...
Read more: www.thestar.com.my

How much does a breast augmentation cost in Malaysia?

As you can see below, the cost of breast augmentation in Malaysia may vary from MYR 15,000 to MYR 22,000 (USD 3,589 - USD 5,264) depending on various factors.

The total fee would normally include the plastic surgeon’s fee, the operating room cost, the anaesthesia fee and any special charges (such as breast implants or extra procedure such as breast lift) and also the necessary follow up visit/s.

The cost of breast augmentation can be broken down to the following factors:

• The plastic surgeon’s fee
• The anaesthetist’s fee
• The breast implant cost
• The operating room charge
• The surgical equipment and consumables charge
• The medications
• The breast band

Below is a breast augmentation published price reference in Malaysia:

Beverly Wilshire Medical Centre
Breast Augmentation Cost with 1 night stay: RM 21,190
Source: MedicalDepartures

Currency Converter > Click Here

If you would like a free treatment cost estimates, please feel free to Contact Us.

Do Note:
While the most expensive surgeon may not necessarily be "the best", there also may be reasons for a surgeon to charge a relatively lower fees. If "shopping" by phone for the "best deal" in plastic surgery, beware of "low-balling". The low-balling technique is a persuasion tactic in which an item is initially offered at a lower price than one expects in order to get the buyer to commit; then the price is suddenly increased.

Make sure you know what you are quoted; a surgeon’s fee vs. the TOTAL fee for the procedure. The total fee is higher since it would include the surgeon’s fee, the operating room cost, the anesthesia fee and any special charges (such as implants or laser fees) and also the necessary follow up visit/s. In general, the costs for each procedure are a general range for the surgeon's fee, the hospital / surgical center facility fee, and the fee for the anesthetist or anesthesiologist. 

Are there Non-Surgical options for breast augmentation in Malaysia?

Fat transfer is a minimally invasive procedure that can be used to increase breast size. Another heavily promoted non-surgical option is breast fillers. However, as mentioned above; we do not recommend this option.

The fat transfer method has 2 benefits:

1. It reduces unwanted fat in areas such as your tummy, upper arms and love-handles.
2. The fat is moved to enlarge your breasts.

Do note that slim ladies with a low fat % may not be suitable.

This procedure is virtually scarless, and there's a very short recovery period. You'll be able to return to work in 1 - 2 days, with the only discomfort being an aching sensation in the tummy area.

What’s the most common breast implant brand used in Malaysia?

The 3 most widely-used breast implant brands in Malaysia are:

1. Mentor breast implants
2. Motiva breast implants
3. Natrelle breast implants

Amongst all the breast implant brands available in Malaysia, Mentor and Natrelle breast implants are FDA-approved for their long track record of safety.

Do note that there are many cheaper options out there promoted especially by non-qualified plastic surgeons. However, most of them are made by low quality materials. Please be careful!

What's the most popular breast implant shape and size chosen in Malaysia?

The most commonly requested breast implant shape is tear drop as most patients tend to prefer a natural look. The average size for breast implants in Malaysia is around 300 cc.

Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift Techniques

There are three general incision techniques used during breast augmentation, known as the areolar, infra-mammary, and trans-axillary incision. In addition, there is a variety of different breast lift incision techniques used to correct varying degrees of breast ptosis. These techniques include the peri-areolar, circum-areolar, vertical, and anchor technique, and are used to treat increasing breast ptosis severity, respectively. Your physician will help you choose the incision that is best for you based on your preferences, anatomy, the position of your implants, and their preferred surgical technique. To learn more about the different techniques view the breast implant and breast lift animations.

How is a Breast Augmentation with Lift Surgery Performed?

A breast augmentation in combination with a lift may last approximately two to four hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure and surgical technique that is used. Your plastic surgeon will most likely administer general anesthesia in which you are asleep during the procedure. In addition, they will draw guidelines along the incision site.

Breast Augmentation Incision –Step 1

The plastic surgeon will make an incision along the predetermined line. This animation depicts the infra-mammary technique in which a small incision is made along the infra-mammary fold of each breast. Using a cautery device, the physician will open the incision in order to gain better access to the breast tissue below. Although the incision will be made as inconspicuously as possible, its length and appearance may vary depending on the type and size of implant, your body contours, and the physician’s preference.

Breast Tissue Dissection – Step 2

The plastic surgeon will continue to separate the breast tissue with a cautery device in order to expose the pectoralis muscle. With the aid of a breast dissector and their fingers, the physician will then carefully create a pocket in which to place the breast implant.

As you may know, breast implants can be placed in two general locations, known as subglandular and submuscular placement. This animation depicts subglandular placement in which the breast implant is placed in a pocket formed beneath the breast tissue, but above the pectoralis muscle. In contrast, submuscular placement refers to an implant that is placed in a pocket partially or completely beneath the pectoralis muscle, against the chest wall. You should discuss the benefits of the different implant placement options in more detail with your physician.

Breast Implant Placement – Step 3

There are two general types of breast implants known as saline-filled and silicone-filled implants. Most saline implants are filled during surgery, while silicone implants are typically pre-filled. This animation demonstrates the placement of silicone implants. The physician will insert the implant into the pocket and visually inspect your breasts to ensure that they are symmetric. They may adjust the pocket and the position of the breast implant itself to ensure that the desired look is achieved.

Breast Lift Incision – Step 4

Before starting the breast lift, the plastic surgeon draws incision guidelines to indicate the areas of skin that will be removed to facilitate the desired amount of lift. This animation demonstrates the vertical technique. If you are interested in learning about the different breast lift techniques, please view our breast lift animation.

Using a scalpel, the physician carefully makes an incision along the pre-marked lines. The area that extends beyond the areola marks the new upper perimeter of the areola. The v-shaped area below the areola will be pulled together and tightened, resulting in a more upright breast position.

Skin Removal – Step 5

Using a variety of surgical instruments, the surgeon lifts the skin and separates it from the underlying tissues below. The areola and nipple are left intact, as the areas of surrounding skin are removed. In order to ensure that the breast has complete mobility, the physician may use a cautery device to undermine, or remove, tissue along the perimeter of the incision line.

Repositioning the Areola – Step 6

Once the excess skin has been removed, the surgeon will suture the uppermost perimeter of the areola to the outermost perimeter of the incision. In doing so, the areola and breast tissue are lifted to a new, more upright position.

Incision Closure – Step 7

The surgeon proceeds to close the incision by placing sutures along the vertical midline as well as around the perimeter of the areola. Some surgeons may choose to place external sutures along the incision as well. Prior to closing the incision completely, the physician may place a surgical drain inside each breast, although it is often not necessary. Lastly, steri-strips or gauze bandages may be applied in order to protect the incision sites as you heal.

Care After Breast Augmentation Surgery

Your surgeon may recommend that you wear a type of compression garment following your procedure. This tight-fitting garment will help to reduce swelling by preventing fluid build up, as well as provide comfort and support as you heal. You will likely have to wear the compression garment for several weeks.

If surgical drains are present, they along with any bandages will likely be removed within a few days, while any non-dissolvable sutures may stay in place for one to two weeks. You may experience some minor pain, bruising, and swelling, as well as numbness around the areola—all of which should subside in several weeks. Although you may feel well enough to return to work in approximately one week, you should continue to avoid strenuous activity such as exercise for three or four weeks after your procedure to allow your body sufficient time to heal.

Of course, if there is a need, please contact your doctor or nurse. If you have a fever or the pain is getting worse despite taking pain medication, please contact your doctor or nurse. Please attend the follow up visit/s as instructed. Some bandages may need to be removed or some medication may need to be discontinued. If you are not able to comply to the follow up visit as per scheduled, please call your doctor or nurse.

How can you choose the best plastic surgeon in Malaysia for breast augmentation?  

Shockingly, many consumers still go to unregistered plastic surgeons for their cosmetic surgery procedures. If we wouldn't trust an unqualified car mechanic with our cars, why are we trusting an unqualified plastic surgeon with our face and body? We have written a guide and shortlisted a list of plastic surgery clinics for you below.

Before you decide which plastic surgeon to see, you need to understand that 'plastic surgery' has various sub-specialties within 'plastic surgery' itself.

Plastic surgery includes subspecialties which deal with various parts of the human body. Some of them are:

• Aesthetic surgery or cosmetic surgery (LCP Chapter 3 license)
• Craniofacial surgery 
• Reconstructive surgery 
• Hand surgery 
• Microsurgery 
• Paediatric plastic surgery 
• Burns surgery

Choose a plastic surgeon who has been trained and has experience with breast augmentation procedures. The basic requirement is that the plastic surgeon must be NSR (National Specialist Register) registered and has a LCP Chapter 3 license (Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Aesthetic License). This independent accreditation process requires the plastic surgeon to submit evidence that they have met the minimum requirements in terms of training and experience in order to pass the accreditation process by the Malaysian Ministry of Health.

Please don’t proceed if you still have doubts after your discussion, or if the plastic surgeon rushes you through the consultation and to push you towards a same day operation! This should never be the case for an elective procedure such as breast augmentation.

If you would like any other assistance, please feel free to Contact Us.

Related:

• Breast Augmentation Malaysia Reviews and Prices

• Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Malaysia

• Best Plastic Surgery Clinics in Malaysia