A new breast augmentation procedure has recently arrived at UK Clinics and Paul Banwell is one of the very first plastic surgeons in the UK to offer this highly anticipated, minimally invasive surgery that promises a faster way to go up a cup size or two with less downtime. When I spoke to Paul on my Instagram Live last week he told me he had performed six procedures to date.

The Mia procedure begins with a thorough consult using Adoreal, a new imaging software that shows patients 3D views of the proposed breast enhancement, The Mia  implants are made of silicone and have a smooth texture and a unique diamond shape that gives high-projection for natural, flattering results.

The insertion of the implants is done using local anaesthetic via two 2.5cm incisions made in the armpits, (rather than under the breasts). Next, a balloon is tunnelled in behind the mammary gland but over the pectoral muscle and inflated to create a pocket where the compressed implants are “injected’ via a plastic tube. One of the upsides of this procedure is that it is faster (the procedure itself lasts just 15 mins but expect about 90 minutes total to get prepped) and it avoids cutting muscle fibres like traditional breast surgery meaning that the tissue is fully preserved – a positive for patients looking to breastfeed in the future.

However the marketing story which claims patients can return to most activities after a weekend, often the same day might be stretching expectations,  as some patients report there is still downtime with breast tenderness, bruising and swelling  possible for a week or so– you will need to sleep slightly upright on you back and wear a compression strap over the breasts for a week after and then a sports bra for a further 2 weeks. Cardio exercising and lifting heavy things (such as small kids and shopping bags is not recommended for at least 2 weeks post procedure).

Then there is the question of safety. Marc Pacifico, former President of BAAPS has said he feels that Mia ‘doesn’t raise any concerns’ with regards to the safety of either its ‘bio-compatible’ implants (these have been on the market for about 14 years with a complication rate of less than 1% ) or the new technique used to ‘inject’ them.

‘From my understanding, the company is strictly controlling the doctors they’ve licensed to do this,’ he says, meaning only experienced surgeons can offer Mia. At the Editor’s List we always advise anyone considering breast implants that this is not a one-shot deal and in most cases implants will need to be replaced between 10-15 years. It is also important to do regular breast checks and make sure you keep up with annual mammograms and ultrasound scans.