Breast augmentation involves a number of important decisions long before your surgery day arrives. This procedure utilizes synthetic implants to create size and fullness to the breasts. Implants come in a wide range of sizes, shapes and materials, allowing for customization of the breast augmentation procedure to your specific concerns and desired outcome. Understanding the options will help you choose the best implants for your needs.
SALINE OR SILICONE?
Breast implants come in both saline and silicone designs. Saline implants feature a silicone shell that is filled with a sterile saline solution after the implant is placed into the breast pocket. Silicone implants come prefilled with a gel-like silicone substance that tends to look and feel more like natural breast tissue. Cohesive gel implants, also known as “gummy bear” implants, are a new design that features a stable gel material resembling gummy bear candies.
Saline implants tend to carry the most risk, including rupture, breast rippling and capsular contracture. However, some women still prefer saline, due to the ability to adjust the size of the implant once they are in place and the smaller incisions involved with the procedure. Silicone and gummy bear implants tend to hold their shape more effectively, reducing many complications. These implants also come in a wide range of sizes and shapes to accommodate nearly any body profile.
CHOOSING BREAST IMPLANT SIZE
When they make the decision to move forward with breast augmentation, many women assume that “bigger” will be better. However, rather than opting for the largest implants available, women would be better served to choose the size that will be most proportionate to their body profile. An experienced plastic surgeon can help you select the size that will offer the best results and the greatest satisfaction. It is also likely you will be able to “try on” your new breast size, either through prosthetics or virtual augmentation portrayed through computer technology.
In addition to selecting the size, you will also need to choose between round and tear-shaped implants. The right implant for you will depend on the width of your chest cavity, the amount of fullness you want in the top of the breasts and the current size and shape of your breasts. Round implants provide the most fullness on top of the breast but carry a greater risk of being seen through the breast tissue. Tear-shaped implants more closely imitate the natural shape of the breasts, but may rotate inside the breast pocket and distort the look of the breast.
