So, you’ve decided you want breast implants, and you’ve made an appointment with a plastic surgeon to discuss your procedure.
But, wait … now your surgeon is talking to you about CCs, projection, teardrop shaped breasts, and other terms you’ve never heard of before. With all the excitement surrounding your breast augmentation, you forget to consider what type of implants you actually want.
In truth, choosing the right breast implants for you is not that difficult. But you do need to know a few things to start.
Most notably, what types of breast implants are there? What do you have to choose from?
That is what we will be exploring in this post. We’ll talk about the various types of breast implants available and some of the most important factors that will influence the way your implants ultimately look.
Before we dive right in, however, let’s talk about why so many individuals choose to undergo breast augmentation surgery in the first place.
Why Get Breast Implants?
Individuals may opt to get breast implants for a variety of reasons. Aging, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, can all lead to changes in breast shape and volume, for example.
These reasons are often the catalyst for women choosing to get breast implants. Doing so can restore their breast appearance and give them confidence. Some may also choose to get a breast lift alongside their implant placement.
In addition, breast implants can play a crucial role in breast reconstruction for individuals who have undergone a mastectomy due to breast cancer. An augmentation can help restore a sense of femininity and wholeness after cancer treatment.
Finally, breast augmentation is frequently part of a larger body contouring plan, helping individuals achieve their desired body shape and silhouette overall. Mommy makeovers are a good example of this. Though, do remember that the cost of a mommy makeover is significantly higher than the cost of a breast implants only.
It’s crucial for anyone considering breast implants to have a clear understanding of their motivations, expectations, and the potential risks. Consulting with a qualified plastic surgeon who can examine your natural breast tissue and help you decide on the details of your breast implant procedure is an important step on this journey.
What Are the Three Types of Breast Implants?
Each type of breast implant has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In the end, your choice depends on individual preference, body type, and your surgeon’s recommendation.
The three main types of breast implants are:
Saline Breast Implants
Saline filled implants consist of a silicone outer shell filled with sterile saline (saltwater) solution. They can be adjusted in size during surgery and are known for their safety in case of rupture, as the saline (sterile salt water) is harmlessly absorbed into the body. Unfortunately, they often do not look as natural as silicone breast implants.
Silicone Gel Filled Implants
Silicone gel implants also have a silicone outer shell but are filled with a cohesive silicone gel. They tend to provide a more natural look and feel compared to saline implants. Still, both saline and silicone implants are popular.
Unfortunately, in case of rupture, silicone implants may remain within the implant shell or leak into the surrounding tissue. For this reason, it’s important that plastic surgeons have their patients get regular imaging scans of their implants.
Gummy Bear Breast Implants
Gummy bear implants are filled with a highly cohesive silicone gel that maintains its shape even if the implant shell is damaged. They are designed to mimic the natural shape of the breast and provide a stable and natural-looking result. Gummy bear implants are quite popular with breast augmentations.
Other Breast Implant Factors
Of course, when describing breast implant types above, we only focused on material. There are other decisions to make regarding your implants as well.
Smooth breast implants vs textured breast implants
Smoothness is typically seen on round implants because it doesn’t matter if round breast implants (smooth implants) rotate inside your breast pocket. On the other hand, anatomical implants, or teardrop shaped implants, cannot rotate. They would look very odd if upside down. For this reason, these implants (teardrop shape implants) are often textured implants. This keeps them in place better.
Implant projection
Certain breast implants project away from the chest quite far. This adds volume straight out. On the other hand, some breast implants are quite modest and don’t project very far.
Basically, projection is a personal taste. But your surgeon will have some input as well. Some women want more projection and cleavage while others want to add only a little volume and don’t need a lot of projection to achieve their goals.
Implant Size
Size is another critical issue for breast implantation. Choosing the right breast implant size is a crucial decision.
Breast implant size is measured in cubic centimeters (CCs). The higher the number of CCs, the more volume you’ll get. It’s good to be able to use a virtual program to see yourself in differently sized breasts or to wear implants and look in the mirror with them on. These visualizations can help you choose the best implant size for you so that you don’t need a revision or breast implant removal in the future.
Shape: teardrop vs round
Teardrop implants have a more natural, tapered shape that mimics the curvature of the breast. These implants have more fullness at the bottom and a gradual slope upward. They are often chosen for a subtle and realistic look.
In contrast, round implants offer fullness evenly distributed across the breast, which can provide more upper pole fullness and cleavage.
The decision between the two breast implant shapes depends on individual preferences, body type, and desired outcomes. Discuss these options with your plastic surgeon.
FAQ: Choosing Breast Implants
What type of breast implants last the longest?
When it comes to the longevity of a saline implant vs a silicone implant, this really depends. But generally speaking, silicone implants tend to have a longer lifespan compared to saline implants. In fact, silicone implants are known for their durability
With that said, it’s also important to note that no breast implants are considered permanent, and they may need replacement or removal sooner than the prescribed “lifespan” of the implants. This depends on your health and circumstances.
What type of breast implants are most realistic?
Out of all the types of implants breast augmentation surgeons use, most say that silicone implants look the most like natural breasts. Still, the truth is, different types of breast implants offer different looks for different women.
You really need to speak with a qualified plastic surgeon directly to know what shape, size, projection, and material will look the most realistic on your body and with your lifestyle.
What type of breast implants are best?
With all the different types of breast implants brands and sizes available, it can be difficult to choose the best implants for you and your body. This is where your plastic surgeon comes in.
When choosing implants for your breast surgery, one size does not fit all. Therefore, be sure to consult with a surgeon to see what implants will work best for you and what you’re looking for in terms of results.
Are breast implants worth it?
Implants can be a valuable choice for many women. But of course, this depends on the individual and their goals and expectations. Whenever undergoing any type of surgery, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and examine the risks vs the rewards. Ultimately, whether breast implants are worth it depends on your individual circumstances and motivations for pursuing the procedure.
Call Today and Schedule Your Consultation
Are you considering breast implants but aren’t sure if they’re right for you? Navigating all of the different types of breast implants can be difficult without guidance from a qualified plastic surgeon.
To learn more about the best implant types for you, your body, cost of breast implants and your aesthetic goals, contact our office today and schedule your in-person consultation appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raja Mohan.
Dr. Mohan can go over the breast augmentation process and the breast implants recovery period with you and talk to you about the potential risks so as to help you decide on the best type of breast implants for you.
Breast implant surgery can be life-changing. Call today!
References
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/breast-implants/types-breast-implants