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3 Breast Implant Design Choices and the Unique Advantages of Each Option

Admin • Jan 15, 2018
Doctor and Patient

If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your breasts, then you may be considering a breast augmentation procedure. You aren’t alone, breast augmentation is a popular cosmetic surgery, with approximately 280,000 people obtaining breast augmentation in an average year.

Of course, you should learn more about your breast implant options before you visit your cosmetic surgeon for a breast augmentation consultation. This way, you can start considering which implant design may be best for you.

Read on to learn about the three main design choices and the unique advantages of each choice.

Saline Versus Silicone Implants
For a while, saline breast implants were the only option, but in 2006 the FDA approved a new type of silicone breast implant for use in the United States. Since then, silicone implants have been growing in popularity. However, you should know that silicone implants are only available to people ages 22 and over today. Both types of implants have their unique advantages.

The advantage of silicone implants include:
  • They tend to feel and move more like natural breast tissue.
  • They are more lightweight than saline implants. This can lead to slightly less breast sagging over the years.
  • They are less prone to rippling. Rippling occurs as the saline solution inside saline implants moves about as you do.

The advantages of saline implants include:
  • Saline implants require a smaller incision because the implant shells are typically implanted and then filled with saline solution. The shell can be inserted through a very small incision.
  • Saline implants can often be enlarged slightly without removal. Silicone implants are equipped with valves that additional saline can be injected into without the need for implant removal and replacement. However, large increases in size do require implant replacement.
  • Saline implants can be obtained if you are under the age of 22.

Your cosmetic surgeon will help you decide which type of implant is best for you. Your surgeon may even allow you to feel and "try on" both types of implants along with various implant sizes.

Smooth Versus Textured Implants
Whether you choose silicone or saline implants, your next decision will be whether you would like the surface of the implant to be smooth or textured. Textured implants have a rough surface with a fine grain similar to sandpaper. The shells of these implants are also slightly thicker and firmer than smooth implant shells.

While smooth implants are more popular today, textured implants do have their advantages. Once they are in place, they are less likely to move around in your breast, since their rough surface leads to them attaching to the breast tissue surrounding them. This feature is more important when obtaining anatomical implants than when obtaining round ones.

In addition, some studies have shown that people who obtain textured implants are less prone to developing a rare breast implant complication called capsular contracture. This condition develops as the scar tissue around a breast implant squeezes the implant and gives the breasts a distorted look.

However, the right surgical techniques keep chances of capsular contracture development low, even when smooth implants are utilized.

Round Versus Anatomical Implants
Another factor in implant design is the difference between anatomical implants, also called teardrop or contoured implants, and round implant. Since the bottom half of anatomical implants are fuller than the top half of them, they are designed to mimic the shape of a natural breast. Some women are great candidates for anatomical implants, especially if they have little natural breast tissue and would like breast implants with a very natural appearance.

Of course, round implants can also have a natural appearance, but they can also be placed higher up to add volume to the high breast area. Round implants also tend to be more popular.

If you are thinking of having breast augmentation surgery, then schedule a consultation with Ronald C. Barry, MD to discuss your implant options.

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