Blog Article
Your Guide to Breast Implants
Your decision to undergo breast augmentation is an exciting step that will enhance your body shape for years to come. However, you will quickly discover that it is only the first step in a series of important decisions. Along with choosing your plastic surgeon and surgery date, you will need to choose from among various types of implants to determine what results you can expect. This guide will help you prepare for your consultation with Dr. Mouchantat so that you can select the best breast implants and achieve your ideal look.
Implant Material
Breast implants all have a silicone outer shell, but the material filling can be either saline or silicone gel. Either type can produce beautiful results.
Saline implants are filled with a sterile saline (salt water) solution after they are inserted into your breasts. They can be inserted with smaller incisions, which reduces scarring and provides more options for your incision location. Saline implants are FDA-approved for clients ages 18 and older.
Silicone implants are pre-filled with a cohesive silicone gel that imitates the shape and feel of the breasts. They come in a variety of textures and shapes, and they are durable and resistant to rupture or rippling. Because they mimic the natural breast tissue so well, silicone implants are especially useful for women who have minimal breast tissue. Silicone implants are FDA-approved for clients ages 22 and older.
Implant Sizing
The most important point about implant sizing is that it is not measured in traditional cup sizes. Implants do not come in a “C cup” or “D cup” size; instead, they are measured by volume in cubic centimeters (cc’s). A small implant might be 150 cc, while a larger implant could be 400 cc. Your surgeon will help you select the implant size that will give you the volume enhancement you desire for your breasts. Dr. Mouchantat uses implant sizers and optimizes gel implant sizes intraoperatively for customized sizing. Your ideal implant size will also be based on implant diameter and profile due to how all these factors fit together.
Implant Shape
Silicone implants can be either teardrop-shaped or round. Teardrop-shaped implants are fuller at the bottom, like a teardrop or a pear. This implant shape may help women whose breasts need shape correction to create a more beautiful natural appearance. Round implants are uniformly round throughout and create a fuller look in the upper breast.
Implant Texture
The texture of your breast implants can either be smooth or irregular. Irregularly textured implants are thought to bind to the tissue inside the breast pocket, making them less likely to rotate. Teardrop-shaped implants are always textured because any rotation would make the breast look unnaturally shaped. Smooth implants are less likely to ripple, but they may have a higher risk of capsular contracture if they are placed in front of the chest muscle. The pros and cons of each will be shared during your consultation.
Implant Diameter
The diameter of your implants should be balanced with the width of your breasts. After measuring the width of your breasts, your surgeon will have a reference point to compare implant diameters. Ideally, your implants will be about the same or slightly narrower than your breasts in diameter. Much wider or narrower and the results could look less natural. With a poorly chosen diameter, you could also wind up with lateral spillover or other complications. Implant diameter is related to implant profile, described next.
Implant Profile
An implant’s profile is its forward projection from the chest wall. High profile implants project significantly farther forward than low profile implants. The diameter of the implant will change with the implant’s profile. For instance, if two implants are the same size but different profiles, the higher profile implant will have a narrower diameter. Selecting the ideal profile for your needs is based partly on your anatomy and partly on your preferences for your final size and appearance.
Dr. Mouchantat’s philosophy of breast augmentation is to create the most beautiful breasts imaginable, no matter your size. As you discuss these points together, he will guide you in selecting the ideal implant type to accomplish your aesthetic goals. Dr. Mouchantat will also assist you in choosing your implant placement, incision location, and all other relevant points to guarantee the best experience and the most beautiful results after your breast augmentation.
