Breast Implant Types
When breast augmentation patients first start considering their breast implant options, their obvious first concern is size. However, the final decision is much more nuanced than that. With so many breast implant types available, it is useful for patients to know the differences in these options so they can make an informed choice that best achieves their desired appearance. In this blog, top Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Donald Hause breaks down a few key implant choices.
Filling
While all implants have a silicone shell, they can have one of two main materials at their center: saline and silicone. Saline implants feature sterile salt water at their core and can be filled after being inserted into the breast. This allows Dr. Hause to make a smaller incision. Although saline implants are somewhat more likely to ripple, they are less likely to cause health complications later.
Because silicone (a rubbery polymer) implants are thicker, they look and feel more like natural breast tissue. To receive silicone implants, women must be at least 22, whereas the FDA approves saline implants for women 18 and older.
Texture
Another choice patients must make is between smooth and textured implants. Smooth implants are the softer option; they tend to look and feel more natural than textured implants. They have also been found to last slightly longer in the breasts than the textured variety.
However, textured implants have some appealing advantages of their own. They are firmer than smooth implants. They also cling to the breast tissue more readily, making it much less likely that the implant will slip out of position in the future. Furthermore, because scar tissue forms more easily around textured implants, the risk of capsular contracture is decreased.
Shape
Most implants are round. They give the breast a more spherical appearance and add fullness, especially to the top of the breast. This can help to make the breasts look less droopy (although breast lift remains the best procedure for counteracting breast ptosis).
The other option is teardrop (or form stable) implants that are meant to mimic a natural breast shape. They slope so that the breast appears fuller at the bottom than at the top. These implants generally look more natural than round implants. All teardrop implants are silicone and textured. On average, they are more expensive than round implants.
Choose Dr. Hause for Breast Augmentation
One of the best parts about finding a knowledgeable plastic surgeon like Dr. Hause is that he can guide you through the process and offer his professional opinion as to which implant type can help you achieve your aesthetic goals. For a consultation with one of Sacramento’s best doctors, please call (916) 646-6869.
