According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ statistics, Breast augmentation surgery has remained the most frequently pursued surgical cosmetic procedure for the past five years. Breast augmentation surgery is designed to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. For patients considering breast augmentation surgery, size is often their first consideration when thinking about implants. However, it is imperative to consider several other breast implant decisions such as shape, texture, and type to achieve a natural-looking balance between breast size and body type.
Before selecting a size or texture, it is important to understand silicone and saline are commonly used breast implant types. Saline breast implants, as the name implies, are filled with sterilized saline solution surrounded by a strong silicone shell. They pose few health risks if the implants should leak or burst because saline can be safely absorbed into the body. Silicone breast implants are made with the same type of silicone outer shell, but are filled with silicone gel. There are three, FDA approved breast implant manufacturers: Mentor, Sientra , and Allergan. Sientra was the first manufacturer to offer a high-strength cohesive silicone gel. Dr. David Whiteman makes all of these options are available to Southern Plastic Surgery patients.
Depending on the type; implants also come in different shapes and textures. The breast implant shell can be shaped round or contoured like a teardrop. They can either be smooth or textured to prevent the implant from moving. These decisions will dictate which implant type is best for your needs. For example, saline breast implants are available in teardrop and round, but teardrop saline implants are only available with a textured surface to prevent the implant from moving around within the breast cavity.
As most patients know, breast implants come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different body types. Most people are familiar with the typical bra cup sizes of A,B,C, etc. measurements. Breast implants are slightly different because they are measured based on volume. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, an average of 189 cubic centimeters of saline is needed to increase a breast size by “one cup.” It is very important to consider various aspects of a patient’s body, such as height, weight, previous breast size, and rib cage size to decide which implant size would be proportionally best. Some patients may also opt for breast lift surgery to raise the position of the breasts on the chest.
Dr. David Whiteman understands each patient’s needs and goals are different, so he can help you choose which type is best for you during a consultation. If you are interested in breast augmentation or any other cosmetic procedures, schedule a consultation today. Also, be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest news and updates on plastic surgery.