Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

More than 310,000 breast augmentations were done in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available. That’s enough to make it the most widely performed cosmetic surgery in the United States by a pretty wide margin. (Liposuction is the runner-up, at nearly 260,000 procedures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery.)

Still, for all that appeal—not to mention, mainstream acceptance—women tend to arrive for their consultations under-informed and surprised by the nuances of the procedure. So, over the next couple of posts, I’ll be taking a closer look some key aspects that, hopefully, will aid the decision-making process for anyone considering breast augmentation. We’ll start here with the different types of breast implants.

Why silicone

Basically, there are two kinds of breast implants: silicone and saline. Each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. I’ll start with silicone because it’s the most popular. According to one recent estimate, silicone breast implants were used in 70% of the breast augmentations performed in the US.

While their potential for ruptures is well-known at this point—the risk is relatively minimal, though it’s recommended that MRIs are done roughly every couple of years for the life of the implant in an effort to detect leaks at their onset—silicone implants have become increasingly popular in recent years as the prevailing preference has gradually shifted from dramatic outcomes (think Baywatch in the nineties) to subtle, natural-looking enhancements. Of the two types, silicone implants are the softest and feel most like natural breast tissue. They’re also available in both round and teardrop shapes.

Highly-cohesive silicone implants are different from the standard kind in that the silicone gel has a thicker consistency, which makes them firmer to the touch. But they’ve also proven to hold up better and be less susceptible to rupturing.

Why saline

Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater, which means, if they should ever rupture, the implants’ contents will be absorbed by the body without any ill effects.

Beyond the safety aspect, saline implants are favored by women who prioritize upper pole fullness and projection with their new breasts. In other words, they prefer a dramatic result to a subtle enhancement. Keep in mind, saline implants are heavier than silicone, which may cause the breasts to become bottom-heavy over time.

And because they’re not prefilled, unlike silicone implants, a smaller incision may be warranted. There is, however, some additional risk with this particular type of incision. With silicone implants, the incision is larger, but it’s hidden in the breast crease, which is considered optimal not only for aesthetic purposes but also because it affords the surgeon prime access to the breast pocket.

Finally, if cost is a consideration, saline implants are generally the less expensive option.

In my next post, I’ll go a bit deeper into implant shapes and outline some of the thinking that’s involved in positioning the implants.

Breast augmentation has remained the most popular type of cosmetic plastic surgery in the United States because the procedure has evolved. The shift in preferences from dramatic-looking breasts to subtler enhancements coincided with the emergence of a range of new implant shapes, diameters, and projections, which allowed—for the first time—for a truly tailored, customized look and feel.

With those nuances comes a host of decisions. In an effort to prepare you for your breast augmentation consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, I’m exploring a few key aspects of the procedure. In my last post, I unpacked the benefits and drawbacks of the different kinds of implants. Here, I’ll get into the roles that implant shape and positioning play.

Subtle enhancement or dramatic makeover?

There are two basic breast implant shapes, round and teardrop, also known as anatomical and contoured, though, within each, there are many degrees of difference in terms of both size and profile. The reason for choosing one shape over another will hinge largely on your aesthetic goals, but it’ll also be influenced by the implants’ placement and your preferred incision location.

Your anatomy—body type, sternum width, chest-wall contour, and existing breast tissue—will also play a big part in the decision-making process.

Round implants, which resemble a compressed ball, tend to be favored for their fullness, lift, and resulting cleavage. Because they’re circular and uniform, there’s minimal variation in fullness or projection between the top and bottom of the implant. In other words, round implants will project, or stick out, further from the body than teardrop implants, for a more dramatic silhouette.

Teardrop implants, on the other hand, mimic the shape of natural breasts. They’re thinner at the top than they are at the bottom, and they gradually slope down from the top to the middle. It’s favored by women who want their breasts to look a little fuller or perkier. In fact, it’s an ideal choice for those who want to correct mild sagging. The implant itself can provide sufficient lift. For those with more significant sagging, a breast lift may need to be combined with the augmentation.

Positioning brings it all together

Both shapes come in a variety of sizes and profiles, which is the term that refers to how far the breast projects from the chest wall. A high-profile implant has the smallest base width and produces the most pronounced silhouette. While a moderate-profile implant has a wider base width and a more modest projection.

Heading into your consultation, it’s good to have a general visual of what you want your breasts to look like, but there’s no need to settle on a size or even a shape until you’re able to review specific examples with your plastic surgeon. I also take a series of measurements that help guide that decision and ensure that the implant is precisely placed in proper relation to the shoulders and nipples. Think of it as equal parts art and science.