There are many reasons why you might be considering breast augmentation surgery. Some women have naturally small breasts while others have breasts that decrease in size after pregnancy and breastfeeding. If breast augmentation is something that you have thought about, we would love to give you all of the information that you need to make a good decision for your body.
At Maryland Plastic Surgery and PURE MedSpa, we are here to support individuals through every stage of their aesthetic journey. We believe in uplifting our patients through treatments and surgeries that still make them feel like themselves. We love to help people achieve natural-looking results through our breast augmentation surgeries.
What Is Breast Augmentation?
Any surgery that is focused on enlarging the breasts falls under the category of breast augmentation. While most people think of breast implants, fat transfer is another commonly used type of breast augmentation.
For women who also want to lift their breasts or correct breast placement, a breast lift may be needed in addition to breast augmentation. While these are two separate procedures, they are often done at the same time to achieve the desired shape, size, and placement of the breasts and nipples.
What Are the Different Types of Breast Implants?
Saline Implants
While all breast implants have a silicone shell, saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution instead of silicone. Saline implants have many advantages that can make them the right choice for many people who are seeking breast augmentation surgery.
One of the first concerns that patients often voice is the possibility of implant rupture. With saline implants, you won’t have to worry about silent rupture. When there is a rupture, the harmless saline solution will simply be absorbed by your body. Patients also know if there is a rupture right away because the area will immediately deflate.
Saline implants can also come with smaller incisions and the size can be easier to customize. After the surgeon makes a cavity, the implant is folded and then inserted. Once inside the body, it is filled and the size can be adjusted as needed. Saline implants can often create a rounded and more augmented appearance for women who want a more dramatic look.
Silicone Implants
Silicone implants are made from a silicone shell with a silicone interior. Today, most silicone implants are made with a cohesive gel that minimizes leaks in the case of a rupture.
Silicone implants can be a beneficial choice for women who want breast implants that feel more natural. The shape of silicone implants can also look more natural since they are either shaped into a teardrop shape or have natural movement as the body moves.
Silicone implants can also have a smoother appearance underneath the skin. Saline implants can ripple while silicone implants are much less likely to have this wrinkling effect. Breast surgery with silicone implants can sometimes involve larger incisions, especially if you have chosen a firmer material. However, this incision is made on the bottom breast crease. Once your new breasts settle, the incision won’t be visible unless you lift up the breast.
Ideal Implants
One of the newest and most exciting developments in breast augmentation is the introduction of ideal implants. If you are looking for a breast implant that looks and feels natural but also doesn’t come with the risk of silent rupture, this type of implant may be what you are looking for.
Ideal implants are unique products that combine some of the best features of both types of traditional implants. This revolutionary design features several different layers of silicone shells. On the inside, they are only filled with saline which is sterile and not harmful when ruptured. The layered design of the implant gives it the soft and natural feel of the silicone implant, while the saline center gives you the peace of mind of knowing if there is a rupture. With the ideal implant, you won’t need to schedule MRIs every year, and you may even be able to benefit from a smaller incision.
Top Considerations When Choosing Breast Implants
With many different choices available for breast implants, one of the biggest challenges is choosing the right product for your body. After you choose between saline, silicone, or ideal implants, we will walk you through some of the following considerations.
Size
Choosing the right size of implant is an important consideration. When you have a consultation with us, we will help you think about the look that you want to achieve, the lifestyle that you have, and the impacts that implant size can have on both.
Shape
Implants have many different shapes that you can choose from. One of the more popular shapes is a tear-drop-shaped silicone implant that offers a result that looks similar to a natural breast. This type of implant has a textured surface that prevents it from rotating in the chest cavity. Other implants have a round shape that gives more volume to the top of the breast. Finally, some implants are designed to change shape with gravity. Rotation of this type of implant won’t have an impact on the placement or shape.
Profile
The profile of an implant describes how much the implant protrudes from the chest. Implants that have the same volume and size can either have a low, medium, or high profile. If you are interested in a very augmented look, you can choose a high-profile breast implant. Most of our patients choose a medium-profile implant that is somewhere in between.
Learn More About Breast Augmentation in Glen Burnie, MD
There are many decisions that go into breast surgery. At Maryland Plastic Surgery and PURE MedSpa, we are here to guide you through the process. If you are ready to get started on your breast augmentation journey, call us today to set up a consultation in Glen Burnie, MD.