With the recent FDA approval of a new type of highly-cohesive silicone gel breast implant, more women are starting to wonder if augmentation using these “gummy bear” implants might be right for them. What are some of the primary advantages to using anatomical implants for breast augmentation?
1. A Shaped Foundation
The most distinct advantage to using implants that are already shaped like the breast is that the results will look very natural. This is true even for patients who have very little natural breast tissue, either due to genetics or because they need breast reconstruction following a single or double mastectomy.
Round saline or silicone implants come in just one shape. These implants add volume in the fullest part of the breast near the bottom, but also at the top of the breast. Some women love the additional upper-breast fullness that round implants offer, while others feel that the extra volume is a giveaway that they’ve had augmentation. Anatomical implants are teardrop-shaped, for a final profile that more closely mimics the existing breast.
Whether getting breast implants for cosmetic surgery or as reconstructive surgery, an anatomical shape offers a strong foundation for a very natural look.
3. Improved Texture
Although there’s a lot of emphasis placed on how results look visually, don’t forget there’s another essential component of feeling happy about breast augmentation: how the breasts feel after surgery. Both surgeons and patients agree that cohesive gel anatomical implants feel more like natural breast tissue compared to saline or standard silicone gel.
Texture is also important when it comes to the construction of the implants. Anatomical implants have a coarser surface that, while not noticeably different to the touch after surgery, provides some definite benefits. The rough surface better helps to hold implants in place, and also reduces the chances of developing capsular contracture. The growth of this abnormally rigid and sometimes painful scar tissue can change the feel of your breast tissue. Using anatomical implants with their textured outer shell lowers this risk, ensuring that your breasts will stay soft and pliable after surgery.
3. More Substance
Cohesive gel implants are firmer than either saline or silicone gel, which helps the contents stay in place better than either type of implant as well. Even if the outer shell does weaken or develop a breach, the cohesive gel won’t migrate away from the implant. This allows for a less complicated revision surgery in the event that an implant does need to be replaced.
The risk of any type of implant leaking or rupturing is extremely small: only about one percent per year for every year the implants are in place. In saline implants, a leak is noticeable within a day or two; the saline solution is absorbed by the body and the affected breast visibly decreases in shape and size. With traditional silicone implants, which are about the texture of jelly, a leak is harder to detect and would require a doctor’s exam and an MRI scan.
Are Anatomical Implants Right for You?
If you think that anatomical implants sound like the right choice for your breast augmentation, be sure to find a surgeon who is comfortable using them and clearly understands the benefits that are involved. Not every implant is right for every woman, so keep an open mind during your consultation. Far more important than committing to a specific implant type is taking the time to find a surgeon you can trust to give you the best results.
Dr. David Sayah is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in natural plastic surgery results. His practice is devoted to providing excellent care using innovative techniques in plastic surgery such as endoscopic breast augmentation, state of the art lasers and minimally invasive facelifts. He believes that a healthy lifestyle involves diet, exercise, and preventive medicine including skincare measures. This multidisciplinary approach involves in-house internal medicine physician, nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and lifestyle coach who together with Dr. Sayah develop total beauty and health in his patients.
