Even before the initial consultation with a plastic surgeon and fitting sizers, patients are puzzled by the question: “What do you need to know when choosing breast implants?”
We talked with Dr. Oleg Leonidovich Nesteruk to find out the answers to the most important questions, as well as everything about prostheses that are used for aesthetic correction or reconstruction of the mammary glands.
It is no coincidence that endoprosthetics is one of the most popular plastic surgeries in the world. Breast augmentation with implants or a lift using them allows you to obtain the desired volume of the mammary glands and recreate a beautiful and natural shape.
Modern possibilities of aesthetic medicine, the dynamic development of the industry and strict quality control have created all the conditions so that today doctors can say: “Breast plastic surgery has become safe, affordable and allows you to achieve a perfect result, which many women could only dream of 30 years ago!”
According to statistics from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ( ISAPS
), augmentation mammoplasty is one of the TOP 10 most common plastic surgeries, and it is especially popular in the
USA, Western Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and Russia.
FORMS OF BREAST IMPLANTS
One of the main parameters by which modern breast implants are divided is their profiles. The profile is the ratio of the size of the projection of the implant (thickness, convexity) to the width of its base. The larger the projection and the smaller the width of the base, the higher the profile of the implant. Depending on the profile, endoprostheses are distinguished:
- High profile - they are used if the patient has a narrow chest, as well as to obtain a “boldly protruding” bust or to maximize its size;
- Low profile - suitable for women who want a natural-shaped bust and at the same time have a normal or wide chest and the required volume of integumentary tissue.
The shape of implants is one of the main characteristics by which they are divided. There are anatomical (teardrop-shaped) and round breast implants.
ROUND BREAST IMPLANTS
Round implants with a spherical shape have the following advantages:
- usually all manufacturers offer them at a lower price than teardrop-shaped ones;
- their installation process is easier from a technical point of view;
- make it possible to obtain maximum bust volume after implantation.
Round-shaped implants are ideal for women who have sufficient covering tissue: their own mammary gland is at least medium in volume and/or subcutaneous fat reaches 2 cm or more in thickness.
In thin women, round implants give the breasts greater fullness on the upper slope, which is why they take on an overly unnatural appearance. Round breast implants with a high projection are an ideal solution for cases where significant breast enlargement is necessary.
Breast augmentation was performed with round implants 300 cc
ANATOMICAL BREAST IMPLANTS
The shape of anatomical endoprostheses resembles a drop. Among the main advantages of teardrop-shaped implants are the following:
- the result of mammoplasty with their use is the most natural breast shape;
- Great for thin women who have no or too small breasts and thin subcutaneous fat.
Anatomical implants also have disadvantages:
- quite high price;
- magnifying plastic surgery with their use is a rather complex process;
- there is a high risk that over time the implant may rotate and the breasts will lose their attractive shape.
Anatomical endoprostheses of the mammary glands are recommended when a woman does not have sufficient covering tissue, but she wants to get a natural-shaped bust.
Breast augmentation with anatomical implants 280 cc
REVIEWS ABOUT BREAST IMPLANTS
“I had breast augmentation surgery with implants, and I am very pleased with the results. I would like to express my gratitude to the specialists of the Abrielle plastic surgery clinic, administrators, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and most importantly, the anesthesiologist! Attentive, responsive and professional attitude and excellent results!” This and other reviews about breast augmentation on our website.
BREAST IMPLANT SHELL
The surface of breast implants can be completely smooth and textured (rough).
TEXTURED SURFACE OF IMPLANTS
A large number of microscopic irregularities and pores present on the shell of endoprostheses make this shell rough, that is, textured. It is these irregularities that help ensure a tight fit and fusion of the implant with the surrounding soft tissues - this is how the implant is securely fixed and does not move in the future.
Endoprostheses with a textured surface have the following advantages:
- low degree of fibrocapsular contracture;
- securely fixed.
SMOOTH BREAST IMPLANTS
In Russian clinics, breast implants with a smooth shell are not used, but they are still actively used in US clinics. The only area of use of smooth endoprostheses in Russia is plastic surgery aimed at enlarging the legs and buttocks. The fact is that the disadvantages inherent in implants with a smooth shell are too significant, although there are few of them:
- after some period after the enlargement operation, they shift;
- often provoke the formation of high-grade fibrocapsular contracture.
BREAST IMPLANTS WITH POLYURETHANE COATING
Polyurethane coating is the most advanced development that modern implant manufacturers can boast of. In fact, prostheses with such a coating have a double shell: a rough silicone shell, and on top of it a polyurethane shell with a rough surface. Since polyurethane is a natural material, the pores on its surface are located asymmetrically, and they also have different depths and widths. It is thanks to this natural porosity of the implant surface that the fibrous capsule, formed in the body to protect against a foreign object, tightly grips the implant and prevents it from rotating or moving, but cannot compress and distort its shape. Over time, the fibrous capsule tightly fuses with the rough silicone shell, and the polyurethane coating completely resolves after 2 years. Endoprostheses with a polyurethane shell are the best solution for repeated plastic surgeries or after removal of polyacrylamide gel to prevent displacement of the prosthesis and avoid any complications.
Polyurethane endoprostheses of the mammary glands are characterized by the following advantages:
- are securely fixed, do not shift or slip in the tissues of the body;
- serve to prevent the occurrence of capsular contracture;
- have minimal risk of contouring;
- practically do not lead to the formation of “waviness”.
The disadvantages of implants with a polyurethane shell include:
- in most cases, their implantation is possible only submammary, since installation through the axillary approach is too problematic, and installation through the areola can only be performed if the areola is of sufficient size for this;
- mobility and “naturalness” of the breast appear only 4-6 months after mammoplasty, and immediately after the operation the breast, although soft to the touch, looks absolutely motionless.
Plastic surgeons advise using implants with a textured or polyurethane shell for mammoplasty, since they rarely cause complications.
BREAST IMPLANT FILLERS
Depending on the filler, there are saline and silicone breast implants.
SALT IMPLANTS
Since the second half of the 19th century, saline breast prostheses began to be used in aesthetic surgery. They are filled with standard water-salt or saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride).
Among the advantages of saline implants:
- physiological water-salt solution is absolutely safe, since its composition is similar to blood plasma;
- Some types of saline prostheses are equipped with a special hole (port), through which, after surgery, you can change the size of the prosthesis - this makes it possible to make a minimal incision and install an empty implant through it, and then fill it to the desired size.
Saline implants have more disadvantages than advantages:
- they are very soft to the touch;
- Over time, the saline solution “sweats” through the shell, causing the implant to become smaller in volume;
- 9-11 months after installation, the salt in the saline solution begins to crystallize, and its crystals can damage the shell;
- during active physical movements, the contents of endoprostheses may “gurgle”;
- have poor resistance to mechanical damage.
SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS
When creating modern breast prostheses, the following main types of silicone (gel) fillers are used: 1. Hydrogel. 2.Highly cohesive gel. 3.Soft touch.
Of all silicone prostheses, it is implants with hydrogel that create the most naturalness and softness of the breast when touched. But after a certain time after the operation, biological degradation occurs with the hydrogel - it dissolves. In addition, in case of injury, it can leak out, although it is absolutely harmless to the body.
The highly cohesive gel is quite dense (the consistency resembles marmalade), so breasts with such a prosthesis are firmer to the touch. Implants with this filler retain their shape perfectly, and the possibility of the formation of “waves” is minimal. Even if the shell ruptures, the filler will not leak out of it; its penetration into nearby tissues is completely excluded.
The most innovative filler is Soft touch, which has an elastic consistency. In the event of a rupture of the prosthesis shell, this gel does not leak out, and there is also no sweating through the shell. A breast with such an implant, when touched, creates a feeling of maximum naturalness.
Gel fillers have many advantages:
- absolute sterility;
- inertness for the human body;
- high resistance to mechanical damage;
- the risk that after rupture of the shell the gel will penetrate into the surrounding tissues is minimal;
- Breasts with such implants feel almost indistinguishable from natural breasts.
Silicone implants have few disadvantages:
- the integrity of the prosthesis can only be checked using magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound if the examination is performed by an experienced specialist;
- The installation incision must be longer than in the case of a saline implant (4-5 cm).
BREAST IMPLANT PROFILES
The profile of a breast implant is the ratio of the size of its projection (thickness, convexity) to the width of the base. The smaller the base width and the larger the projection size, the higher the profile of the endoprosthesis. In this regard, they are divided into:
- High profile implants. They are used if the patient has a narrow chest, as well as if there is a desire to maximize enlargement and get boldly protruding breasts.
- Low-profile implants are usually placed in women with normal and wide chests and sufficient volume of integumentary tissue who want to achieve a natural result.
Breast endoprosthetics with round implants with a high profile 325 cc
Breast endoprosthetics with round implants with an average profile of 250 cc
Rules for choosing a breast implant
When choosing an endoprosthesis, it is recommended to study the market and find out which models are popular. In addition, you need to take into account the following characteristics of a woman’s body:
- Natural breast size.
- Condition of the skin in the area of surgery.
- Elasticity of nearby tissues.
- The size of the chest.
- Body proportions.
- Breast density.
As a rule, the surgeon selects several options for prostheses and offers them to choose from during the next meeting with the patient. Naturally, he advises paying attention to those models that will make the breasts as natural and beautiful as possible. But the final choice still remains with the woman.
After determining the type of implant, the issue of its shape is resolved. To do this, the doctor determines how far the mammary glands are from each other and specifies the location of the nipples.
The last point of selection is coordinating sizes. Today, thanks to computer modeling, the patient can see what her breasts will look like after surgery.
Breast implants can solve various cosmetic problems. Some women agree to breast implantation for medical reasons, while others want to bring their appearance to certain standards. I would like to advise both of them not to try to save on endoprostheses and choose high-quality plastic surgeons who will help you make the right choice.
HOW TO CHOOSE BREAST IMPLANTS
After reading this article, it will be easier for women planning to undergo augmentation mammoplasty to make the right choice. Although, you should still trust a plastic surgeon in this matter. Usually, they quite reasonably recommend installing silicone endoprostheses with a textured or polyurethane shell. As for the size of the prosthesis, it is selected after 3D computer modeling, taking into account the woman’s wishes and the following structural features of her body:
- height and general proportions;
- chest size;
- natural volume of the mammary glands;
- presence/absence of ptosis or breast tubularity;
- interthoracic distance;
- areola size;
- elasticity of fabrics.
Modern breast implants have a very long service life: for saline implants it is 18 years, and for silicone implants it is unlimited. The need to replace a breast prosthesis may arise when:
- complications: fibrocapsular contracture, displacement, rotation, change in shape;
- significant decrease or increase in body weight;
- changes in breast shape that occur after pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- rupture of the implant shell.
Advantages and disadvantages
The pros and cons of breast implant placement methods are not always obvious. The subglandular location of the endoprosthesis minimizes tissue trauma and has an easy rehabilitation period. The disadvantage of the method is that its application is limited due to the previously described features and the relatively higher risk of developing capsular contracture.
Installing an implant under the pectoral muscle gives an excellent aesthetic result, but is accompanied by significant tissue damage and requires a long recovery period. In addition, if a woman is engaged in bodybuilding, it is better to refuse submuscular implantation. The advantages include a minimal risk of fibrocapsular contracture and the ability to install an implant of any size.
SOHO CLINIC doctors always choose the optimal method for installing endoprostheses, based on the anatomical features and wishes of the woman. Make an appointment with a plastic surgeon and get answers to your questions during a free consultation.
LEADING MANUFACTURERS OF BREAST IMPLANTS
There are several companies whose endoprostheses are in demand in modern aesthetic surgery:
- Silimed (Brazil). The company produces anatomical, round and cone-shaped implants with smooth, rough and polyurethane shells for prosthetics of the breasts, buttocks and legs. Excellent shape memory, impeccable quality, lifetime guarantee of prosthetic safety, and a 10-year guarantee against capsular contracture and shifts.
- Sebbin (France). The company produces anatomical and round silicone implants with smooth and rough shells for augmentation of the mammary glands, buttocks and legs. Excellent quality, excellent shape constancy, a large selection of sizes and the creation of endoprostheses for individual orders - all this is appreciated by even the most demanding patients.
- Mentor (USA). The company creates round and anatomical endoprostheses filled with highly cohesive gel and with a textured coating. It is believed that this company produces the most elastic implants.
- Allergan/McGhan/Natrelle (USA). Endoprostheses from this company have special pores, which helps them to be securely fixed in the soft tissue of the gland. The company produces implants of all types and shapes.
- Arion (France). The company produces anatomical and round endoprostheses filled with silicone and hydrogel. A distinctive feature of the implants from this manufacturer is the six-layer coating and the presence of an adhesive-free valve. Lifetime warranty.
Didn't nature make sure that you had a gorgeous bust? Don't worry - with the help of modern aesthetic surgery you can correct the shape and size of your breasts! Take the first step towards making your dream come true - visit a plastic surgeon.
The cost of breast augmentation with implants at the Abrielle clinic depends on the method and access, which is determined during the consultation. It should include staying in the ward (1-2 days), anesthesia, compression garments and rehabilitation procedures.
If you still have questions about breast implants or are interested in this operation, call and make an appointment at the Abrielle clinic by phone and 8 (921) 99-22-335.
What factors influence the choice?
The main nuance in this matter is the opinion of the doctor, who will recommend the patient a more suitable option, based on the following factors:
- shape and size of the patient’s body;
- anatomical features of the breast - natural shape and size;
- the patient’s needs: what result she wants to get;
- amount of skin, mammary gland;
- volume, integrity of breast tissue;
- lifestyle, physical activity of the patient.
At the first consultation, the girl’s breast volume, rib cage, total weight, and height are measured. After receiving data about the patient, the plastic surgeon will be able to recommend the best implant option. To decide which one will be more suitable and comfortable, the patient will be able to try on several proposed options.
