Breast Implant Options

When considering breast augmentation surgery, there are a lot of options to consider and questions to answer. Some of the most common questions patients ask are about breast implants. What are they? What do they do? What is the difference between them? There is a lot of information to cover. Here, we have broken down breast implants into the fundamental differences between them, so you know everything you need to decide which breast implants are best for you.

Why choose Dr. Bandy?

Dr. Amy Bandy is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Newport Beach, California, with over 20 years of experience. She is a top plastic surgeon in Orange County and Los Angeles County and was voted “Best Cosmetic Surgeon” by the Orange County Register’s People’s Choice Survey.

What are the benefits?

Breast implants are designed to enhance the size of your breasts without causing medical complications. This is why implants of all types are covered in medical-grade silicone. Breast implants are the safest and most effective way to increase breast volume.

Am I a candidate?

When considering your options regarding breast augmentation, the first major question is, ‘Am I healthy enough for surgery’? If the answer is no, then you should not have any form of breast augmentation. If the answer is yes, you should determine what your goals are for breast enhancement. During your consultation, Dr. Bandy will help you choose the right implant and surgery type to achieve your desired goals. It is important that your goals are realistic; some results may not be possible or medically safe to perform on certain patients. 

Are you interested in learning more about breast implants? Call Dr. Bandy at (949) 574-0574 to schedule your consultation.

What are the types of implants?

All breast implants are covered in medical-grade silicone. What differentiates them is the material they are filled with.

Saline

Saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution. This makes them the safest and cheapest option for breast implants. Saline implants are also able to filled after insertion. This allows saline implants to stretch breast tissue, resulting in larger and more lifted breasts. Saline implants are inserted deflated so the incisions are smaller, resulting in smaller scars than other implants.

Unfortunately, saline implants also come with downsides. The breast could to take on a distinctly artificial contour, which many patients do not desire. There’s also a higher risk of skin rippling or contour deformities, resulting in breasts that do not match the desired aesthetic. Therefore, while they are offered, saline implants have declined in popularity in recent years.

Silicone

Silicone implants are filled with a silicone-based gel inside the harder outer shell. This causes them to better simulate the texture and weight of natural breast tissue, creating a more natural appearance and feel. They may be shaped to give a more natural appearance to the breast. Silicone implants are the most common type of breast implant used today and come in natural and round shapes.

Silicone implants have the disadvantage of being filled and shaped before the implantation process. This means that the incision and resulting scar will be larger compared to a saline implant. The gel inside the implant will also presents more significant health risks in the case of an implant rupture. For this reason, it is important that you get periodic checkups if you have a silicone implant to ensure that a rupture has not occurred.

Dr. Bandy and Kaitlyn discuss breast augmentation with implants, including style, size, shape, incision location and more.

Gummy Bear

Gummy bear implants are a type of silicone implant that uses a more cohesive form of silicone gel. This provides greater safety compared to a traditional silicone implant in the event of a rupture.

What type of implant shapes are there?

Round

Round implants are the most common type of implant used. They are generally inserted under the pectoral muscle, to provide a more natural feel. They tend to be softer and more likely to rotate in the breast pocket over time, though they have a reduced risk of contour deformity should shifting occur.

The downside to round implants usually only applies to patients whose implants are placed above the pectoral muscles. In these cases, round implants may not hold the breast’s shape, resulting in breasts that look round and artificial.

Shaped

Shaped implants are usually silicone and are more rigid than round types. This allows them to hold their shape better, a significant advantage when the implants are not held in place by the pectoral muscles. The teardrop shape of these implants more closely mimics natural breast tissue.

Moreover, shaped implants are less likely to shift over time, allowing the breast’s contours to last longer. However, if they do shift, shaped implants are highly likely to result in contour deformities.

What is the difference between smooth and textured implants?

Smooth

Smooth implants are the most common. They can smoothly rotate position within the breast pocket, which can reduce tension and stress on the surrounding tissues during movements.

Textured

Textured implants are shaped with a rough surface, designed to grip the surrounding tissue and prevent slippage. This is ideal when using a shaped implant that is not held in place by muscles.

Unfortunately, certain Allergan™ textured implants have been discontinued due to links between the texture of those implants, and breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). At this time, the textured implants of Sientra® and Mentor® have not been linked to instances of BIA-ALCL. Nevertheless, many surgeons, including Dr. Bandy, have become leery of using textured implants until more research has been done. As such, Dr. Bandy no longer offers textured implants.

What implant brands are offered?

Dr. Bandy offers implants from three major brands, Allergan™ (Natrelle®), Mentor®, and Sientra®. Each of these brands offers distinct types of implants. 

How much do breast implants cost?

The cost of breast implants can vary depending on the brand, type, and size. You should also consult your surgeon about how the cost of the implant compares to that of the surgery. Some implants may be less expensive but create a more complicated (and thus more expensive) surgical procedure. The reverse may also occur in some cases.

Want to learn more about breast implants?

Contact Dr. Bandy to schedule a consultation by filling out our online contact form or calling us at (949) 574-0574.