If you’ve decided that Mother Nature fell a little short when it came to your breasts, a breast augmentation procedure can give you the profile you’re looking for. While enhancing your breast size may seem simple enough — you just choose the size you want and go — there are many other decisions to make before you run out to buy a larger bra.
Rest assured, the decisions before you are all designed to give you natural-looking breasts that look and feel great. Breast implants come in a variety of shapes and materials to suit every need, and Dr. Peter H. Grossman offers the most popular models from Natrelle® and Mentor®. At Grossman Plastic Surgery, our goal is to help women in West Hills, California, achieve the right breasts for their bodies.
To help you choose the right option for your body, the following is a brief snapshot of the available choices.
Saline, silicone, or gummy
One of the first decisions you need to make is what you want inside your implants. Let’s take a look at your choices:
Saline
There are two main reasons why women opt for saline. The first is the fact that we only make a very small incision through which we thread the empty implant. Once the implant is in place, we can fill it to your desired size with saline, which is a sterile saltwater solution. The second advantage of saline is that should the implant rupture, your body naturally absorbs the liquid.
On the negative side, saline implants can lack a natural feel and may appear to “ripple” on the surface, especially if you don’t have a lot of breast tissue.
Silicone
Implants filled with silicone gel are often the go-to choice because our patients find they offer a much more natural look and feel. Silicone holds its shape better than saline, and from the outside, they feel far more like your natural breast tissue.
While you need a bigger incision in order to fit the implants through, Dr. Grossman is adept at causing the least amount of scarring possible by going in through your nipple, under your breast, or under your armpit.
Gummy
Rounding out your choices are gummy implants, which offer a higher density of silicone and hold their shape better than the other choices. Gummy implants contain a cohesive gel that doesn’t leak or spill if ruptured.
And as if your choices weren’t varied enough, even the gummy products offer different densities, from gummy to gummier to gummiest, in the case of the Natrelle products.
Round or teardrop
Once you’ve decided what you want inside your implant, you now need to choose the shape. Your existing breasts largely dictate the choice between a classic round-shaped implant and a teardrop-shaped one. For example, if you’re just looking for more fullness, the round shape might work well for you. If your breasts are deflated from breastfeeding or age, a teardrop shape may be the better option.
The shape of your implant also determines the texture of the implant. Round implants are generally smooth on the outside so they feel more natural and move around your breast pocket easily. If you’re opting for a shaped implant, the exterior is textured in order to hold the implant in place better.
During your consultation with us, we’ll discuss your existing situation and recommend the right shape for your body and your goals.
And now for the size
Your final decision is what drove you to us in the first place, so let’s take a look. When it comes time to decide on the size of your implant, you should consider your proportions carefully. If you go too large, it can throw your body off balance and even cause musculoskeletal problems down the road.
The goal is to augment your breasts naturally, keeping them in line with your natural dimensions.
When you come in to see us for your initial consultation, we can do a little preop research and experiment with different sizes, finding the perfect one for your body.
If you want to get started on choosing the best option for your breast augmentation, please give us a call, or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.