Today, women have more breast implant options than ever. Women who decide to get breast implants can choose from a wide range of sizes, different filler materials, shapes and textures. Decisions depend on personal preference and what best suits your physical characteristics.
Board-certified plastic surgeon and breast surgeon Dr. Eric Mariotti is happy to talk you through each factor and find the right implant option for your goals.
The decision-making process begins with your breast augmentation consultation. Dr. Mariotti listens to your aesthetic goals and then performs a physical examination, including taking various measurements, that helps determine the types of implants that will best meet those goals. There are various factors you’ll need to consider.
Breast Implant Size
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Picking the right breast implant size is usually one of a woman’s main concerns. There are many different ways to try to achieve that look that you might be looking for, but Dr. Mariotti uses a combination of methods to decide which size implant would work best for you:
Cup size is a good starting point and Dr. Mariotti uses that to determine if you are looking for something conservative, voluptuous, or something in between. However, women find that they fit into different size bras depending on the store or the manufacturer.
Second, Dr. Mariotti will use his before-and-after breast augmentation photos to find someone with similar build and natural breast size and find which ones you may find too big, too small or just right.
Lastly, at a pre-operative visit, Dr. Mariotti will have you bring in a tight-fitting T-shirt. Using sizers in the bra, he will try to simulate different results.
Dr. Mariotti has found that the combination of all 3 methods works best in determining what results a woman is looking for. Some women bring in photos of models or specific before-and-after pictures to give Dr. Mariotti an idea of their desired results.
Saline vs. Silicone
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The choice between saline vs silicone breast implants is primarily based on your personal preference. There are certain advantages to each and silicone implants are the most popular choice in the U.S. right now. The cost of silicone breast implants is slightly higher, but many women say they feel more natural than saline. In recent years, several advanced silicone breast implant options have been approved by the FDA, giving women more choices than ever.
A saline solution fills the implant shell, which is made of silicone. Saline implants are filled after being inserted, allowing Dr. Mariotti to fine-tune the size and requiring shorter incisions. Because they do not feel as “natural,” these implants are a smaller portion of the implants used.
Second, Dr. Mariotti will use his before-and-after breast augmentation photos to find someone with similar build and natural breast size and find which ones you may find too big, too small or just right.
These highly cohesive, form-stable silicone gel breast implants earned the nickname “gummy bears” because the consistency of the filler resembles that of the candy. The implant is soft yet remains intact even if the shell were to split. These are often shaped or “anatomic” implants and can be good for women who do not want as much fullness in the upper area of the breasts.
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Breast Implant Shape
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Breast implants are either round or shaped like a teardrop to resemble the natural slope of a woman’s breast. Both saline and silicone implants are available in both shapes, although most saline implant choices are round.
Round implants tend to create more volume in the upper part of the breast, meaning more cleavage and teardrop-shaped implants have more volume at the bottom. Many women believe teardrop implants, also called “anatomical” implants, look more natural, but they run the risk of rotating within the breast and distorting breast shape.
Before & After
View real patient before and after photos in our gallery.
Smooth or Textured Implants
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The silicone shell of breast implants is either smooth or textured. Anatomically shaped implants are usually textured to minimize the chances of the implants rotating after being inserted. The rougher texture adheres to surrounding tissue and tethers the implant in place. There is evidence that smooth implants are more susceptible to capsular contracture, the most common complication, but that is largely minimized by placing the implant behind the pectoral muscle.
An implant’s “profile” refers to how far it projects from the chest, as well as the width of its base. The most common breast implant profiles are low, moderate, moderate-plus and high. The most appropriate implant profile for you depends on your physical characteristics and desired results. A person with a narrow chest, for instance, may be better suited for a certain profile than someone with a wider chest. Dr. Mariotti can help you make a decision that will be aesthetically pleasing based on your proportions.
Start Today!
Take the first step toward your dream look and contact us online or call our Concord office at 925-685-4533 to request a consultation.
*Information for education only, not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary. Unless otherwise noted, images on this site are of models.
Telephone No.9256854533