What Is the Healthiest Breast Implant?

If you are looking to enhance the appearance of your breasts, breast augmentation and a breast lift could be viable options. Nevertheless, some women are apprehensive about the safety of breast implants and wonder if they are safe.

Fortunately, current breast implants available in the US are FDA-approved and generally deemed safe for the majority of patients. To help you make an informed decision about this popular procedure, the following paragraphs provide additional details regarding the healthiest types of breast implants.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline implants are one of the most popular types of breast implants. They are filled with sterile saltwater and require a smaller incision when placed in the chest. They are inserted empty and filled after being situated in the breast pocket.

If they leak, the body will absorb the saline, so there are no health risks. This is one of the reasons some believe that saline is the healthiest breast implant surgery.

On the downside, saline implants may not feel as natural as other implants. Also, saline implants may be prone to show rippling, which can be an issue for thinner women without native breast tissue.

Structured Saline Breast Implants

This is a newer kind of saline implant filled with sterile salt water. However, the implant contains an inside structure that may make the implant feel more realistic and natural to the touch.

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone breast implants contain silicone gel that usually feels more natural than saline implants. If the breast implant ruptures and leaks, the gel usually stays in the implant, but it will need to be replaced.

Because the silicone stays in the shell if it ruptures, you may not even know you have a rupture without a breast scan. You may need to go back to the surgeon every year or two to ensure the implants are intact.

At one time, some concerns leaking silicone implants could affect the patient’s health. However, FDA has approved silicone implants, and there isn’t any evidence that leaking silicone implants harm a woman’s health.

Gummy Bear Breast Implants

Gummy bear breast implants are also called form-stable breast implants because they keep their shape even if the implant’s shell is broken. This is because the silicone gel inside the shell is thicker than regular silicone implants and they also tend to feel the most realistic of all breast implants.

Another option with this type of implant is shaped gummy bear breast implants. They have additional projection on the bottom and are tapered at the top. This makes the implant look as natural as possible.

However, if the implant moves, it could make the implant look unnatural, and you would need revision surgery.

Round Breast Implants

Round breast implants make the breasts look fuller than form-stable breast implants. If you choose an implant with a higher profile, you can have even more projection. Some patients who want a more dramatic change and increase in breast size may wish to higher profile implants.

Textured Breast Implants

Textured breast implants have become more popular because they develop scar tissue that sticks to the implant. This makes it less likely they will move inside the breast pocket.

Also, a textured breast implant may have less risk of capsular contracture. This condition is where the scar capsule around the implant contracts and distorts the implant.

Fat Transfer

The last type of breast augmentation to consider is fat transfer breast augmentation. This procedure removes fat from one part of the body with liposuction Portland, then transferred into the breasts.

Fat transfer breast augmentation may be a good choice if you want an all-natural procedure without implants. However, fat transfer only will give you about one additional cup size. If you want a more significant size increase, you will need saline or silicone implants.

What Kind Of Implants Should You Choose?

Having breast augmentation is a significant decision. Deciding which type of implants to have is one of the choices you will need to make, but you can rely on the expertise of your surgeon to offer the best advice.

Both types of implants have their strengths and weaknesses. For example, women who are thinner with smaller breasts may have better results with a silicone implant. This is because saline implants tend to ripple more, which is often more visible in women with less native breast tissue.

Silicone gel implants also look and feel more natural than saline breast implants.

On the other hand, saline implants are inserted in the chest deflated and are filled after they are in the chest. This allows the incisions to be smaller. If the implant is weakened and ruptured, the saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body.

Silicone gel filled implants are also safe, but some women have concerns that silicone could leak into the body if there is a rupture. The FDA states there is no evidence that silicone from breast implants can harm the body, however.

The choice between silicone, saline, and other types of breast implants is a personal decision you should review with your plastic surgeon. Either way, you are highly likely to be happy with your breast augmentation.

Questions and Answers about Breast Implants

What is the new warning about breast implants?

There have been recent warnings about the risk of breast implant illness associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare type of cancer that can develop in the scar tissue surrounding breast implants.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement indicating that it has received reports of 733 cases of BIA-ALCL, including 36 deaths, as of September 2021.

The warning advises patients with breast implants to monitor their breasts for any changes such as swelling or lumps, and to seek medical attention if they experience any unusual symptoms such as pain, lumps, swelling, or asymmetry in their breasts.

Women who are considering breast implants should also be aware of the potential risks and benefits associated with this type of surgery, and should discuss these with their healthcare provider.

What is the chance of breast implant illness?

Breast implant illness (BII) is a term used to describe a range of symptoms that some women with breast implants report experiencing, including fatigue, joint pain, rash, brain fog, and other issues.

However, it is important to note that BII is not an officially recognized medical diagnosis, and the exact cause of these symptoms is not fully understood.

There is currently no definitive data on the prevalence or incidence of BII, and estimates of the percentage of women who experience symptoms vary widely. Some studies have reported that up to 50% of women with breast implants may experience symptoms that they attribute to BII, while others have found much lower rates.

It’s also important to note that there are many factors that can contribute to the development of these symptoms, including pre-existing health conditions, lifestyle factors, and psychological factors.

What is the healthiest breast implant?

It is important to note that there are risks of breast implants, whether saline or silicone, have the potential to cause health problems like breast cancer.

The safety and health risks associated with breast implants are complex and vary depending on the type of implant, individual factors such as genetics and lifestyle, and the surgical technique used.

It is recommended that individuals considering breast augmentation consult with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon to discuss breast implant safety issues and benefits of different types of breast implants, and make an informed decision based on your individual circumstances and goals.

Request A Breast Augmentation Consultation

Thinking about breast augmentation in Portland? Plastic Surgeons Dr. Aric Aghayan is proud to serve Portland area patients at his practice, Après Plastic Surgery.

He’ll go over the best way to sleep after surgery, options, goals, and more to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for breast augmentation.

References

Breast Augmentation Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation/implants

About FDA approved Breast Implants. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/breast-implants/art-20045957