How Breast Implant Type and Placement Can Affect Your Results
How Breast Implant Type and Placement Can Affect Your Results
Although one of the first questions that women ask themselves prior to getting a breast augmentation is what size to get, there are other factors that need to go into your decision as well. Things like your implant type, placement, and incision type can all affect your final results, so these are things that you’ll want to bring up during your initial consultation. Prior to that, though, it can be a huge help if you already have an idea of what to expect for each of these factors. Here’s everything you need to know about your breast enhancement options.
Saline vs. Silicone
This is another popular question related to breast augmentation, and there’s certainly no shortage of information about which type might be better than the other. But the truth is, both saline and silicone implants come with their own set of benefits, so which one you choose will highly depend on your personal preferences.
Saline implants consist of an outer silicone shell that’s filled with a sterile saltwater solution after it’s been placed inside the breast. Because of this, the incision required for saline implants is typically slightly smaller than that used for silicone implants. Also with saline implants, there’s no risk of a silent rupture, although this type may be more likely to cause a rippled appearance.
Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel before being inserted into a pocket created in the breast. Some women feel that this implant type more closely resembles the look and feel of natural breast tissue. There is a possibility of a silent rupture, which would require detection by MRI because no obvious symptoms will be evident. (Mayo Clinic)
Submuscular vs. Subglandular
There are two primary options when it comes to the actual placement of your breast implants: subglandular and submuscular. Like your implant type, the placement will depend on your preferences and lifestyle.
Submuscular implants are placed either partially or entirely behind your chest muscle, which can be a good option for petite women with not as much natural breast tissue to camouflage the implant. Subglandular implants, on the other hand, are placed beneath your breast gland, but in front of your chest muscle. Very active women may want to opt for this placement type, as subglandular implants don’t interfere with muscle movement or performance. (The Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery)
Incision Type
Finally, you’ll want to consider the best incision type for your breast augmentation. The three most common incision types for this procedure are inframammary, periareolar, and transaxillary.
Inframammary incisions are the most popular type, and they are created in the crease underneath your breast. This allows your plastic surgeon easy access to the breast tissue to create the pocket to receive your implant, and scars are typically very well hidden under your breasts.
Periareolar incisions are made in a semi circle following the outline of your areola, typically on the bottom half. One of the main advantages of this type is that scarring can be virtually invisible. If you’re planning on breastfeeding after your breast augmentation, though, you may want to discuss other incision options with your plastic surgeon.
The main benefit of a transaxillary incision is that it doesn’t involve any incision or scarring on the breast itself. Instead, this incision is made in the natural fold of your armpit. While scars are more easily camouflaged with this type, a transaxillary incision can make it more difficult to achieve accurate placement of your implant. (The Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery)
Taking the Next Step
Although doing some preliminary research before going in for your consultation can be a useful step, it’s a good idea to speak with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon about all of your options. He or she will be able to address any questions or concerns you have about implant type, placement, and the incisions. It might also be helpful to ask to see breast augmentation before and after photos from their practice to get a better idea of the kinds of results you can expect.
At Premier Plastic Surgery & Dermatology in Pittsburgh and Wexford, our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Heil is committed to providing excellent care and quality results to those seeking breast augmentation. He would be happy to sit down with you to discuss your needs and goals, as well as help you decide which breast implant options might be best for you. To schedule a consultation and take the next step toward loving your look, please contact us at 724-264-3608.
