Are There Different Types of Breast Implants?


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Breast implants come in many shapes and sizes as well as being composed of different materials. The surface of the implant can either be textured or smooth, not only this but the implant may be either round or teardrop in shape. The filling, texture and shape aspects are the more simple choices that you will be presented with during your breast implant consultation and your surgeon will help your decide which is right for you.

Written here is a general guide to the breast implant types you may be presented with. Together with your surgeon, you will have to determine which will be safest and produce the most flattering results for you as an individual.

Breast Implant Surface: Smooth or Textured?

As the names suggest, the most obvious difference between smooth and textured implants is how their surface appears and feels: a smooth implant feels like a rubber balloon, whereas a textured breast implant has a feeling that you would compare more to sand paper and is also firmer.

The safety and durability also varies between the two different textured implants. Smooth implants tend to have thinner walls holding in the implant solution (usually silicone or saline) compared to the thicker walls of textured implants. Despite this, it has been reported that actually smooth implants are less likely to rupture and tend to last for a longer length of time.

Even though reading the above it seems that smooth implants would immediately seem the sensible option, textured implants do also have a major benefit over the smooth. This benefit is that the textured implants carry a significantly lower risk of an adverse effect known as capsular contracture. This side effect happens when either a scar or a capsule that surrounds the implant becomes thicker and tighter resulting in excessive pressure being put onto the implant causing it to become hard.

Breast Implant Shape: Round or Teardrop?

A round breast implant is relatively spherical in shape and is available with both a smooth or textured surface. Alternatively, there is the teardrop implant, which is also known as an anatomical implant. The latter was designed to try and provide women with more natural looking breasts after surgery. This has been done by making the implant more oval in shape as well as ensuring it carries more weight/volume at the bottom of the implant. Teardrop implants do have a tendency to flip once they are inside the breast. For this reason, they are only available with a textured surface as it carries a higher level of adherence with it.

The price of the different breast implants also differs. Round breast implants are generally cheaper than teardrop (or anatomical) breast implants. This is often due to the appearance of round breast implants often being stereotypically classed as more "fake"; however, this is not strictly true as round implants can, in fact, look just as natural as their teardrop alternative.

How fake or natural your breasts look after surgery using either of the shapes of implant depends on factors such as:

  • Your body shape
  • How much breast tissue is naturally present
  • The skill and experience of your surgeon

Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Silicone is probably the most well known substance in breast implants. It has been used in breast enlargement procedures for almost 50 years. Silicone gel is used to fill breast implants due to it being so lenient and soft, giving a more natural feel to the post-operative breast.

The most recently available type of silicone implant has got a textured surface. This has been done in an attempt to reduce the risk of the breast hardening due to capsular contracture.

There have been known cases of the silicone leaking from the implant, however, this has yet to be conclusively associated with any severe health issues. To overcome this potential problem, cohesive silicone gel breast implants have been created where their capsule is composed of several layers to prevent any tearing and leaking from occurring. The silicone gel is also thicker and of a more cohesive consistency so it would not just pour out if the capsule did happen to break.

Not only this, but studies have failed to prove that any link exists between silicone breast implants and diseases such as breast cancer. Therefore, the silicone gel breast implant is currently deemed as a safe, popular option for many who desire breast augmentation.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline breast implants are available with either a smooth or textured surface. The implant is composed of a silicone shell, which is semi-permeable and durable; this is then filled through a frontal valve with a saline solution. Saline is basically salt water and there are many similar fluids that naturally occur in your body. Therefore, if the implant happens to rupture, there should be not harm done to your body, as the saline is simply absorbed. If you do suffer from a saline implant rupture, you will be aware of it almost immediately, as the breast will lose its volume as the implant deflates.

Hydrogel Breast Implants

Hydrogel breast implants tend to be considered as having the same level of safety of a saline implant as it is biocompatible meaning that the body can cope with any leakage by absorbing the solution. Not only this but the hydrogel implant is able to maintain the benefits of a silicone gel implant, in that the breast will feel more natural and supple.

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