Understanding Implants
When you consider that the three leading implant manufacturers offer hundreds of saline and silicone breast implant styles to choose from, you might be tempted to buy another padded bra in Los Angeles and forget breast augmentation altogether. But don't feel overwhelmed, there are essentially just a few things to learn about: manufacturers; fillings; shapes and covers; size and projection.
If it still seems like too much information, just request your consultation with Dr. Stevens or Dr. Stoker online for the ability to save up to $150 on your consultation at select times. The surgeons have decades of experience with breast implants and will help guide you through the implant selection process.
Saline and Silicone Breast Implant Manufacturers
Mentor Corporation (http://www.mentor4me.com) is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California and has manufactured breast implants for more than 30 years. The company makes both saline-filled implants and silicone breast implants filled with Mentor's MemoryGel™. Over a million women around the world received these implants prior to FDA approval in the U.S. in November 2006. Dr. Stevens and Dr. Stoker are among just a few dozen surgeons who have been chosen to participate in Mentor's cohesive gel (gummy bear) silicone implant clinical trials.
Allergan Corporation (http://www.breastimplantstoday.com) is an Irvine, California-based pharmaceutical and medical device company. Allergan became one of the biggest players in the breast implant market when it acquired Inamed Corporation (formerly McGhan) in early 2006, just a few months prior to the FDA's re-approval of silicone breast implants. Allergan offers both saline and silicone implants, and has a silicone gel style commonly known as the 410 in clinical trials.
Sientra, Inc. (http://www.sientra.com) also is located in Santa Barbara, California. The company entered the implant market with its early 2007 purchase of Silimed, a Brazilian implant manufacturer whose silicone implants have been used in over 50 countries since 1981. Like Mentor and Allergan, Sientra also has silicone gel breast implants currently under study in the United States. Dr. Stevens and Dr. Stoker are among the select group of surgeons authorized to use these implants with patients who qualify.
The Implants
Silicone breast implants are preferred by many plastic surgeons and patients because they tend to yield superior results. Today's silicone gel is semi-firm to the touch, yet it also gives and feels pliant. Dr. Stevens and Dr. Stoker offer currently-approved fourth generation silicone gel implants, and they are conducting clinical trials for the fifth generation "gummy bear" implants. These are also considered to be "form stable," meaning they retain their shape whether you're standing up or lying down, thereby virtually eliminating rippling or folding in their shells.
Saline filling appeals to some women because they're familiar with the solution and trust its benign properties. And since saline implants are inflated after placement inside the body, incisions can often be smaller than for silicone implants. Dr. Stevens and Dr. Stoker have found that many of their patients in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles prefer silicone breast implants, however, due to the aesthetic limitations of saline devices. Some women say they don't care for the liquid feel of saline implants. And with a liquid filling there's the added risk of rippling. Also, saline implants are often not a good choice for small-framed women.
Shapes and Covers
Silicone and saline implants come in two basic shapes, round and anatomical (or teardrop shaped), and with two types of covers or shells, smooth or textured. Round implants have been more readily available over the years and, contrary to what you may think, they don't cause a fake look when proper surgical technique is used. Round saline implants (and older silicone models) move with you, becoming fuller at the bottom when you're standing up.
Anatomical implants – teardrop in shape – were designed to create a natural-looking breast by facilitating a gradual slope of the chest wall and more volume at the bottom of the breast. Since they have their distinctive shape, it's important the implants don't turn inside the breast pocket. Therefore, anatomical implants have textured covers to allow scar tissue inside the breast to adhere and keep them stable.
Size and Projection
It can be difficult to decide on implant size, and while it's one of the most important decisions you'll make for your procedure, choosing the implant size that will give you the result you're looking for can be a challenge. For one thing, the three manufacturers size their implants using cc's, or cubic centimeters, rather than cup sizes. When you add in the dimension the experts refer to as "projection," which describes how far the implant "sticks out" from the chest wall, and other measurements such as height and base width, it becomes even more difficult to imagine which implant will be best.
Fortunately, you're not alone in this all-important decision. Dr. Stevens and Dr. Stoker have worked with literally thousands of women throughout the years, and they know which implant will give you the result you're seeking. After you use our Inside Online feature to request your FREE appointment during one of the select times our surgeons have set aside for complimentary consultations, be sure to gather up photos, ideas and questions before your appointment and come prepared for an honest discussion of what will look best. You'll soon know you've chosen the right implant by choosing the right plastic surgeon.
