Posted May 16, 2022 in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants
4 Minute Read:
If you are considering breast augmentation to increase the size of your bust, you should know about your breast implant options. Not only do you get to choose the size and type of implant, but at your plastic surgery consultation, you will also discuss placement with your plastic surgeon.
These elements of breast enhancement surgery and how they will affect you in the future are important to think about before making your final decision.
How Breast Implants Can Affect Your Lifestyle
Breast augmentation can produce dramatic results and increase your confidence significantly. However, keep these three questions in mind:
How Will Bigger Breasts Impact a Highly Active Lifestyle?
Athletes, dancers, and others with highly active lifestyles often want to increase the size of their breasts but are afraid of how larger breasts can affect performance.
It is true that choosing overly large implants can be troublesome for professional and amateur athletes; however, many sportswomen are able to get the breasts they want with the help of plastic surgery. They just need to plan accordingly and choose wisely.
Often, it is suggested that very athletic women are slightly more conservative when it comes to implant size.
Placement is also a key factor for this population, and breast implants are often placed under the muscle (submuscular implant placement).
How Does Pregnancy Affect Breast Implants?
Breast tissue and skin grow and stretch to accommodate the incoming milk supply during pregnancy. This can often lead your augmented breasts to lose some firmness and change shape.
While many young women choose to receive breast implants before having children, they should be aware that their breasts may change appearance after having children — just like their breasts would if they didn’t have implants.
If your implants sit differently in your breasts following children, you can opt for a breast lift after pregnancy to restore your original results.
Is Breastfeeding Possible After Breast Augmentation?
Implants are typically placed under the chest muscles (submuscular) or behind the milk glands (subglandular), which will not usually affect breastfeeding. However, the type of incision used for your breast augmentation may affect your ability to nurse your baby.
The nerves around your nipples are integral in breastfeeding as they signal the release of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin encourages breast milk to be produced, and oxytocin triggers the letdown response. When damaged, sensation in these nerves is reduced.
For this reason, if you intend to get pregnant and nurse in the future, discuss your incision options carefully with your surgeon. Incisions that keep the areola intact are less likely to interfere with breastfeeding. These incisions are made under the breast or in the armpit.
Choosing Your Breast Implant Material and Shape
Now that you have a little more information let’s get into the exact type of implant you want.
Breast Implant Material
Your breast implant includes a silicone shell filled with either silicone or saline.
Saline Implants
- Allow for smaller incisions as they are placed when empty and filled with saline water during the procedure
- Easier to diagnose leaks or ruptures
- Rippling, wrinkles, and visible implant edges are more likely
- FDA approved for women over the age of 18
Silicone Implants
- Contain leak-resistant, cohesive silicone gel which mimics the feel and appearance of natural breasts
- Longer incisions are often needed for implant placement
- Less prone to developing visible wrinkles or ripples
- MRI required to detect Implant leaks or ruptures
- FDA approved for women over the age of 22
Breast Implant Shape
Choosing the shape of your implant is another important aspect of breast augmentation.
Round implants
- Round implants are commonly used because if they turn around in the breast pocket, it doesn’t lead to an altered shape or deformity
- Round implants offer the most fullness and cleavage, but the results may look more artificial than teardrop implants
Teardrop implants
- Provide a more natural-looking contour than round implants due to their anatomical shape
- Can offer better breast projection and a more natural breast appearance
- May distort the shape and appearance of the breast if they rotate in the pocket
Profile and Position
- Implants with a low profile have a wider base and lower projection
- Implants with a high profile have a narrower base and higher projection
Beverly Hills Breast Implant Specialist | Dr. Robert Rey
You may have heard about Dr. Rey from either E!’s “Dr. 90210” or Netflix’s “Celebrity Plastic Surgeons of Beverly Hills,” but until you have a consultation with him, you’ll never understand the true extent of his passion and dedication to improving the quality of life for his patients.
Dr. Rey is currently accepting new patients and our Beverly Hills plastic surgery practice staff welcomes your call. Be sure to ask about his revolutionary “no-visible-scar breast augmentation.”Call us today at (310) 205-3107 or schedule a consultation by clicking our contact button below.