Differences between breast implants

When a patient is considering undergoing a breast augmentation, there are many choices when it comes to implant type, size and placement. Here are seven things you should know about breast implants and their differences. 

1.     Silicone breast implants are the most popular implant type because they consist of a gel that feels most like natural breast tissue.
2.     Silicone gel implants won’t collapse when ruptured or leaking, which is why you will need to see your surgeon regularly to ensure your implants are intact. If it ruptures, the gel may remain in the shell, but it could leak into the breast implant pocket without you knowing.
3.     Saline implants consist of an outer silicone shell that are inserted into the breast implant pocket and then filled with sterile salt water. This allows for smaller incisions and custom sizing during surgery.
4.     If a saline implant ruptures or leaks, the implant will collapse, and the patient will know right away. The body will naturally absorb and process the sterile salt water.
5.     Silicone implants are FDA-approved for patients ages 22 and older, while saline implants are approved for patients 18 and older.
6.     The IDEAL IMPLANT is a type of saline implant that has additional structure to give the patient a more natural feel. It’s similar to a traditional saline implant in that if it ruptures, the body will absorb the harmless saline.
7.     During your consultation, Dr. Price will discuss different placement options. Submuscular implant placement is the preferred method because it provides a more natural appearance and less chance of wrinkling or rippling. Subglandular implant placement means that the breast implant is placed behind the breast tissue and in front of the pectoral muscle. It helps women who have sagging but don’t want a breast lift.

Dr. Price uses a 3D imaging system to help you see what your body would look like with different implant sizes. If you are interested in learning whether you are a candidate for breast augmentation, call (203) 453-6635 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Price.