Atlanta Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Outlines the Breast Implant Features Important to Surgical Outcome
ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Larger breasts may the ultimate goal of breast augmentation, but size is only one of many important breast implant features that a woman should discuss with her plastic surgeon. Implant technology has advanced considerably over the last few years, resulting in a number of new options for both plastic surgeons and their patients.
Dr. David B. Brothers, a board certified plastic surgeon in Atlanta, finds that patients who arrive at their consultations well-informed about their breast implant options are more likely to ask all the questions necessary to feel confident in their choice to have a breast augmentation.
He advises women to go over all of the following breast implant features with their plastic surgeon before setting a date for surgery:
- Implant Type: Saline implants are inserted into the breast pocket through a small incision and then filled with a sterile saline solution. Silicone gel implants, which are implanted at full size, typically require a larger incision than saline. However, a relatively new implantation device called the Keller Funnel, which Dr. Brothers uses for silicone implant procedures, allows for smaller incisions. Silicone is often a more expensive option, but most women feel they have a softer, more natural feel than saline. Many plastic surgeons offer both types and will help a patient choose the best option for her.
- Surface Texture: Textured implants were designed to prevent capsular contracture, a condition in which scar tissue hardens around the implant. However, the textured surface can make the breasts feel or even look rippled, particularly in thinner women with less tissue to pad the implant. Smooth implants tend to feel softer, and are thought to be more durable in most cases. A plastic surgeon will help determine a patient's choice about implant texture, based on her existing features and her medical history.
- Shape: Round implants are circular in shape, resulting in a fuller, more rounded upper pole (top portion) of the breast. Contoured implants are designed to look more like a natural breast with a sloped upper pole. Both a woman's desired result and her plastic surgeon's recommendation for implant placement—either above or underneath the pectoral muscle—are factors in the choice of implant shape.
- Profile and Base Width: Profile is one of the breast augmentation choices that has a great impact on a woman's overall appearance. Measured in relation to the implant's base width, profile refers to the degree of forward projection that an implant provides. High profile implants will offer a curvier silhouette. A plastic surgeon will be able to demonstrate the effects that each different implant profile will have on a woman's figure.
- Size: Implant size refers to the volume of saline or silicone gel inside the implant. An appropriately sized implant will create larger or fuller breasts without overstretching the existing skin and tissue. A plastic surgeon will have samples of various sized implants for a patient to compare during her consultation.
Dr. Brothers stresses that an open dialogue between a patient and her plastic surgeon, including a thorough discussion about breast implant options, is essential to ensure the best possible breast augmentation results.
About Dr. David B. Brothers:
Plastic surgeon Dr. David B. Brothers is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also the developer of Le Mystere no. 9, a patented collection of bras designed specifically for augmented women. He practices at the Plastic Surgery Centre of Atlanta, 5673 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia, 30342. Reach him at (404) 257-9888 or www.pscatlanta.com.
Media Contact: Dr. David B. Brothers, (404) 257-9888 or www.pscatlanta.com.