Plastic Surgeon, FRACS(Plas)

Breast implant that is right for you

A Brazilian, a tear drop or a round implant

Contemporary concepts of female beauty and femininity necessitate that the breast be aesthetically pleasing in all situations of dress and undress. For different women this can mean different things.

With modern advances in plastic surgery, breast size is a matter of personal choice. Now, women who dream of a curvier, fuller figure can increase their breast sizes and improve their shape. However, what makes an excellent breast augmentation different from the obvious boob job. The aim is to produce a natural result by choosing the right implant that suits your chest dimensions producing breasts that don't look augmented, but rather completely natural.

An excellent breast augmentation should look natural, feel real and have a natural shape. There should be natural cleavage, without webbing between the breasts and a certain amount of perkiness.

Some considerations that make for a desirable breast augmentation include: place of incision, what type of implant to use, placement of the implant, texture of the implant, size of the implant, thickness of your breast tissue, presence of sagginess, asymmetry and desired breast width, height and projection.

Shapes of implants

Implants can be round, teardrop-shaped or combination of the above two what is also known as “natural enhance” Brazilian implants.

Round Brazilian implants are disc-shaped and exhibit equal fullness in all 4 quadrants of the breast. Refer to patient 1

Teardrop implants (also called anatomic implants) exhibit reduced fullness in the upper pole of the breast and increase fullness in the lower half of the breast. These implants are narrower than rounded implants at the superior and inferior poles. Refer to patient 2

Brazilian natural enhance implants are tear drop implants that are round in shape (the height and width of the implants are equivalent). Refer to patient 3

Each implant can be further classified into low-, medium-, and high-profile. A low-profile implant has a broader base and lower height when viewed on a table next to a high-profile implant of comparable volume (a medium-profile implant has base and height dimensions in between the two).

Breast Implants, Safety and Efficacy of Silicone.

Silicone is probably the most studied implantable material available today. After over 35 well-conducted studies from many countries, it seems certain that this material does not cause disease. There is also no hard evidence reveals that a broken implant is harmful. Almost all of the problems that can occur with breast implants, such as infection, hardening, extrusion, and malposition are related to the surgical procedure as oppose to the implant itself.

A great deal of recent safety research combined with more than 40 years of clinical experience has proven the value and relative safety of breast implants. Aside from the unique adverse effect of capsular contracture, the complication rate of this surgery approaches that of any clean elective procedure. To date, no convincing evidence exists of any systemic disorder that can be attributed to silicone.

Pregnancy and lactation

Using silicon levels as an indicator of silicone content, current studies show no increase in the human milk of implanted women. A small sampling of milk measured directly for silicone also has failed to detect levels any higher than the controls. Even if milk did contain silicone, the amount would be far less than an infant would receive from a drop full of paediatric milk formulas, in which silicone antifoam is the main ingredient.

The evidence suggests that lactation insufficiency is related either to congenital glandular inadequacy, usually associated with smaller breasts, or with periareolar access surgery that may damages some ductal system. The inframamary approach remains the safest method of breast augmentation.

Generally, women should be reassured about pregnancy, birth defects, and lactation after breast augmentation.

Breast augmentation: Key facts at a glance

Operation length: 1.5-2 hrs

Anaesthetic: Local with some sedation (twilight sleep) or general anaesthesia

Clinic stay: Outpatient or one night

Post-operative: 7 days with dressing bandage and 4 weeks with sport bra.

Time off work: about one week, depending on the type of work

Sport: light exercise after 4 weeks, strenuous Sport (tennis, swimming, jogging) 4-6 weeks

Q & A

How long should I stay off work?

A patient should stay off work for 7 days. Post operative check up at one week after surgery.

How is surgery performed?

The incision may be done around the areola, at the armpits, or at the inferior breast folds depending upon the patient's choice and doctor's preference. The position of implant placement can be above the muscle, under the muscle or combination of both techniques, under the muscle in the upper pole and under the breast tissue in the lower pole, what is also known as Dual Plane, depending on an individual’s anatomy.

What kinds of implant are used for the surgery?

There are 3 overall types of breast implants: silicone breast implants, polyurethane foam implants and saline breast implants. Silicone and polyurethane foam covering implants are normally used because they give more natural look and feel.

What is the post-surgical care?

After the surgery, there may be pain around the breast for 2-3 days. A soft bra, without underwire, can be normally worn one week after surgery. Swelling will subside gradually over 4-6 weeks.

How will the scar looks?

The position of the scar depends on the location of the incision. Generally, the Scar does gradually fade and become fine white line.

What are the possible risks and complications?

The main risks factors are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, scarring and numbness, or change in sensation. Following the surgeon’s advice will reduce risks and complications.

Patient 1
Round Brazilian implants. Produce a great cleavage and upper pole fullness

Patient 2
Anatomical tear drop implants. Natural shape breast. More fullness in the lower pole.

Patient 3
Natural Enhance Brazilian implants. They look full yet quite natural.