Breast Implants

Today there are more breast implant options for breast augmentation than ever before. Implants can be textured or smooth, round or anatomic (shaped), saline-filled or silicone gel-filled, and are available in all sizes and degrees of projection and width to accommodate each woman’s unique anatomy, needs, and desires for enhancement.

Breast Implant Types

Following a thorough examination and discussion, plastic surgeons Craig Rowin, MD and Ram Kalus, MD will recommend the type of breast implant most appropriate for you. Silicone implants contain an elastic cohesive silicone gel that feels much like a natural soft breast. This gives patients both a more natural look and feel. The FDA has approved the use of silicone implants as safe both for cosmetic augmentation in women 22 years old and older, and in reconstruction. However, they may also be used for younger women whose breasts may have developed with asymmetry or other abnormalities. By far, the most commonly used breast implant is a smooth round implant, either silicone gel-filled or saline-filled and, with proper size selection, will usually result in a very pretty enhancement for most women. The reason this seems to be a popular choice for women is that a smooth round implant will move slightly with a woman’s breast, more accurately resembling the behavior of the natural breast.

Understanding Implant Sizes

Implants vary in width, projection and volume. This can be very confusing to women, who are used to discussing one number only such as “300 cc’s”. To better understand which implant is best for you, please notice that on the top shelf in the photo below, all the implants have exactly the same width (12.5 cm), yet the less projecting implant with that width is a 275 cc Moderate or Classic, and the most projecting is a 590 cc Ultra High Profile. On the lower shelf, all of the implants are 300 cc implants, yet the less projecting implant has a width or diameter of 12.8 cm, and the most projecting of the 300 cc implants is the Ultra High Profile which has a 9.7 cm diameter.

Once it is determined which implant width or diameter would best fit you, the next step is to decide which what sort of look you are hoping to achieve, i.e. more projection, moderate, or least. This is determined by how much breast tissue you have naturally, and how large you ultimately wish to be. All of this would be discussed during your consultation. And don’t be shy about coming prepared with images which you feel best represent your desired end point. These can be determined by visiting our gallery,  www.WhatSizeShouldiBe.com, or any other photos you wish to bring. The advantage of using our gallery is that all of the relevant information about patient age, implant size and type, are clearly indicated.

MemoryGel^® Breast Implants Video

Contact Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas

For more information on breast implants, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rowin or Dr. Kalus, please contact Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas.