Breast Implant Options

After you've decided on the look you want to achieve, you can begin to make decisions regarding the finer details of your breast augmentation surgery, specifically choosing from the Incision Options and also making decisions about your breast implants. There are four main variables you have to decide:

• Size
• Fill type and level
• Projection
• Shape

Dr. Broadway is very experienced with breast augmentations, and he has learned what looks good in a general sense, but what looks good for others may not be right for you, and for that reason he values your input. It is best to come in with a sense of how you feel about these options. Dr. Broadway will make suggestions and fine-tune the decision to make sure you achieve the look you want.

Size

In general, the bigger the implant, the more obvious and dramatic the change. If you want a subtler change, you should select a smaller implant. Depending on your body frame, there is probably also a maximum size over which you should not go if you hope to maintain a natural look, and, above that, a maximum limit on the size of implant your body will healthily support without undue risk of shifting or other complications. Also, the larger the breast implant with respect to your own breast tissue, the more it will dominate the shape of your breasts.

Fill

The two fill options are silicone and saline. In general, the silicone breast implants look and feel more natural. They are also more substantial and less dynamic when you move than saline implants. It is important to pay attention to the fill level, since it can affect both the dynamic of the implant and its profile. Every breast implant is made to be filled in a range of volumes, say, for example, 150-170 cubic centimeters (cc or milliliters(ml)). This implant, in low profile style, when filled to 150 cc has a diameter of 10.0 cm and a projection or height of 2.7 ml. When filled completely to 170 cc, it has a diameter of 9.9 cm and a projection of 3.2 cm. It is also less likely to ripple and will be less dynamic when full.

Profile

In the fill example above, we looked at a low profile implant, but there are also moderate and high profile options. The higher the profile, the more the implants will project from your chest per volume. Consider options with respect to the above example. A moderate profile implant of approximately the same volume will have a diameter of 9.6 cm and a projection of 3.3 cm, and a high profile implant will have a diameter of 8.8 cm and a projection of 4.3 cm. In order to achieve dramatic results if you have a small frame, you will want to consider a higher-profile implant.

Shape

Although most implants are round, all manufacturers offer shaped implants as well. These implants are all generally tear-shaped, narrow at the top, with more projection at the bottom. If you are looking for a dramatic improvement and are beginning with relatively small breasts, a shaped implant can help you achieve a result that is also natural.

When you have made your decision to have breast augmentation surgery, contact the office of Dr. David Broadway for a free initial consultation with his patient advocate. During your consultation, she will listen to your ideas, concerns, and questions, then provide you with all the information you need to make a fully informed decision on what is right for your individual needs.