The first thing that usually comes to mind when considering implants is what size to choose. At New Birkdale Clinic, we constantly have patients requesting a similar shape or size as their friends, and seeming a little confused as to why their suggested implant is not the same. In this post, we aim to explain why that is the case in the hope of answering that query.

How Does A Surgeon Help You Choose Implant Size?

Your surgeon will firstly take the following factors into consideration:

Body Type.
How Broad Your Chest Is.
The Base Width Of Your Breasts.
The Distance Between Your Breasts.
How Much Breast Tissue Currently Exists To Cover The Implant.
Implant Placement: Whether It Should Be ‘Above’ Or ‘Below’ The Muscle.
Incision Location: This may be Inframammary, Periareolar Or Axillary.

After taking these measurements, he/she will discuss suitable implant shape, profile, shell surface and weight with you based on what you desire and what is realistic and feasible.

What Implant Shapes Are Available?

Implants come in two shapes: Round and Tear drop (‘anatomical’). Round implants are made of cohesive silicone gel and give the breasts fullness, a greater lift, creates a better cleavage and feels natural. Tear drop implants however are made of solid cohesive silicone gel and look more natural, giving a greater projection than round implants with the same weight or volume.

What Implant Profiles Are Available?

The profile of an implant relates to how far it projects outward from the chest wall. Implants of the same size (cubic centimetres (cc) volume) that have varied widths result in different levels of projection, and implants with a smaller base width give greater projection than those with a wider base width. This may begin to explain why you size differently to some of your friends. During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss available profiles and make a recommendation based on the above information.

The implant profiles available include:

Low: Good for women with wider chests, these implants will not project the breasts out too far.

Medium: Ideal for women with smaller chests, they provide greater projection and can improve their shape and size.

High: These are narrow at the base for maximum projection, providing the fullest and most rounded results, especially for women with narrower chests.

Medium high and Extra high profiles are also available.

What About Implant Volume?

Although implant sizes are measured in cubic centimetres (cc) on a scale from 120 cc’s to 850 cc’s, the cc’s actually refer to the weight of the implant, rather than their dimensions. Your dimensions are the measurements taken by your surgeon to determine appropriate size, profile and shape.

For example, if a woman chooses a 350 cc, a high profile implant will offer a lot of projection, but if she has a broad chest, the implant may not be wide enough.

Other decisions you need to make about your implants include shell surface (which may be smooth or textured) and gel type (which may be cohesive or responsive). Textured shells are thicker and feel firmer than smooth shells, which themselves have a lower rate of rippling, rupture and capsular contracture. Smooth shells are typically used with round implants, whereas textured shells tend to be used with tear drop implants.

With over 900 variations of implants, finding the right one for you involves a lot of consideration. We understand that you may want a similar size to your friends, but you will all have different body types, requirements and wants, and the surgeon is there to guide you. We hope this post has made things clearer, and do not hesitate to call us if you require further information.

Sometimes, the decision to undergo breast surgery is an easy one. You’ve felt unhappy for a while and now you have the resources to do something about it, you’re going to. That’s great. For others however, what to do is not so clear. We understand that. Therefore, we’ve created this handy post discussing what you should consider, hopefully helping you come to the right conclusion for you.

Which Breast Implant Should I Choose?

There are two main types of breast implants: Round and Teardrop. Round implants contain cohesive silicone gel, whereas in Teardrop implants the gel is made to a near-solid consistency. Round implants have a textured shell and tend to feel more natural than teardrop implants, although the latter provides a more natural shape and firmer feel. It all depends on what you’re going for. When discussing this with a surgeon, they will consider the amount of breast tissue you already have to help you choose.

There are also different placement options for breast implants.

What Should I Take Into Consideration When It Comes To Breast Implants?

Confusing thoughts circulating around your head? Let’s look at what you should consider:

Body Shape

Perhaps you’re unsure what size implants to get. You should always choose a breast size appropriate for your body type to appear genuine and not out of place. For example, a thinner woman may opt for a ‘’C’’ cup, though on a larger lady these may seem too small. Bigger breasts can also incur back pain and unwanted attention, so knowing what your mind and body can handle is very important.

Family History

If you have a family history of breast cancer, obesity or you smoke, then these heighten risks during and post-surgery. Smoking can prevent skin healing, but also break down collagen and lead to would collapse. Not only can this cause an infection, but potentially the need for implant removal. If you do smoke, it’s advised you stop. A doctor’s visit is always beneficial to check your suitability for surgery.

What is The Best Age to Get Implants?

It depends on the type of implant you want to get. For saline implants, it is 18 years but for silicone implants, it’s 22.

Women should get their breast implants during the optimal health period of their life which is usually in their 20s and 30s. However, there is no unfit age to get an implant as long as your body you are physically healthy to undergo a surgery and emotionally healthy to embrace the bodily change.

A younger body can also handle any post-surgery complications better and heal faster from it.

Can You Breastfeed With Implants?

In short, the answer is usually yes. Dependent on the procedure you had, whether there was scarring to the milk ducts and the amount of glandular tissue left after surgery, your ability to produce milk can vary.

Implants can affect breastfeeding in many ways like:

Incision Position

If an incision is made near the edge of the nipple or areola, the nerve that triggers the neuro-hormonal reflex that helps create and release milk may be cut, halting the process.

If the incision is made under the breast or arm pit, the glandular tissue and nerves remain intact, so milk supply should still be plentiful.

Though rare, a tummy button incision can cause damage to breast tissue when implants are positioned.

Where implants are placed can cause issues too. If the implants are located beneath the muscle layer of the breasts, then milk production will be impacted less than those found between the glandular tissue and muscle layer.

Scars

Scars can expand to the milk ducts, effecting milk supply. Worse, if the milk can’t reach your baby, you could experience engorgement and mastitis. Fever, chills and pain are not uncommon either.

Sensitivity

Implant surgery can cause women to experience discomfort, pain and sensitivity across the breast region. In this case, though you may be able to produce milk, you could find breastfeeding too difficult.

Can Damage to Glands and Ducts Heal?

Fortunately, yes. Glands and ducts can reconnect themselves after surgery and nerves tend to repair themselves over time. During pregnancy and times of breastfeeding, glandular tissue will also grow, aiding any loss.

How You Feel

Are your breasts making you feel unhappy every time you look at them? Are they too small? Are they sagging? Are they making you feel self-conscious? You should never feel bad about the way that you look and if you do, then implants could be that positive step to better body happiness.

We know this decision can be a difficult one, so we hope this post has given you lots to think about, ultimately making your decision more informed. We recommend you check out our ‘Breast Augmentation’ brochure for detailed information and advice on the procedure and what else you should be aware of.

Tag: Size

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