Breast-augmentation Surgery: How to Choose the Perfect Prostheses
For women, breasts are not just a part of the body, but a symbol of confidence, and the volume of their breasts determines how they dress, voluminous breasts are regarded as women’s dream. There is a high interest in breast augmentation among women who want to have beautiful and voluminous breasts.
Materials of Breast Prostheses: Silicone and Saline
Permanent breast prostheses for long-term use are mostly made from medical grade silicone gel. However, if a prosthesis tears or punctures, the silicone can’t be absorbed by our body. So, silicone gel typed breast prostheses are prohibited. Saline prostheses are safer because if it tears, most of the salt water will reabsorb into the body. But it is difficult to keep beautiful breast shape. That is the reason there are fewer saline prostheses using.
The Latest Material: Cohesive Breast Prostheses
Cohesive breast prostheses are a new generation of silicone implants which is different from traditional silicone breast prostheses. That is more chemical “Crosslinks” or connections between the silicone molecules, so the gel is firmer, no risk of leakage.
Shape of Cohesive Breast Prostheses
- Teardrop Breast Implants
Teardrop breast prostheses are fullness toward the bottom of the breast, tapering off at the top. It is referred to as “Anatomic Implants because they are thought to closely mimic the appearance of many natural breasts. However, the viscosity of the gel is made high to maintain the teardrop shape, so it has a disadvantage in that it is less satisfying to touch compared to the round breast implants, and there are little changes in shape according to posture. - Round Breast Implants
The round type is further divided into a smooth type and a textured type according to the surface material.
1) Smooth type
- Pros. Smooth surface and good touch, and the movement of the implant is natural
- Cons. Risk of contracture, Massage is necessary after surgery
2) Textured type
- Pros. Due to the fine surface, it prevents the over-formation of the capsule and tissue grows between the implants and its firmly fixed after surgery
- Cons. Less tactile than the Smooth type
3) Micro textured type
Micro texture is a prosthesis with the pros of both smooth and textured type together.
- Pros. Minimize scarring due to small incision required for surgery with high viscoelastic. Low risk of contracture and has a smooth texture with natural movement
- Implant companies such as Motiva (Alajuela, Costa Rica), BellaGel(Seoul, South Korea), Mentor(Irvine, Ca, USA), Eurosilicone(Apt, France) launched micro-textured products.
How to Choose the Perfect Prostheses
Even though the micro textured type of implant is relatively superior technology, but it does not mean it is the best implant. If your skin is thick and the tissue is not stretched enough than other people, you choose teardrop which has high viscosity to prevent implants spread out by skin pressure.
A good implant is one that is suitable for you depending on the skin thickness of the breast skin, the degree of stretching, and degree of fat.
Dr. Jenifer Song, Owner & President of VIVA Plastic Surgery Clinic, advised, “It is not good to get breast augmentation only focusing on bigger size. It is good to choose implants and surgical methods that suit your body type and style. As the types and characteristics of implants have diversified, you should consult with doctor who has specialized knowledge about this before deciding on surgery.”.