Breast Implant Sizes
Women who are interested in breast augmentation often ask about breast implant sizes. This surgery is known as augmentation mammaplasty. Many women seek to have their breasts surgically enlarged so that their breasts are more proportionate to their body size and type. This can be due to genetics or age, or a multitude of other factors. For instance, patients often seek breast enlargement after loss of breast volume from drastic weight loss or after pregnancy. Breast implant sizes are listed based on their volume in cc's. Their shapes and sizes vary based on the type and brand of the implant. Many breast implant sizes are available on the market, and a few of them even offer the option of some post surgical adjustment with a relatively non-invasive visit to the surgeon's office. This makes small adjustments for better symmetry much easier.
Two major types of breast implants are on the market now. The first type is known as saline implants. The second type is known as cohesive gel silicone breast implants, which were FDA approved in 2006. Saline implants have been criticized for feeling hard or unnatural, but these issues can be addressed with advanced surgical techniques such as placing them behind the chest muscle, and slightly overfilling them. They have been approved for use by women who are 18 years old or older for augmentation, or at any age for breast reconstruction. Silicone gel breast implants are pre-filled with silicone gel, which is sticky and thick. This gel has the feel of human fat, which closely mimics that of the human breast. Some women feel that they look and feel more like natural breast tissue. These are available to women age 22 and up for breast augmentation, or for women of any age for breast reconstruction.
Simple breast augmentation surgery involves making an incision around the nipple or under the breast and inserting breast implants under the skin. The size and shape of the resulting breasts depends on the desires of the patient and the artistic skill of the surgeon. Breast reconstruction after trauma, mastectomy, or malformation of the breast is more complicated, but can utilize a variety of breast implant sizes and shapes.
For uncomplicated breast augmentation, the final breast size and shape depend on the natural breast size and shape plus the breast implant sizes and shapes. The effect is additive. Breast lifts and large changes in size and shape of the breast require more complex procedures than the simple breast augmentation. There are bra pads that a patient can wear before the surgery to help them choose which size they would like to be. Depending on the demographic of the region, it often happens that patients desire to be slightly larger than what they originally requested.
Please contact Dr. Pollard for more information about breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reconstructions and reductions, cosmetic changes in the breasts, and breast implant sizes.
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