Breast enhancement surgery is the most popular cosmetic surgery for women. It helps to improve your proportions, and many women feel more feminine after the surgery. Dr. Ethan M. Philpott of The Body Sculpting Center is a board-certified plastic surgeon who offers breast augmentation and breast implants for women. He speaks with many women who are confused about the difference between breast augmentation and breast implants.
Breast Augmentation vs. Breast Implants
Breast augmentation is a plastic surgery term that describes any type of procedure or surgery that changes the size and shape of the breasts. Augmentation can be achieved with many different techniques, such a breast implants and fat injections. Breast implants are the most common technique that is used for breast augmentation.
What are Breast Implants?
Breast implants are silicone shells that are filled with silicone gel or saline. Implants are available in round or tear-drop styles. Women can also choose their implants based on texture, volume, projection profile, and other features. Dr. Philpott helps his patients choose the best type of implant based on their desires, anatomy, and vision for how they look after the surgery.
Are Other Techniques as Effective as Breast Implants?
Fat transfers are the most common alternative to breast implants. Due to the limitations of the technique, the results are not always ideal. Specifically, fat injections involve using small amounts of your own fat to make minor changes to your breasts, such as to address dimples and other flaws. It is not feasible to use fat transfers to add volume or change the projection of your breasts. Other breast surgery techniques are reserved for women who have mastectomies due to breast cancer and trauma.
What Style of Implants are the Best?
The style of breast implants that are used for breast augmentation surgery is largely a personal choice by the individual woman. The first choice to make is if you want saline or silicone implants.
Saline Breast Implants
Saline implants tend to have the most natural appearance, although some newer silicone implants provide superior results compared to saline implants. Saline implants may also be preferred by women who are concerned by ruptures and leaks.
Silicone Breast Implants
Silicone breast implants tend to produce a result that most closely aligns with natural breast tissue in both shape and firmness. The most common types of silicone breast implants are gummy bear, round, tear-drop, textured, and smooth.
What Happens During the Surgery for Breast Implants?
Breast augmentation with implants requires relatively small incisions, so you can expect to have very small scars. Additionally, Dr. Philpott makes the incisions in locations where the scars are well-hidden, such as in the crease under the breast, around the areola, along the underside of the breast, and in the armpit. Depending on your personal surgical plan, Dr. Philpott may make one or more incisions. He discusses these details during the consultation. After the incisions are made, the implant is positioned in the natural breast tissue, either under or on top of the muscle. Silicone implants are pre-filled, and saline implants are filled after being placed inside the breast.
Learn More About Breast Implants and Breast Augmentation
Dr. Ethan M. Philpott of The Body Sculpting Center is a board-certified plastic surgeon who offers breast augmentation and breast implants for women. To learn more, contact us to schedule a personal consultation.
