How To Choose Your Breasts
You read that right. If you're going in for breast augmentation, you get to personalize your breasts. You have your own reasons for getting cosmetic surgery, and you may even have an end result in your mind's eye. However, there are several considerations concerning your breast implants.
Incision Site
Surgeons have their preferences, of course, but the site of the incision is going to be on your body. Scarring tends to be minimal, and it generally fades with time. However, most likely you'll want any potential scarring to be as hidden as possible.
Cosmetic surgeons typically opt for one of three sites:
- Transaxillary: Incision made under the armpit
- Inframmamry: Incision made under the breast fold
- Peri-areolar: Incision made around the areolar
While your surgeon will have a preference based on your body, lifestyle and implants selected, keep in mind your own preference as well.
Size
Size is a big decision – no pun intended. Most patients tend to want a clear increase without looking too obvious in the augmentation. Sizing is measured in cubic centimeters.
When you go in for a consultation, discuss with your surgeon all aspects of your lifestyle. Especially mention any sports you play or other physical activities. Keep in mind, there may be size limitations based on your body type. However, your options for profile types are usually the following:
- Moderate: The implants don't stick out from the chest much, giving a small amount of projection – good for wide chests.
- Moderate plus: The implants project more, and are slightly tapered – great for narrow chests.
- High-profile: The implants are narrow and have a small base, causing them to project further.
Material
Silicone and saline are still the main materials used in breast implants, according to the Mayo Clinic. Both fillers are encased in a silicone shell.
Silicone implants come already filled with silicone gel in a variety of sizes. Silicone, a thick fluid, tends to look and feel like natural human fat inside the implant.
With saline implants, the silicone shell is inserted into the chest empty. It's then filled to the desired size with sterile saline water.
Depending on your desired profile results and natural anatomy, your surgeon might suggest one material over the other. In most cases, though, the choice of filler material is left up to you.
Choosing to get breast augmentation surgery is an exciting decision. By increasing the fullness and projection of your breasts, augmentation can improve the balance of your figure. Talk to your cosmetic surgeon, someone such as Mark Schwartz, MD, about the breasts you've always known you've wanted.
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