Breast Implant Options Gold Coast & Brisbane Queensland

There are two different shapes of breast implants available, round and teardrop (anatomical). These implants are designed to match the shape of your breast, making them suitable for women who have had a breast reduction or who are petite. While the shape of your breast implants is an important aspect of your procedure, there are also several factors to consider.

You should choose the shape of your breast implants carefully because they can make a big difference in the final results. Our Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Mark Doyle will ask you questions about your lifestyle and surgery goals, he will assess your body type and skin elasticity. Along with examining your breast, to recommend the best implant shape for your anatomy. It’s recommended to bring a photo of your preferred results or size to the consultation. This way, you can discuss the pros and cons of the different options available.

Breast Implant for Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast Augmentation Surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures in the world.

There are surgical options to make your breasts larger and higher, using breast implants to increase the breast size and projection is one surgery option.

When it comes to a boob job (breast augmentation), choosing the right breast implant shape and size plays a critical role in determining how your breasts will look, feel, and move after the surgery. If you try searching on the internet for “breast implant types”, you may get lost in all the different sizes, shapes, projections, and brands without even understanding what most of it means.

Here is everything you need to know about breast implants – brands, types, sizes, shapes, textures – how they work and how they compare.

What Are Breast Implants?

A breast implant is a medical prosthetic device and will be used in breast augmentation surgery. Breast implants aim to increase the shape and size of your breasts with breast augmentation surgery. They can also treat and counteract tuberous breasts or tubular breasts. There is a multitude of breast implant brands worldwide, and they offer thousands of implant models with a variety of features to choose from, allowing for customisation.

There are several reasons why you might look to undergo a boob job (breast augmentation). Some women prefer to change the size and projection of their breasts, in some cases to allow for more proportion when compared to the rest of their bodies. Different breast implant shapes can make your breasts look larger, higher, and fuller. If you’ve had a mastectomy (breast removal) to treat breast cancer, breast implants are also an option for reconstructive surgery to increase your natural breasts. Even it helps to correct congenital breast deformities like tuberous (conical) breasts, asymmetric breasts, hypomastia, amastia, and pigeon chest.

Breast Implant Brands

Your breast implant brand says a lot about the quality of the implant you’re getting, and it can play a critical role in how your breasts look and feel in the long run. Here, at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery, we only offer the most reputable breast implant brands in Australia to make sure that our patients get the quality and aesthetics they desire. Here are some of the top breast implant brands we offer:

Motiva ®

Motiva breast implants are silicone breast implants available in Australia and Dr Doyle’s recommended option for breast implants. These implants utilise innovative technologies that make them suitable for women who are seeking breast augmentation surgery. If you prefer round and high breasts with upper pole fullness the Motiva Round implants may be a suitable choice. If you want a smaller breast volume, the Motiva Ergonomix implant which takes on a teardrop shape in the body, may be more suitable for you. They are carefully engineered to adapt to your body movements.

Are Motiva Breast Implants Safe?

Motiva breast implants are considered a safer breast implant option. This is due to the smooth surface design minimising the body’s tissue reactions. This minimises the particular reaction which may lead to capsular contracture and also to later complications such as seroma. Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Mark Doyle recommends Motiva Implants to patients and prefers to use these implants on his patients.

Several other reputable breast implant brands such as Sebbin, Silimed, Eurosilicone and Nagor are available in Australia.

You can discuss your breast implant options with Plastic Surgeon Dr Doyle in more detail when you have your initial surgery consultation. Dr Doyle is a senior specialist plastic surgeon located in the Gold Coast, Queensland, he offers breast implant surgery to patients from all around Queensland, Northern NSW and Australia.

Breast Implant Types

Generally, most breast implants have soft silicone outer shells, however, on the inside, they can be either saline or silicone-filled. Each breast implant type has its advantages and disadvantages, and Dr Doyle will help you choose the most suitable breast implant type for your specific anatomy.

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone-filled breast implants are without a doubt the most preferred type of breast implants by Dr Doyle and our patients, and there are several reasons why. The main advantage of silicone breast implants is that they move with the body. Compared to saline implants, silicone breast implants will generally result in firmer and higher breasts that move and feel similar to natural breast tissue. The advanced technologies used in silicone breast implants give them a lot of features that assist Dr Doyle in delivering surgical outcomes and they are also more durable when compared to saline implants.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline-filled breast implants are less prevalent among women getting breast enlargements at our clinic; however, they still have some advantages. Saline breast implants contain sterile salt water that closely resembles the natural fluid in our body tissues. So, if your implant ruptures, the saline solution is absorbed by the body and won’t cause any reaction in the surrounding tissue. Another advantage of saline breast implants is that they require a smaller incision when inserting them during breast augmentation surgery. Saline implants are originally deflated, and surgeons inflate them after they’re inserted into the breasts. This also gives the surgeon more control over their size, as they can be inflated or deflated as required before closing the incision.

The disadvantage of saline breast implants is that they look and feel less biological when compared to silicone implants. Also, because they have a valve in the wall of the implant to allow the normal saline to be put in at the time of surgery, the valve is a source of potential weakness in the wall of the implant and the implants can spontaneously leak and deflate.

Breast Implant Sizes

Size, size, size! The first thing women say when they come to our clinic for a boob job (breast augmentation) is that they want bigger breasts. When it comes to breast enhancement surgery, implant size does matter. Breast implants come in a wide range of sizes (measured in “ccs” or “gms)” extending from 80 ccs for those who want slightly larger and firmer breasts to over 1,000 ccs for women who want to get very large, round boobs. Another factor that determines how big your breasts look after a breast augmentation is the implant projection (or profile).

Breast implant projection refers to how much the implant extends forward from your chest wall. An implant with a high profile is one which provides the most projection of your breasts in front of you, so they will look more prominent from a side view. The most used breast implants amongst our patients are 300cc to 400cc, high profile breast implants. Women who get these implants for breast enlargement at our clinic generally, prefer the shape and size of their breasts post surgery.

Breast Implant Sizing

The key to a satisfactory surgical outcome is choosing an breast implant size that fits your frame. The use of 3D imaging tool, Crisalix is standard practice at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery. This offers patients a representation of post-operative results that may be achieved using various-sized breast implants.

Breast Implant Shapes

When getting a boob job (breast augmentation), women generally don’t just want their breasts to look bigger, they also ask for them to be higher, rounder, and fuller. There are many different types of shapes, profile and sized breasts implants, and they can generally be classified into two main shapes, round and anatomical:

Round breast implants are a common option amongst our patients. Round implants have the advantage of providing more fullness, especially in the upper poles of your breasts. This makes them suitable for women who want rounder, higher breasts with prominent volume.

Teardrop breast implants (also known as anatomical implants) are implants that are shaped to mimic the shape of a natural breasts. They are usually teardrop in shape, wide at the bottom poles, with fuller projection and less projection at the upper poles. Please note, that teardrop implants provide less fullness in the upper poles of your breasts, when compared to a round breast implants.

Breast Implant Texture

Breast implant texture refers to the texture of the outer surface (shell) of breast implants. Generally, breast implants are classified as either textured or smooth. Motiva implants have a “nanotextured” surface and because the texture is microscopic, they are regarded as smooth implants. The advantage of smooth breast implants is that they’re less likely to be felt within your breasts since they have a smooth feeling surface. As they have a slippery surface, the surgical techniques when inserting these implants are different from the textured surface implants. Internal sutures are required to keep the smooth breast implants in position for the patients. Gold Coast Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Mark Doyle specialises in securing the implants from moving into the armpit, when you lie flat and descending towards the ground when you stand up. 

Textured breast implants have a slightly rough surface that allows them to adhere tightly to your breast tissue, which minimises the implants from changing position.  More recently it has been shown that textured breast implants are associated with the formation of lymphoma (a type of cancer also called BIA-ALCL), therefore, they are no longer used and are currently suspended by the TGA. (Therapeutics Goods Administration.)

Breast Implant Placement

During breast augmentation surgery, Dr Mark Doyle will generally insert the implants in one of several possible locations (placement options). The most common placement option amongst his patients is the sub muscular or dual plane placement. This techniques is more complex and time consuming. However, he believes is provide optimal surgical outcomes.

Submuscular placement is when the implants are inserted under your chest muscles (pectoralis major). This technique has several advantages over other placement options. It is considered the most sterile placement technique and it’s recommended in the 14-point antibacterial plan that Dr Doyle follows.

Submuscular breast implants are less likely to cause complications like capsular contracture, interference with mammography results, and disruption of lactation and nipple sensation. This is why Dr Mark Doyle takes the time and puts in more effort to perform this technique for his breast augmentation patients.

Breast Implant Scars

Three different incisions are used in breast surgery: Inframammary incision, periareolar incision, and axillary incision. Each of these techniques has its advantages and disadvantages, however, Dr Doyle uses the inframammary incision in the majority of his surgeries. Here’s how different incisions compare:

Inframammary incision

This is Dr Doyle’s recommened incision technique when performing breast augmentation surgery. He will make an incision along the crease under your breasts to place the implants. This technique is considered the most sterile and is part of the 14-point plan to reduce the risks of complications and in particular capsules and ALCL after surgery.

Periareolar incision

The areola is the pigmented circular skin around your nipple. A periareolar incision is an incision that’s made right on the border of the lower half of the areola. This technique is less commonly used since it’s considered less sterile than inframammary incisions and has a higher infection rate.

Axillary incision

An axillary incision is an incision done along the crease in your armpit. This incision also known as a ‘scarless boob job’ (breast augmentation), since it leaves minimal scars on the breast itself. Nevertheless, this technique makes it a little harder to position the implants accurately, is less sterile than an inframammary incision and therefore has a higher risk of infection and carries more complications in general compared to an inframammary incision.

Breast Implant Insertion

For Inserting breast implants, Dr Doyle follows well-proven anti-bacterial methods to reduce the risks of complications like infection, capsular contracture, and BIA-ALCL. One specific protocol we believe in and adopt at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery is the 14-point plan. This plan was developed in 2013, and it contains 14 recommendations for surgeons performing breast enlargements to reduce bacterial contamination during surgery. Since your skin contains many bacteria, Dr Doyle puts extra effort in to minimise the contact between your skin and the implants.

Overview of Different Breast Implant Surgery Types

Breast implants can be used in different cosmetic, reconstructive, and corrective breast surgeries to change or treat different breast conditions. Whether you prefer bigger and higher breasts or you want to fix a breast deformity, breast implants may be an option for you. Dr Doyle may recommend breast augmentation alone, or he may combine it with a breast lift to depending on your anatomy:

Breast Augmentation

This surgery is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed to increase the size and shape of breasts. Generally, during the procedure, Dr Doyle performs an inframammary skin incision, also known as IMF and creates a pocket under the breast tissue and under your pectoralis muscle. He then inserts the breast implants into position and closes the skin carefully using absorbable sutures to minimise scarring. Dr Doyle will customise your surgery depending on your specific case, and he’ll choose a skin incision and implant position that best fits your anatomy and surgery expectations.

Breast Lift with Implants

If you have excess breast skin, Dr Doyle may recommend breast lift with implants. After inserting the implants into your breasts, Dr Mark Doyle will move your nipples into a higher position, remove any loose skin particularly below the nipples, and then tighten the breast skin to raise the breasts into a higher position. After surgery, your breast may look firmer and may sit higher.

Breast Reduction with Implants

For women who have large breasts with excess skin, a breast reduction with the use of breast implants may be a suitable option for you. Gold Coast Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Mark Doyle will first remove breast tissue to reduce the size of your breasts. He will then insert the breast implants into position and pull the tissue tighter together over them. After a breast reduction surgery with implants, the breasts will generally be more lifted, smaller and firmer.

Breast Implant Risks and Complications

Elective cosmetic surgeries like breast augmentation are considered low risk, however, like any other surgical procedure, there are still some risks. The short-term complications of breast implants include:

Breast implant infection

Sometimes, bacteria manage to get into the wound, even if all sterility protocols are followed. When this happens, the microbes might cause an infection around your implant, which might require a long course of antibiotic treatment, surgery to clean out the breast cavity, possible implant change and even removal of the infected implant.

Seroma formation

A seroma is a collection of fluid that might develop around your implant after surgery, and it sometimes requires drainage using a syringe and needle.

Haematoma formation

A hematoma, also known as a haematoma is a collection of blood that may build up in your wound around the implant post surgery. If a hematoma does not resolve on its own, Dr Doyle may need to surgically drain it.

In addition to the general post-surgical complications, there are a few complications that are specific to breast augmentation surgery with breast implants, and these usually happen in the long term:

Capsular contracture

After breast implants are inserted, your body forms a fibrous (scar tissue) capsule around them as part of the healing process. Sometimes, this reaction is exaggerated and leads to breast deformity and pain, a condition known as capsular contracture. If the contracture is severe, you might need breast revision surgery (capsulotomy or capsulectomy).

Implant rupture

Although the implants we use are approved and durable implants, the outer shell can sometimes break, and the filling can get out. If you suddenly start noticing that one breast is becoming smaller and asymmetric when compared to the other breast, you may have a ruptured implant. If this happens, your implant needs to be replaced.

BIA-ALCL

This is a type of rare immune cell cancer that develops in association with breast implants. This breast implant cancer is only seen in women who have textured implants, but not with smooth implants. That’s why the TGA has suspended several textured implants in Australia and prohibited their use. Please note, if BIA-ALCL is diagnosed early it can be cured, and the outcomes are very positive.

Implant dislocation

Sometimes, your implant might lose its position and you’ll start noticing that your breasts are different heights. This is usually corrected by breast revision surgery.

Breast Implant Illness

It is belioeved a small number of women develop breast implant illness symptoms. There are over 150 different symptoms but the commonest are fatigue, brain fog, and generalised aches and pains. They attribute their symptoms to an autoimmune response to the foreign bodies (implants) in their breasts. Currently, there is no scientific evidence to support the relationship between their symptoms and their implants.

“I have seen a group of women who believe they have breast implant illness and most symptoms improve dramatically or disappear when their implants are removed,” says Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Mark Doyle.

This concern is best treated with breast implant removal and not breast replacement surgery.

Each brand has its own warranty program. Motiva implants have warranties which can be discussed with you at your first consultation.

FAQs

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and they may need replacement in the future. On average, breast implants need replacement after 10 years of the original boob job (breast augmentation), however, this can be later or earlier depending on your specific case.

When Do You Need to Replace Breast Implants?

There are several reasons why you may need to replace your breast implants, such as implant rupture, capsular contracture, BIA-ALCL, or breast implant infection.

How Do I Know if My Breast Implant Is Ruptured?

Symptoms of implant rupture include a sudden loss in breast size, change in shape, and asymmetry with the other breast. If this happens, you need to contact Dr Doyle for evaluation of the potential rupture.

How Do I Know if Something Is Wrong With My Breast Implant?

Several breast implant symptoms warrant a surgeon’s visit to make sure everything is okay. Some symptoms that may indicate a problem with your breast implant include breast pain, swelling, deformity, nipple retraction, change in size, or a palpable mass.

Do Breast Implants Feel Heavy?

Some women report feeling some heaviness in their breasts after their boob job (breast augmentation). Obviously, as the implants size gets larger this becomes more of an issue. Most women, given enough time to adapt after surgery, become used to their new breast weight.

Do Breast Implants Get Hard Over Time?

Normally, breast implants do not become harder over time. On some rare occasions, excessive scarring within your breast may occur, this is a condition known as “capsular contracture”, making your breasts feel harder than normal.

How Hard Can You Squeeze Breast Implants Before They Pop?

Breast implants are quite tough, especially silicone ones. They can usually withstand a couple of hundred kilograms of pressure before they rupture. If you’re worried about your implants “popping” during usual activites, you should rest assured that generally won’t.

How Safe Are Breast Implants?

Breast implants are considered low risk devices that have shown minimal life-threatening, long term side effects. The only exception is the very rare occurrence of breast implant cancer (BIA-ALCL), which has recently been linked to textured implants only. As for smooth implants, there are no reports of associated BIA-ALCL.

What Do Breast Implants Look Like When You’re Old?

As you age and get older, the skin and tissue around your breast implants will also age and some degree of excess skin will develop. Depending on your specific case, you may need breast revision surgery in the future, that can include implant replacement or implant removal, breast lifting or a combination of the two.

What Happens if You Don’t Replace Breast Implants Implant Rupture?

If your implants rupture and you don’t replace them, there’s a chance that the leaking material will cause tissue inflammation, subsequent capsular contracture or breast deformity. If your breast implants are still maintaining their integrity without causing any complications, there’s no reason why you should remove them, regardless of how long you’ve had them.

What Is the Most Common Breast Implant Type?

The most commonly recommended breast implant type at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery are silicone implants and the most commonly performed breast augmentation implant shapes are round implants.

Which Type of Breast Implant Feels Most Like The Natural Breast Tissue?

The breast implants which feel more similar to the natural breast are silicone breast implants. With anatomical (teardrop) implants being the breast implant shape that mimicks the natural breast shape and smooth implants being the softer option when compated to textured implants.

Sources: 

• Breast Augmentation Choices – Mentor Direct
• What is breast augmentation? – American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Implant-based breast reconstruction and augmentation – Maurice Nahabedian, MD, Professor of Plastic Surgery
• Breast Implant Surgery – FDA
• Assessment of Breast Aesthetics – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal
• Breast augmentation – Mayo Clinic
• The five factors of breast augmentation | ASPS
• Antibiotic Irrigation of Pocket for Implant-Based Breast Augmentation to Prevent Capsular Contracture: A Systematic Review Plastic Surgery Journal