Breast Implant Options

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

You should choose the shape of your implants carefully because they can make a huge difference in the final results. Dr. Doyle will ask you questions about your lifestyle and goals, as well as your body type and skin elasticity. He will also examine your breast to sthe best implant for your body. It’s good to bring a picture of the desired shape 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 popular plastic surgeries in the world.

There are many ways to make your breasts look younger and perkier, however, using breast implants offers the most reliable result.

When it comes to a boob job (breast augmentation), choosing the right breast implant shape and size play a critical role in determining how your breasts will look, feel, and move after the operation. 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 use in breast augmentation surgery. Breast implants aim to enhance the contour, size, and shape of your breasts to give you a more aesthetically pleasing look. They can also treat and balance tuberous breasts or tubular breasts. There is a multitude of breast implant brands worldwide, and they offer thousands of implant models with an incredible variety of features to choose from, allowing for incredible customization.

There are several reasons why you might want a boob job (breast augmentation). Some women are just not satisfied with the size and projection of their breasts and feel like they are not proportional to the rest of their body. Different breast implant shapes help make your boobs look bigger, perkier, and fuller. If you’ve had a mastectomy (breast removal) to treat breast cancer, breast implants are also a great option for reconstructive surgery to restore 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 arguably the best silicone breast implants available in Australia and Dr Doyle’s first choice. These premium implants utilise innovative technologies that make them ideal for women who want the most natural-looking and feeling breasts possible after their surgery. If you want round and perky boobs with maximal upper pole fullness to flatter your cleavage, the popular Motiva Round implant is an excellent choice. If you want a more natural look, Motiva Ergonomix implant which takes on a teardrop shape in the body, is for you. They are carefully engineered to adapt to your body movements.

Are Motiva Breast Implants Safe?

Motiva breast implants are considered one of the safest available implants. This is because the surface design minimises the body’s tissue reactions. This reduces the particular reaction which may lead to capsular contracture and also to later complications such as seroma. Dr Mark Doyle believes that Motiva Implants are optimal and prefers to use these 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 Dr Doyle in more detail when you come in for your initial consultation. He is one of the best plastic surgeons in Queensland that offers breast implant surgery to patients from all around QLD and North NSW.

Breast Implant Types

All breast implants have soft silicone outer shells, however, on the inside, they can be either saline or silicone filled. Each implant type has its advantages and disadvantages, and Dr Doyle will help you choose the best breast implant type for your specific desired outcomes:

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone filled breast implants are without a doubt the type most favoured by Dr Doyle and our patients, and there are several good reasons why. The main advantage of silicone breast implants is that they provide a lot more aesthetically pleasing result. Compared to saline implants, silicone breast implants will give you a more natural look and firmer and perkier breasts that move and feel very much like the real deal. The advanced technologies used in silicone breast implants give them a lot of superb features that deliver higher quality, better outcomes, and more durability compared to saline implants.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline-filled breast implants are less popular 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 Dr Doyle inflates them after they’re inserted into your breasts. This also gives him more control over their size, as he can inflate or deflate them as needed before closing your wound.

The disadvantage of saline breast implants is that they look and feel less natural 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 definitely matters. 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 boobs 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 boob job 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 that provides the most projection of your breasts in front of you, so they will look more prominent from a side view. The most popular implants among our patients are 300 to 400 ccs high profile implants. Women who get these implants at our clinic are usually extremely satisfied with how natural and perky they make their breasts look.

Breast Implant Sizing

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

Breast Implant Shapes

When getting a boob job (breast augmentation), you don’t just want your breasts to look bigger, you’ll also want them to look better, perkier, rounder, and fuller. There are many models and shapes of breasts implants, and they can generally be classified into two main shapes, round and anatomical:

Round breast implants are more popular among our patients. Round implants have the advantage of providing more fullness, especially in the upper poles of your breasts. This makes them ideal for women who want round perky breasts with prominent cleavage.

Teardrop breast implants (Anatomical) are implants that are shaped to look like natural breasts. They are usually teardrop-shaped, wide at the bottom poles with fuller projection, and less projection at the upper poles. These implants are great for women who want a more natural look. however, they provide less fullness in the upper poles of your breasts.

Breast Implant Texture

Breast implant texture refers to the texture of the outer surface (shell) of your breast implant. 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 greatest advantage of smooth breast implants is that they’re less likely to be felt in your boobs since they have a very smooth natural-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 implants in the position best suited for the patient. Dr Doyle concentrates on stopping the implants moving into the armpit when you lie flat and descending towards the ground when you stand up.  This results in a better cleavage and is preferred by his patients.

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

Breast Implant Placement

During breast augmentation surgery, Dr Doyle will insert the implants in one of several possible locations (placement options). The most popular placement option is the sub muscular or dual plane placement. These techniques are more technically demanding and time-consuming. However, they provide better 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. Moreover, breast implants inserted under the chest muscles provide more natural and aesthetically pleasing results, and that’s why Dr 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 favourite access 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-points plan to reduce the risks of complications and in particular capsules and ALCL after surgery. The final scar from your inframammary incision will be well hidden and barely noticeable.

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 is usually done for women who want an Asian boob job, also called a scarless boob job (breast augmentation), since it leaves no 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 has 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 to minimise 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 improve aesthetics and treat different breast conditions. Whether you just want bigger and perkier boobs or you want to fix a breast deformity, breast implants are for you. Dr Doyle might recommend breast augmentation alone, and he might sometimes combine it with a breast lift to optimise your results:

Breast Augmentation

This surgery is the cosmetic surgical procedure done to make your boobs larger, perkier, rounder, and more symmetric. During the procedure, Dr Doyle performs an inframammary skin incision and creates a pocket under your breast tissue and under your pectoralis muscle. He then inserts your breast implants into position and closes your skin carefully using absorbable sutures to minimise scarring. Dr Doyle will customize your surgery depending on your specific case, and he’ll choose a skin incision and implant position that best fits your desired outcomes and expectations.

Breast Lift with Implants

If you have drooping boobs, Dr Doyle will offer you breast lift implants. After inserting the implants into your breasts, Dr Doyle will move your nipples into a higher position, remove any excess skin particularly below the nipples, and then tighten the breast skin to raise the breasts into a higher position. After surgery, your boobs will look younger and firmer and will sitting higher.

Breast Reduction with Implants

For women who have large and saggy boobs, a breast reduction with the use of breast implants is an option for you. Dr Doyle will first remove breast tissue to reduce the size of your breasts. He will then insert your implants into position and pull the tissue tighter together over them. After a breast reduction with implants, you’ll have lifted, smaller and perkier breasts.

Breast Implant Risks and Complications

Elective cosmetic surgeries like breast augmentation are considered very 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 in the worst-case 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 is a collection of blood that might build up in your wound around the implant. If a hematoma does not resolve on its own, Dr Doyle might 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 normal 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 top quality and very 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 with the other one, you might 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 never with smooth implants. That’s why the TGA has suspended several textured implants in Australia and prohibited their use. If BIA-ALCL is diagnosed early it can be cured, and the outcomes are very positive.

Implant dislocation

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

Breast Implant Illness

A very 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. All tests are normal.

“I have seen a group of these ladies and most symptoms improve dramatically or disappear when their implants are removed,” says Dr Mark.

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

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

FAQs

How Long Do Breast Implants Last?

Breast implants are not lifetime devices, and they will eventually need replacement someday 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 might need to replace your breast implants, such as implant rupture, capsular contracture, BIA-ALCL, and 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 visit Dr Doyle for evaluation of 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 get larger this becomes more of a problem. Most women, given enough time to adapt after surgery, become used to their new breasts.

Do Breast Implants Get Hard Over Time?

Normally, breast implants do not become harder over time. On some rare occasions, excessive scarring in your breast might occur, 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 VERY 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 foreplay, you should rest assured that they won’t.

How Safe Are Breast Implants?

Breast implants are considered low risk devices that have shown no life-threatening long term side effects. The only exception is the very rare occurrence of breast implant cancer (BIA-ALCL) that’s 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 get older, the skin and tissue around your breast implants will still age and some degree of sagging skin will develop. Depending on your specific case, you might need breast revision surgery that can include implant replacement or removal, breast lifting or a combination of the two.

What Happens if You Don’t Replace Breast Implants?

If your implants rupture and you don’t replace them, there’s a chance that the leaking material will cause tissue inflammation and subsequent capsular contracture and breast deformity. If your implants are still maintaining their integrity without causing any problems, 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 used breast implant type is silicone implants. The most commonly used shapes are round implants.

Which Type of Breast Implant Feels the Most Natural?

The best breast implants to get natural-feeling breasts are silicone implants. Anatomical (teardrop) implants are often a little softer than their smooth counterparts.

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