Breast implants: What type is right for you?

Breast implant surgery, often referred to as boob job, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. Many patients decide to get this treatment to increase the size or improve the shape of one or both breasts.

It is important to know that there are different types of breast implants. If you want to have breast implant surgery, you will discuss with your doctor how the procedure works and what types of implants best suit you – based on your expectations and needs.

In this article, we are going to give you an overview of the different types of breast implants available and what types are offered at KCM Clinic.

What are breast implants made of?

When it comes to choosing the type of breast implant for your surgery, there are two main types of breast implants available:

Saline implants

Saline implants are inserted empty into the breasts and then filled with sterile salt water. This type of implant is available to women aged 18 or older and are usually cheaper than silicone implants. If saline implants rupture and leak, the saline solution will be absorbed by your body without any health risk. However, as the case of these implants is made of silicone, you might need surgery to remove it. You may choose to have a new implant inserted during the same procedure.

Silicone implants

Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel. Many patients believe that silicone implants feel more natural. They are available to women aged 22 or older, or to younger patients in exceptional circumstances for reconstruction purposes. If a silicone implant leaks, the gel will not be absorbed by your body but it won’t pose any health risk. You may be advised to remove it surgically by your doctor. Also in this case, you can choose whether to substitute it with a new implant during the same procedure.

What breast implant shapes are available?

You will choose the shape of your new breast implants depending on what you hope to achieve from the procedure in terms of shape, size, and proportion. There are two main shapes for breast implants.

Round breast implants

Round breast implants typically give a rounder overall appearance and are available in a wide range of sizes and widths. They have a half-moon shaped profile and can be filled with both saline or silicone gel.

Teardrop breast implants

Teardrop breast implants, also known as shaped implants, are considered to be more anatomical as they are fuller at the bottom and taper upwards. Women who want to opt for a more natural look typically choose teardrop breast implants.

Breast implants offered at KCM Clinic

If you choose to have breast implants, the first step is consulting with a doctor to select the appropriate type of implant. You can contact us anytime to start the consultation process: fill out the form and one of our patient coordinators will be in touch with you to explain how to move forward.

The surgeon who will perform the procedure will examine the natural shape of your body and chest and will advise you on what type of implant best suits you. You will be able to discuss your expectations and goals as well of course!

As mentioned earlier, there are two main shapes when it comes to breast implants: round and teardrop. At KCM Clinic we offer:

• • MENTOR round implants filled with silicone
  • MENTOR teardrop implants filled with silicone
    Both MENTOR round and teardrop breast implants are produced by the renowned company Johnson & Johnson. They are filled with the best quality cohesive silicone gel.
  • Polytech B-Lite implants: these breast implants are 30% lighter than regular implants of the same size. They are filled with B-Lite gel, a combination of medical silicone and microspheres — minuscule spherical particles that are empty on the inside. For this reason, this implant type is preferred by women who choose a large model, as they reduce the strain on their breasts.

Do you need to replace your breast implants?

You might have heard that it’s necessary to replace your breast implants every ten years. This is not necessarily true. There are different reasons why breast implants might need to be replaced:

• • If you’re not satisfied with the shape or size of the breast implants you already have.
  • If you had a breast implant rupture: the danger of implant rupture increases after ten years since your breast implant surgery. It often changes the appearance of the breast and the way it feels.
  • If you had a capsular contracture: since the implant is a foreign body, scar tissue forms around it. When the scar tissue becomes too thick, the implant feels firm and can cause pain. Capsular contracture may happen a few months following the operation and is treated by making incisions in the scar tissue. It allows the tissue to form again properly. This procedure is called a capsulotomy. It is recommended to remove the implant that caused capsular contracture and replace it with a different breast implant.

If any of the above happened to you, you may need to undergo a breast implant replacement. You can contact us anytime to discuss your needs and our team of highly specialised cosmetic surgeons will be happy to help. For more information on how a breast augmentation procedure works, check out our latest article “Breast implant surgery: How does it work?”. For any other questions, contact us here!