Primarily, women choose breast augmentation for the purpose of increasing their self-confidence. The plastic surgery procedure can result in significant aesthetic improvement. For those who are not satisfied with the shape or size of their breasts from an aesthetic point of view, breast augmentation, where a plastic surgeon inserts breast implants, can provide a solution.
If someone has already had such surgery and the implant is so old that it has deteriorated, implant replacement may be necessary for certain reasons. This may be due to the aging of the implant, a change in shape, or a change in position.
When it comes to what shape of breasts you want, it is advisable to first make a decision based on the precise information provided by the doctor, which will help you choose the right breast implant during the consultation. Yes, of course, we ultimately rely on your opinion and decision, but the surgeon will make a few suggestions for choosing the ideal implant in order to achieve the best possible result. A consultation appointment is necessary to discuss the procedure of the surgery, to talk about performing examinations, and last but not least, to show you what the surgery would look like with the possible breast implant options.
Although each case is unique, each patient has completely unique characteristics, the before-and-after pictures on the website can help in choosing a breast implant. Even lip fillers cannot be done according to a template; it's always the individual factors that decide.
Implants are differentiated by their surface, shape, and the material they contain. All breast implants that we use are filled with cohesive silicone gel. This means that there is a much lower chance of a problem occurring, such as leakage. The chance of this happening is extremely low. There are three shapes: traditional round, teardrop-shaped, or anatomical.
The difference between a teardrop-shaped and an anatomical implant is generally that the base of a teardrop-shaped implant is round, while the anatomical implant, in addition to being teardrop-shaped, has an oval base. In 90% of cases, we can achieve a perfect shape with the traditional form, as it also takes on a teardrop shape under the influence of gravity.
We generally use anatomical implants when someone has very little of their own breast tissue and a narrow chest. The base of the breast is a given in everyone. After the implants are inserted, they cannot touch in the middle or hang down on the sides. Therefore, there is a maximum base with which we can work. It follows that from this point on, we can only increase the size and volume of the implants upwards (projection, or profile). (If the patient is not bothered by the implant "extending beyond" the side edge of the chest, and the edge can be felt from behind, the diameter can be increased in this direction.)
This is why there are low, moderate, medium, high, and extra-high implants. The largest implant size can be achieved with the extra-high profile. However, if someone has a very narrow chest and no breast tissue of their own, even with this extra-high implant, we can only achieve a medium breast size at most, which is also a typical round "silicone breast", the contour of which appears in the upper curve of the breast. For those who do not like this and desire a different solution, who prefer a more natural shape, we usually recommend the anatomical shape, but we would like to point out that this type can rotate in 4-5% of cases and deform the shape of the breast.
The next question is where we place these implants. Basically, we can choose two positions: subglandular (under the gland) or submuscular (under the muscle). Both have their advantages and disadvantages. It must be decided individually which one is better for whom, which will be the best possible choice.
Basically, it can be traditional or anatomical in shape. In 90% of cases, we can achieve a perfect shape with the traditional one, but in 10% of cases, the anatomical shape gives a better result. Size always comes at the expense of shape. The larger the implant relative to the breast's own tissues, the less natural the shape.
The width of the chest is given individually, the implants cannot touch in the middle and cannot hang down on the sides, so the size of the original breast base determines the diameter of the implant. It follows that if we want to increase the volume of the prosthesis, we can only do it upwards, so there are flat, medium, high, and extra high (low, medium, high, and extra high projection) implants, depending on the desired size. However, if someone has almost no breast of their own and their chest is also very narrow, even to achieve a medium size, an extra high, prosthesis that utilizes the maximum volume possibility must be inserted, which sometimes looks as if there are two half rubber balls on the chest. In such cases, we recommend anatomical implants, with which we can achieve a more beautiful, natural shape in these cases. The best way to compare the two would be:
With a beautiful, full, natural breast, a push-up bra gives a decidedly protruding cleavage, but after removal, it returns to its original shape. However, in the case of a breast enlarged with an extra-high implant, the shape does not change at all after removing the bra, it remains the same as if it were still supported. When using the anatomical implant, the breast behaves in a natural way.
However, these implants may have two disadvantages. One is that they can make the surgery more expensive because they are more expensive, and the other is that in 1% of cases, the implant can rotate and deform the breast. It is only one percent because, unlike the traditional shapes, which have a round base, these have an oval base. During surgery, we create a cavity exactly the size of the base, in which it cannot rotate. In some cases, however, the pocket may expand during constant movement to a size where it can rotate.
No scientific study has yet proven that silicone damages the immune system or has a carcinogenic or any other harmful effect. Although some blogs spread scare stories about this, we would like to emphasize that years, even decades, have passed since the beginning, during which time the opposite could have been proven. It can be used safely without a doubt; no harmful effects on the body are known. Breastfeeding can also occur without problems with silicone breasts, which is why it is important to choose a reliable doctor with outstanding expertise for the surgery.
The gel-like material inside the implant does not leak out even if it is cut in half. The use of saline-filled implants is recommended when the goal is to expand the tissues during reconstructive surgery. It should be noted that its disadvantage is that the fluid may lose volume over time because it can leak through the shell. Unlike previous generations, the latest types no longer need to be replaced. An annual ultrasound examination should be performed, which raises the suspicion of possible implant damage. The subsequent MRI examination can detect the damage with 95% certainty, in which case it must be replaced.
Almost all manufacturers offer a long-term warranty, and if this happens within 10 years, they provide an implant free of charge. Their surface can be smooth or textured. Recent opinions suggest that the use of smooth and nanotextured surfaces is the most appropriate.
Recently, several questions have been raised regarding implants. In this regard, I would like to explain in detail everything you need to know about an implant.
Implants are distinguished according to 3 main criteria: their shape, their surface, and the filling material and the surrounding wall (shell).
One of the determining factors is the filling material and the structure of the wall. Both are made of silicone in different physical states. The inner gel-like material, the density of which can vary. There are two companies in the world that produce and distribute high-purity medical silicone. All prosthesis manufacturing companies buy the raw material from them. The gel is surrounded by a solid silicone wall, which has a special layering, the most important part of which is the so-called barrier, which provides increased leakage protection.
Old-type implants, before modern implants, had to be replaced every 8-10 years because the silicone oil could seep through the wall. If placed on blotting paper, a stain would appear on the paper after a while, indicating leakage, this was called bleeding. As a result of the leakage, the wall almost dissolved, and the oil came into direct contact with the surrounding tissues. This does not happen with today's implants.
The possibility of wall damage is approx. 1%, which is the result of, on the one hand, the so-called "fatigue fracture" occurring due to the constant movement of the wall, and, on the other hand, the separation occurring after the closure of the filling site with the gel. In this case, the implant can deform, and so can the breast. The breast ultrasound may raise the suspicion of wall damage, and the special X-ray examination called MRI can detect the damage with 95% certainty. If this occurs, most manufacturers provide an implant free of charge for 10 years. The wall of the implants is most often smooth or textured. With a smooth surface, there is a greater chance of one of the most common complications, capsular contracture.
Capsular contracture should be imagined as a capsule that forms around the implants in any case, which is a natural process. However, for unknown reasons, the wall of the capsule may thicken and contract, thereby making the implant rock-hard and deformed, and thus the breast as well. This can occur anytime from the second month to the 20th year. The possibility of this is 3-4% with smooth-surfaced implants, while it is 2-3% with textured ones.
The prosthesis covered with polyurethane foam can also be mentioned. However, after the initial enthusiasm, - according to which the incidence of capsular contracture is less than 1% - a couple of surveys have come to light, according to which, after 10-12 years, the rate of capsular contracture reaches that experienced with textured-surface implants, and later exceeds it.
Combined Plastic Surgery Procedures
In some cases, additional procedures may be required to achieve the desired result, so a combined surgical procedure may be performed. In this case, breast lift can be performed in addition to augmentation. Due to the reduced, atrophied glandular tissue - which can be caused by weight loss, post-partum state, among other things - various parts of the body, including the breasts, are no longer able to regain their original state. In order to correct their sagging, drooping state, we offer patients the surgery where breast augmentation is performed in combination with a breast lift.
Quality Comparison and Breast Implant Prices
After the objective facts described above, there is still one very important question: the quality comparison between different implants.
So far, however, it is subjective, as we can only rely on the information materials published by the breast implant manufacturers. We can hear about premium implants that promise a higher quality grade. The problem, however, is that extensive, independent studies comparing different products in several respects and over the long term have never been conducted. We also don't know what makes an implant premium. Its price? But what makes that higher? The cost of production? In the case of overseas ones, due to the addition of shipping and customs costs? Or perhaps because of the higher profit margin of the distributors? We don't have answers to these yet, but we hope to get them soon.
Regarding prices, several things finally add up to how much the breast augmentation will cost. As we have already shown, there are several solutions with different implants. In light of this, if you are curious about how much the surgery will cost in your case, please contact us with confidence so that we can prepare a concrete plan for you!
