How to Choose the Correct Breast Implant?
The result of breast augmentation depends largely on correct selection of the implant that will give you the result you desire. There are so many implant types, brands, sizes, profiles, and opinions out there, it is enough to make your head spin and can make the process daunting and confusing. On this page, I hope to clear up some of the confusion and give some basic advice on how to work with your surgeon to get the closest result possible to your goals.
Step 1: Figure out the "look" you are going for using pictures to show your Surgeon
It is very common that patients will come in for a consultation having watched and read hours of content online and on social media about breast augmentation, but still don't know where to start with implant selection. Getting facts about where the incision is placed, whether it is put above or below the muscle, and what recovery looks like ar extremely important questions, but they do not answer probably the most important question. When being truthful to yourself, what result are you really looking for? It can be hard to put into words, and words often fail us. I cannot tell you how many times I have had a patient say they wanted ot be "conservative" and "natural" but actually wanted a very rounded look with high amounts of cleavage or a patient who said they wanted to be "full" but actually wanted a very modest, slim result.
Pictures are extremely useful tools to help communicate with your Plastic Surgeon. Before you consult, you can use website before and after galleries. There are also a slew of safe search website databases such as implantinfo.com and bust mob that allow you to safely look through pictures of patients who have had breast augmentation procedures. It's not that we as surgeons can exactly copy and past a result, but it allows you to avoid using the wrong description of what you want, and invites open conversation with your Surgeon on what is realistically achievable. Good advice is to find results you like and results you don't like, and jot down notes about why, but not to focus heavily on whether it was a certian volume (200cc vs 300cc) or profile (medium vs high profile). Showing your plastic surgeon a result and telling them "I don't want to have my cleavage look really rounded like that" or "this proportion looks too large" or "I don't like this result because the implants are too far apart" will help them pinpoint what is important for you a lot better than "I like this result and it is 400cc high profile".
Step 2: Get a Consultation with an experienced, well trained Surgeon, and get Measured
There is no substitution to a consultation with an experienced Plastic Surgeon with a good reputation. referrals from someone you trust is always helpful, and ensuring their credentials show they have been trained in Plastic Surgery, preferably if they are Board Eligible or Board Certified. Depending state to state, it is surprisingly unregulated what levels of training and what specialties are allowed to do Breast Surgery, so it is vital to go to someone who has acceptable training in this area and a good reputation.
Your surgeon will take breast measurements. Breast measurements provide vital information, including whether a breast lift will be recommended along with augmentation. The most important measurement for implant selection is your "Base Width" or the width of your breasts. (This will at times need to be estimated in patients with restrictive breast issues that cause them to be too narrow for their chest wall). This measurement tells your surgeon how wide the breast implant should be to avoid it looking like it doesn't fit, and in general the chosen breast implant should be within 1-2cm of the base width to avoid implants being too narrow or too wide. From this measurement, your surgeon will be able to choose an implant that fits your breast width correctly, and then you can choose implant projection and fill to best obtain the look you discussed in step 1.
I often get questions about sizing kits and simulation software. After you obtain breast measurements, some surgeons use additional tools such as simulation software and sizing kits. i have found sizing kits (where you can try on different volumes and see what they look like in a bra) to be useful to give a raw estimate for volume, but their usefulness is limited in situations where patients also need breast lifts as some breast volume will be removed during the lift. I personally do not like simulation software and have tried most systems available. I found them somewhat useful, but also found the simulated results usually did not correlate well with real results, and often just offer.
Breast Augmentation Before and Afters
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Links to Common Questions & Answers:
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How to choose the correct Implant Size and Profile?
To schedule an appointment, online consultation or learn more about a Breast Augmentation, please Contact Us or call us at (469) 899-8758.
What financing options exist for treatments at Walker Plastic Surgery?
Walker Plastic Surgery has partnered with Care Credit to help our patients finance the costs of their procedures. The CareCredit card is North America’s leading patient payment program. The CareCredit card is easy to use, includes no hidden costs, and can be applied towards both surgical costs and follow-up appointments.
Through their website, you can access tools like the payment calculator and even find out if you qualify for a CareCredit card by starting a commitment free, instant application.