If you’re thinking about breast implants, you’re likely asking the same question as other women: will the results look and feel natural? At eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL, we will listen to your goals, explain the surgery process, and review the natural contours of your body. But you’ll need to play an active role in your surgery outcome, meaning you should understand the implant options available and take some time in choosing what you want.
Do Breast Implants Look Natural?
The short answer is yes, implants can be done in a way that looks very natural. Such results do, however, demand careful consideration of qualities like shape and size. Women tend to want larger breasts with a higher profile, believing their chests will look perkier and more feminine. But this is not always true, and instantly choosing these options may not offer the best results for your body.
To illustrate, large and high-profile implants on some women may protrude in an obviously unnatural way. The key in choosing breast implants is to ignore traditional cup sizes and measurements. Instead, focus on how the implants relate directly to your body. Every woman’s body is unique, meaning what’s right for one lady may not be right for you.
Consider Your Own Body Type
To be more specific, high-profile implants tend to look the best on women with petite frames. Petite women may likewise need smaller implants that fit a more narrow chest. On the other hand, women with larger frames may need implants that sit a little lower on the chest wall and are larger in size.
The point is you want implants that match your particular figure. A willowy woman of 5-feet-10-inches will have different needs than a curvy woman of 5-feet-5-inches. We suggest you not compare your body to anybody else and instead focus on your individual appearance. Remember the traits that make you different also make you beautiful.
Think About Implant Spacing
Spacing refers to the placement of implants on your chest. A subtle change in placement can profoundly affect how your breasts look. Too much space between the implants can create a gap that makes your breasts look unnaturally large. In contrast, too little space can produce an artificial cleavage line and may even lead to skin tenting. This refers to the skin between the breasts pulling away from the breast bone and wrinkling.
The correct spacing for you largely depends on your own anatomy, meaning we won’t eyeball your body and put the implants where they might look best. Rather, we’ll consider the width and shape of your chest wall as well as the width of your breast bone. We’ll then use these measurements to ensure your implants deliver the most natural-looking results.
Choose Under- or Over-the-Muscle
In the early days of breast augmentation, most implants were placed over the pectoral muscles. Now, however, patients can also choose under-the-muscle options to get the exact results they want. Implants placed beneath the muscle tend to:
- Provide more control over the positioning
- Deliver a more natural shape and feel
- Maintain skin integrity
- Minimize future drooping or stretching
Over-the-muscle placement can be similarly beneficial and is often the ideal option for women with less natural breast tissue. In short, the best placement technique depends on your breast size and body. We’ll discuss both options with you and, after reviewing your physical health, decide if under- or over-the-muscle most ideally suits your needs.
Review Implant Materials
Breast implants have evolved significantly since their earliest days and are available today in a variety of materials, including saline, silicone, and gummy bear silicone. The material you choose will play an important part in your final appearance, meaning it’s good to familiarize yourself with the traits of each.
Saline implants can be likened to pouches filled with saltwater. The pouch is comprised of a resilient outer shell made of silicone that gets inserted while it’s empty. After we correctly position the pouch, we fill it with the saline solution until it reaches the desired volume. The shells are available in different sizes to reflect the breast size you desire. Saline implants are both firm and bouncy to mimic the feel of natural breasts.
Silicone Implants
Designed with a high safety profile, silicone implants are filled with silicone gel rather than saline. They also contain a tough outer shell but come pre-shaped. This allows them to be inserted as-is. Thanks to the thick consistency of the gel, silicone implants feel smooth and settle in a way that looks very natural.
Gummy Bear Silicone
The name is deceiving, as these implants aren’t actually comprised of tiny gummy bears. They are instead made of thick silicone that can be easily customized. This trait allows us to adapt the implants so they accurately reflect your body type, size, and desired results.
Many women are partial to gummy bear silicone because the implants are nearly indistinguishable from natural breasts. Despite this, we recommend you carefully weigh all your options.
Pick the Right Implant Size
We might have saved the most important component of the decision-making process for last: implant size. Keep in mind implant sizing is not based on bra cups. Instead, implants are measured in cubic centimeters (cc) and don’t necessarily correlate to any cup. Each woman’s body measurements vary, and cup sizes differ dramatically between brands. To illustrate, a 38D for one manufacturer might be a 34C for another.
As mentioned earlier, the best way to pick a natural-looking implant size is by considering your frame. Even if you want substantially larger breasts, it’s important your implants meet the rest of your body’s proportions. Choosing a size that aligns with your frame can also eliminate back and shoulder pain caused by oversized breasts.
Study Your Lifestyle
Your body type is important in choosing the right implants, but you should also pay attention to your lifestyle. Start by considering your activity level. It’s very possible to continue running, playing sports, and exercising with larger implants, but you may be more comfortable with smaller implants.
It’s equally important to take your personal style into account. Breast augmentation will impact the fit of your swimsuits, dresses, and shirts. If you often go without a bra or wear garments that make it difficult to discreetly wear a bra, your best choice will be smaller implants. On the other hand, if you prefer a more robust appearance in your tops or dresses, larger implants may better suit your taste.
Weigh Your Desires
In speaking of lifestyle, you should also identify how comfortable you feel with people noticing your new figure. Smaller implants are probably best if you want to keep your augmentation under wraps. In contrast, larger implants may suit if you’re comfortable drawing attention to yourself. Keep in mind this is not a question of being right or wrong. It’s all about personal taste and how you want to feel in your own skin.
Look at the Future
Implants can last up to 20 years before needing to be replaced. This means you could spend a significant portion of your life with the implant size you choose now. We therefore recommend you think about where you might be in five, 10, or 20 years. This will help you choose the implants most likely to match your lifestyle today and in the future.
Determine Your Candidacy
Women choose breast implants for a number of reasons, all of which are highly personal. Some want to boost their confidence, while others want to restore lost volume following pregnancy. Implants can also correct breast asymmetry, which is common in women.
The point is that before surgery, you should examine your motivation for wanting implants. Be sure this choice makes you happy and isn’t an effort to please someone else. You should also be in good physical health and have realistic expectations about your results.
Ensure You Have the Right Time
You must also determine if you have the time and ability to recover after surgery. Breast augmentation comes with some temporary restrictions, including not cleaning your house or lifting more than five pounds. You will need a family member or friend to assist you for several days. You’ll also need to avoid the gym for three to six weeks so your body can properly heal.
A Surgery Personalized to Your Needs
Breast implants can change your appearance and boost your confidence. For natural-looking results, it’s important you weigh the different elements that comprise implants. This means thinking about your own body type and then reviewing your options for spacing, materials, and size. Meanwhile, we’ll use our years of experience and knowledge to help guide your decisions. Schedule your consultation by contacting eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL.