At Northwestern Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. John Kim realizes that choosing to undergo breast augmentation surgery with him is only the first step in the process. Next, you must choose the type of breast implants you would like, as well as the size. To help you make an informed decision, here is some preliminary information about how to choose your breast implants.
Choosing a Type of Implants
When choosing a type of implants, keep the following information in mind.
The two main types of breast implants available are saline and silicone implants.
Saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution. The chief advantages of saline implants are that the body can safely absorb the filling material in case of an implant leak, and Dr. Kim can use a slightly smaller incision to insert them than he would with silicone implants because he fills saline implants after they are inserted.
One major drawback of saline implants is that they are more likely to fold or wrinkle within the implant pocket. For this reason, they are often not an appropriate choice for women with thin skin or little body fat who have an increased chance of experiencing visible rippling underneath the skin’s surface.
The principal benefit of both traditional silicone-gel implants and the newer-generation highly cohesive silicone-gel implants is that they very closely resemble the look and feel of natural breasts. The silicone filling material is also less likely to wrinkle or fold within the implant pocket.
However, Dr. Kim must use a slightly larger incision to insert silicone implants because they arrive prefilled from the manufacturer. In addition, silicone implants are somewhat more expensive than saline implants.
Choosing the Size of Your Implants
When choosing the size of your implants, keep the following tips in mind.
Take your body type and frame into account. What looks great on someone who is 5-feet and 11-inches tall with thick skin and a sufficient amount of body fat to cover and support large implants will look out of proportion on a woman who is 5-feet and 2-inches tall and is extremely thin.
Resist the urge to refer to bra cup size exclusively. What one manufacturer calls an A cup might be referred to as a B cup by another manufacturer, making it difficult to ensure all parties are discussing the same desired breast size. Instead, implants are measured in cubic centimeters (ccs). The higher the number of ccs, the larger the implant.
Finally, bring a photo of a woman with similar breasts as the ones you desire to your consultation with Dr. Kim. As long as the photos you choose picture women with a similar body type and frame as yours, they will be an effective means to help ensure that you and your cosmetic surgeon share the same vision for the outcome of your breast implants surgery.
Let Us Help
The best way to choose the implants that are right for your body is to come in for a consultation with Dr. Kim. He will evaluate your body type and frame, listen to your aesthetic objectives and recommend an appropriate type and size of implants to suit your needs.
To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Kim to find out more about breast augmentation surgery and how to choose breast implants, contact Northwestern Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by calling 312-695-6022.