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Breast Implant Options

Cosmetic Surgeon in Alexandria, VA serving Northern Virginia & Washington DC

Once you have decided in favor of getting breast augmentation surgery, it is best to familiarize yourself with your implant options before your consultation. Consider the look you hope to achieve, and therefore the Breast Implant Placement, and the Breast Augmentation Incision Option you are selecting to help you make the decision about the breast implant itself. There are five main variables you have to decide about your breast implant:

Size
Fill type and level
Profile
Shape
Texture

Dr. Desman is very experienced with breast augmentations, and he has learned what looks good in a general sense, but for you to get the look you want, he needs your input. It is best to come in with a sense of how you feel about the breast implant options, and Dr. Desman will make suggestions and fine-tune the decision to make sure you achieve the look you want.

Size

In general, a bigger implant will lead to a more dramatic and obvious change. If you desire a subtler change, a smaller implant is a better option. The proportions of your body will probably set a maximum size over which you should not go if you hope to achieve a natural look, as well as a maximum limit on the size of implant your body will healthily support without undue risk of shifting or other complications. Breast implants come factory-direct in sizes ranging from 100 up to almost 1000 cc (cubic centimeters or milliliters (ml)), which would represent the addition of almost five pounds of weight on your chest, the strain of which can lead to back problems. The larger the breast implant with respect to your own breast tissue, the more it will dominate the shape of your breasts and stretch your areolas, although sometimes areolas can be reshaped.

Fill

The two fill options available are silicone gel and saline. Pay attention to the fill level, since it can affect both the profile and the dynamism of the implant. Breast implants are made to be filled in a range of volumes, for example, 150-170 cubic centimeters. This implant, in low profile style, when filled to 150 cc has a diameter of 10.0 cm and a projection or height of 2.7 ml. When filled completely to 170 cc, its diameter reduces to 9.9 cm and its projection increases to 3.2 cm. When an implant is completely full, there is less rippling and dynamism, and it is often recommended that you have your implant completely filled.

Profile

We used a low profile implant for our fill example, but there are also moderate and high profile options. Higher profile implants project farther from the chest per volume than lower-profile ones. For Implants of approximately the same volume as the above example, a moderate profile implant will have a diameter of 9.6 cm and a projection of 3.3 cm, and a high profile implant will have a diameter of 8.8 cm and a projection of 4.3 cm. High profile implants can help you achieve dramatic results if you have a small frame and little original breast tissue.

Shape

Both round and shaped implants are offered by most manufacturers. Shaped, or anthropomorphic, implants are generally tear-shaped: narrow at the top with more projection at the bottom. They were originally designed for use in reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy. If you are looking for a dramatic improvement over relatively small breasts, a shaped implant can help you achieve a result that is also natural.

Texture

Round breast implants are available in both smooth and rough textures. Texturing is designed to keep the implant from rotating in its pocket, and is necessary for shaped implants. In general, textured implants show a higher incidence of rippling and capsular contracture.

When you have made your decision to have breast augmentation surgery in Washington, D.C. , contact the office of Dr. Eric Desman to schedule your initial consultation.

Call 703-924-3144 to schedule a free in-office consultation or to set up a free telephone consultation.

Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality cosmetic surgery care in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC region. Dr. Desman is committed to serving you through advanced training, dedication to perfection and unmatched personal care.