Do you dream of having
larger breasts but worry about having implants in case the results look
unnatural? Breast augmentation techniques and the breast implants themselves
have come a long way in the last decade.
These days, a very natural
looking breast enlargement is easily achievable in the hands of a skilled and
sensitive surgeon. There are a number of factors that contribute to how natural
(or unnatural) breast implants look, which we have outlined below to help you understand
how to achieve the appearance that’s right for you…
1) Implant size
The size and profile of
implant you choose is one of the most important factors in achieving a natural
looking result. It’s tempting to ‘go large’, after all you’re making a
significant investment and you want to be able to see the difference. However,
the ideal size for you will be dictated by your body.
The surgeon will measure
your chest to see how wide it is, look at the shape of your breastbone and
evaluate the amount and quality of soft tissue you have. If you have a narrow chest and the implants
are too large, the breasts will appear too close together. Likewise, if your
breastbone is bowed, the breasts will sit too far apart, and if you simply
don’t have enough tissue on your chest, large implants will stretch the skin
and appear to be ‘bursting out’.
Once your surgeon has
studied your anatomy, he or she will advise you of the ideal size range and
provide you with gel implants to try on in a special bra. This process of
physically trying the implants on will give you a good idea of what they will
both look and feel like.
By listening to your
surgeon’s advice, you can be sure of selecting an implant size that will suit
your physique and not look out of place.
2) Implant shape
Breast implants come in
two main shapes – round and teardrop. In order to achieve a truly natural
appearance it is necessary to use teardrop shaped implants.
The natural shape of a
breast is fuller at the bottom than at the top, hence round implants, which
have the same fullness all the way round, can look artificial.
Teardrop implants have a smooth, tapered upper pole transition
for a natural breast contour and contain a gel which mimics natural breast
tissue so they feel lifelike too.
These implants
require greater surgical skill to implant, since they can result in misshapen
breasts if they rotate (unlike round implants) and consequently they are
slightly more expensive, but for women who desire a natural look the teardrop
shape is the best choice.
3) Incision/scar location
There are three breast
augmentation incision sites to select from:
·
Trans-axillary – the incision is made in the armpit
·
Peri-areolar – an incision is made around the
nipple
·
Infra-mammary – made under your breast at the crease where the
breast meets the body
If visible scarring is a
concern for you, opting for periareolar (nipple) incision
can result in near invisible scarring. This is because of the difference in
skin colour and texture on the nipple areola. However, there are other factors
to consider when deciding upon incision location.
Although peri-areolar incision is typically the most concealed, it is
associated with a higher likelihood of breast feeding difficulties than the
other incision options because it involves cutting through the breast tissue. It
can also increase the chance that there will be a loss of nipple sensation. (It
is also reliant upon having large enough areolas).
While you might not
like the idea of scars beneath your breasts, infra-mammary incision can produce
very pleasing results. This is because, in most cases, the fullness in the base
of the breast will completely conceal the scar when you are sitting or
standing.
Trans-axillary
(armpit) incision will result in scarring either side of your body that will be
visible when you wear something sleeveless and lift your arms, however it can
be a better choice than an infra-mammary (under breast) incision in patients
with small and perky breasts, where a scar beneath the breasts would be
visible.
Your surgeon can
advise on the best choice of incision site for you.
4) Placement on chest
Implants can be placed on the chest in two main ways: beneath the breast tissue but on top of the muscle or beneath the tissue and muscle.For most women, unless they have lots of breast tissue, placing implants beneath the muscle (subpectoral) is the only way to achieve a really natural look. If they are placed on top (subglandular), the implants will be more visible and you might even be able to feel their outline when you touch them.
Placing implants
subpectorially (under the muscle) creates
more cushion between the implant and the skin, so you’re less likely to feel
the edges or see rippling.
The only drawback with this method is the potential
for
distortion of the breast with muscle flexion (a particular concern for athletic
patients). However, it can be minimised by release of the pectoralis muscle in the lower pole of the breast,
something that a skilled surgeon will be able to perform.
5) Sculpting
To achieve the most natural looking breast
augmentation possible you can also add fat grafting to your procedure. Fat
grafting (of fat transfer) involves taking fat from one part of the body and
transplanting it to the breasts in order to sculpt their appearance.
Fat can be harvested via a very minor procedure of
micro lipo extraction and it can be taken from your tummy or thighs, providing
added benefit!
Using your own fat in combination with an implant
provides an optimum result because the fat looks and feels just like real
breast tissue. It can be used to smooth the transition from implant to chest,
providing padding on top of the implant and disguising the edges. Skilfully
executed, it will be near impossible for anyone to tell that your breasts are
not completely your own.
