Breast Implant Options Philadelphia

Congratulations on choosing to undergo breast augmentation cosmetic surgery with expert Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Scott Chapin! Breast enhancement surgery can enhance not just your breasts but your self-confidence, too.

Now that you have decided to undergo surgical breast augmentation, you must make several decisions about breast implants, including: what size, shape and type of breast implants you would like; and which placement method and incision approach Dr. Chapin should use.

When making many of these decisions, it is important that you take your unique body type and aesthetic ideal into consideration. For instance, to attain natural-looking results, the size, or volume, of breast implants that you ultimately choose should be in proportion to your frame. Another consideration to think about when choosing between round or teardrop-shaped breast implants is how much cleavage you desire. Round breast implants typically provide a greater degree of cleavage, but teardrop-shaped implants look more anatomically correct.

To help you make informed decisions about your breast implants, Dr. Chapin will evaluate your medical history, individual anatomy and aesthetic goals for surgery before recommending a surgical treatment plan that will best satisfy your needs.

Before you schedule a consultation with Dr. Chapin, however, it is helpful to review the following general information about your breast implant options, so you are well prepared for your initial meeting with the Doylestown breast enhancement surgeon.

What Types of Breast Implants Are Available?

In general, there are two types of breast implants available in the United States: saline and silicone gel implants. There are also two main breast implant manufacturers in the nation: Mentor and Allergan.

Saline breast implants have a silicone outer shell but are filled with saline solution (i.e., sterile saltwater solution), so the body can naturally absorb the filling material in case breast implants rupture. Also, Dr. Chapin fills saline implants after he inserts them, so he is able to use a smaller incision than he would when inserting silicone implants.

However, saline breast implants do not look or feel as much like natural breasts as silicone gel implants do, and the borders of these implants may be noticeable under the surface of the skin.

Silicone gel breast implants have a silicone outer shell and are filled with — you guessed it — silicone gel. These breast implants more closely resemble the look and feel of natural breast tissue than saline-filled implants do, making them a popular choice among breast augmentation patients.

One aesthetic drawback to this type of implants is that Dr. Chapin inserts silicone gel implants after they have been filled by the manufacturer, so he must use a larger incision than he would with saline implants.

In addition, patients with silicone gel implants have an increased risk of “silent rupture,” a condition that occurs when the breast implant ruptures, but the patient is not aware of it because the silicone-gel filling material has stayed intact inside the implant pocket. Because the body cannot naturally absorb silicone gel, any leaked material that is not indentified can pose a serious health threat.

To monitor breast implant health, Dr. Chapin advises that patients with silicone gel implants undergo a breast imaging exam (e.g., mammogram, MRI) every three years, starting three years after the initial procedure.

Cohesive silicone-gel breast implants have a silicone outer shell and are filled with silicone gel. However, this new generation of breast implants is filled with a form-stable silicone-gel material that coheres, or retains its shape, when folded or even when cut in half! Because the filling material resembles the popular gummy candies, this type of breast implants is often referred to as “gummy bear” implants.

In comparison with traditional silicone gel implants, gummy bear implants also closely resemble the look and feel of natural breast tissue. However, gummy bear implants may be safer than their earlier-generation silicone counterparts, thanks to the highly cohesive nature of the filling material that stays together in case of breast implant rupture.

What Are My Breast Implant Placement Options?

Subglandular placement, also referred to as “overs” placement, involves positioning breast implants over the pectoral (chest) muscle. Overs placement is less invasive than other options because Dr. Chapin leaves the pectoral muscle intact, typically leading to a quicker, less painful recovery period.

On the other hand, women with thin skin, a low percentage of body fat or little breast tissue may not be suitable candidates for this placement approach because breast implants may be visible under the surface of the skin.

Subpectoral placement, also referred to as “submuscular” placement and “unders” placement, involves positioning breast implants under the pectoral (chest) muscle. Although unders placement is more invasive than overs placement and may require a longer, more painful recovery period, this approach offers several advantages.

Firstly, unders placement usually yields more natural-looking breast enhancement results. Also, this approach facilitates the imaging of natural breast tissue during a mammogram. Finally, unders placement may decrease the risk of capsular contracture, a condition in which rigid scar tissue forms around the breast implant, potentially causing pain, breasts to feel unnaturally hard or breast implant rupture.

What Are My Breast Implant Incision-Approach Options?

Patients have several incision-placement options for breast augmentation surgery with breast implants. The patient and Dr. Chapin will choose an incision approach based on the implant-placement method, the patient’s anatomical needs and her aesthetic surgical goals.

Periareolar incision. With this incision approach, Dr. Chapin creates an incision around the perimeter of the areola (the darkly pigmented skin surrounding the nipple). This type of incision is the least visible —any scarring is concealed by the darker areola skin. However, the periareolar incision method may make it difficult to breastfeed and may increase the risk of experiencing changes in nipple sensation, because it involves incising breast tissue and possibly the nerves embedded within the tissue.

Inframammary incision. Dr. Chapin positions inframammary incisions beneath the breast’s natural fold. Although an inframammary incision is typically less concealed than a periareolar incision, this method is less likely to interfere with the ability to breastfeed.

Transaxillary incision. The Philadelphia breast augmentation surgery positions transaxillary incisions under the arm, using an endoscope (a thin surgical instrument with a camera on the end) to help create a tunnel through the fat tissue, ultimately creating a breast implant pocket behind the breast tissue. This incision approach is primarily used to insert unfilled saline breast implants.

To schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Chapin, voted Best Plastic Surgeon of Bucks and Montgomery County, please call 267.880.0810 or complete our Contact Us form.

Not only is Dr. Chapin a talented breast surgeon who performs breast augmentation and breast reconstruction, he is also a skilled provider of facial rejuvenation surgery, including facelift surgery, and body contouring surgery, including liposuction.