Types of Implants

Natrelle breast implants copy the shape and size of an anatomical breast.

The type of breast reconstruction procedure available to you depends on your medical situation, breast shape and size, general health, lifestyle, and goals.

Breast reconstruction can be accomplished by the use of a prosthesis (a breast implant, either silicone gel- or saline-filled), your own tissues (a tissue ap), or a combination of the two. A tissue flap is a section of skin, fat and/ or muscle which is moved from your stomach, back or other area of your body to the chest area, and shaped into a new breast. A tissue flap also may be used to provide skin or other tissue needed to make up for what was removed at the time of surgery, or changed following radiation therapy. Your surgeon can help you decide what method of breast reconstruction is most suitable for your particular situation.

Whether or not you have reconstruction with or without breast implants, you will probably undergo additional surgeries to improve symmetry and appearance. These additional surgeries may be part of a several-stage reconstruction of the removed breast, or to shape the remaining breast to bring it into better balance with the reconstructed one. Most commonly, breast implants are placed after a space has been created for them using a temporary soft tissue expander that can be placed at the time of mastectomy or at a later time.

Portions of the reconstruction may be done in stages. For example, because the nipple and areola are usually removed with the breast tissue in mastectomy, the nipple is usually reconstructed by using a skin graft from another area of the body or the opposite breast, in addition to tattooing the area to obtain a better color match. Nipple reconstruction is usually done as a separate outpatient procedure after the initial reconstruction surgery is complete. 

Benefits of Natrelle

The benefits of saline-filled breast implants in the A95 Study were assessed by a variety of outcomes, including bra cup size change and assessments of patient satisfaction and quality of life. Data was collected before implantation and at scheduled follow-up visits.

Breast Measurement: For primary augmentation patients, 859 (95%) of the original 901 patients had a breast measurement within 18 months of surgery.

Of these 859 patients, 38% increased by 1 cup size; 49% increased by 2 cup sizes; 9% increased by 3 cup sizes; and 4% had no increase or decrease.

To find out which implant and process is right for you, call Dr. Dana at 561-257-4100 or Contact us today. 

Mentor Implants

MENTOR® Silicone Implants are available in two distinct shapes: teardrop and round.

• Teardrop-shaped MENTOR® MemoryShape® breast implants are thinner at the top and gently slope to a fuller projection point near the implant's bottom, mimicking the silhouette of a natural breast.

• Round MENTOR® MemoryGel® breast implants are circular and able to shift slightly once positioned without distorting the shape of your breast.

The profile of a breast implant refers to the level of forward projection from the chest in relation to the base width of the implant. A higher profile breast implant will create a more prominent silhouette than a lower profile breast implant.

Breast Implant Sizes

Breast implant size is measured in cubic centimeters (often referred to as cc's). The larger the implant, the higher the number of cc's will be.

For example, a 300cc implant is larger than a 250cc implant. Breast implant sizes do not correspond to traditional bra cup sizes. Choosing the right implant size is generally the most important decision a woman and her surgeon will make.

For an accurate, in-person visualization of how different implant sizes will affect your shape, consult a surgeon that uses the MENTOR® Volume Sizing System. Your plastic surgeon will also evaluate your existing breast tissue to determine if you have enough tissue to accommodate the desired size of breast implant.

Remember, choosing your breast implant size is something that you will do at the time of your consultation. You should also get more information on silicone safety and breast implant warranties to aid in the best possible conversation with your surgeon.

Breast reconstruction patients should refer to additional product information on breast tissue expanders and Flex HD.