Breast Implant Options at Artisan Plastic Surgery

If you’ve decided to undergo breast augmentation surgery, you have several decisions to make about your breast implants and procedure in Pittsburgh. Dr. Francis Johns will review your options with you and make his professional recommendations based on factors such as your body type, desired surgical outcome, medical history and lifestyle. He encourages you to research your options so you can have an informed conversation and ask him specific questions during your consultation.

Breast Implant Type

Breast implants are filled with either a saline or a silicone material.

Saline implants are composed of a silicone outer shell and a sterile saltwater solution. One of the advantages to selecting saline implants is that they are filled after insertion, so Dr. Johns is able to make smaller surgical incisions. Also, due to the nature of the saline solution, if the implant were to leak or rupture, it would become immediately apparent and your body would naturally absorb the saline.

Silicone implants are composed of a silicone outer shell and filled with a silicone gel, too. Many women feel that silicone implants provide a look and feel that more closely resembles natural breast tissue than saline implants. However, if they were to leak or rupture, the cohesive nature of the gel would hold its shape better, making it more difficult to detect a problem. For this reason, many plastic surgeons recommend women with silicone implants schedule regular breast imaging exams. Another drawback is that silicone implants are pre-filled, requiring a larger incision than saline implants.

Breast Implant Size

Dr. Johns will help you select the breast implant size that is most appropriate for your body frame and proportions. He cautions against choosing implants that are too big, as they don’t look right on women with petite bodies, but he also wants you to be happy with your breast implant results. Dr. Johns often uses implant “sizers” that you can slip into your bra to help you preview the results of different implant sizes.

Breast Implant Shape

Breast implants in Pittsburgh are available in either round or teardrop shapes. Round implants provide more fullness and cleavage around the top of the breasts, and teardrop implants are sloped to resemble the curve of a natural breast.

Breast Implant Texture

Breast implants have either a smooth or a textured outer shell. The primary difference between textures is that smooth implants will move more freely within the breast pocket, whereas textured implants will “stick” to the breast tissue and remain higher on the chest wall over time.

Incisional Patterns

Another important decision to make about breast augmentation surgery is the incision pattern that Dr. Johns will follow during the procedure. Depending on your anatomy, the type of implants you choose and other factors, Dr. Johns can make the breast implant incisions in the following locations:

• Around the areola (i.e., the darkly colored skin surrounding the nipple)
• Under the natural fold of the breast
• Within the armpit

No matter which incision pattern you and Dr. Johns select, he will position the incisions strategically to minimize any resulting scarring.

Implant Placement

Dr. Johns will place your breast implants using a submuscular or subglandular approach.

With the submuscular placement, he positions the breast implants underneath the chest muscle. Dr. Johns often recommends submuscular placement for women with thin skin and/or minimal body fat, because the muscle covers the implant and makes the implant less visible beneath the surface of the skin. The drawback to submuscular placement is that it is more invasive to the surrounding muscles and tissues and can require a lengthier recovery period.

If Dr. Johns uses a subglandular approach, he will position the implants underneath the breast tissue and over the chest muscle. He recommends this approach to women with enough breast tissue to adequately cover the implant. The advantage to the subglandular approach is that it typically requires a shorter and less invasive recovery period.

Learn More about Your Breast Implant Options

If you’d like to explore your breast implant options in more detail with Dr. Johns, please schedule a one-on-one consultation at his Pittsburgh/Greensburg plastic surgery practice. Call him at call 877-245-6467 or send an email to make your appointment.