In breast augmentations an implant is placed beneath the breast to make the breast bigger. In much of cosmetic surgery what you start with determines what you will wind up with. This is no truer than with breast augmentation which Dr Lambros has been doing since 1984. The shape of the augmented breast is determined largely by the shape of the natural breast and the size of the implant. The shape of the implant is a minor factor, and though for a time shaped (“anatomic”) implants were popular, their use has plummeted in the last few years as they did not fulfill their promise. Breasts that are droopy do not do well with standard augmentations as one has a droopy breast sitting on top of an implant.
Saline and silicone implants are available and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The problem with silicone implants was the tendency for the breast to get hard after surgery, a reaction of the body to the implant that is not at all well understood. The theories that try to explain why that happens are just that.....theories, and none have been proven one way or the other. Since the FDA recently approved silicone breast implants again the data is not yet back whether the hardness (contracture) rate is lower than it was historically. There is no question that a perfect result with a silicone implant is better than a perfect result from saline because saline implants are more palpable and visible than silicone implants especially in thin girls.
In a heavier person with pre existing large breasts the implants are about the same because of the tendency of the breast to cover any flaws of the implant.
People reading this website will already know about above-the-muscle and below-the-muscle placement of implants. I typically use a below the muscle approach because implants stay softer and are less palpable below the muscle. The muscle is the pectoralis muscle, so really the implant is subpectoral. This is the space utilized by almost all plastic surgeons.
The operation consists of making a space below the breast, called the “pocket”. This may be done in a number of ways. The common ways to enter the pocket are basically with an incision around the areola, an incision under the breast and an incision through the belly button. I prefer the areolar approach or under the breast. In most people the areolar approach makes for a better scar. The tendency to lose sensation....which runs 10-15% of all breasts is probably not related to the incision placement though some people think it is less with the incision under the breast.
Unlike other websites I am not putting the cc volume of the breasts presented here. People tend to get too hung up on the volume of the implants when the important thing is how they look.
[click on images to enlarge]