BREAST IMPLANTS
Breast implants are used as part of a breast augmentation procedure. These implants come in different styles and sizes to provide flexible, unique results for every patient. RGV Cosmetic Surgery & Vein Center offers breast implants to residents of McAllen, the Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, and all of South Texas.
What Are Breast Implants?
Breast implants are implants placed in the breasts as part of a breast augmentation procedure. With breast implants, patients can increase the size of their breasts while improving their shape. This is a popular procedure among women who would like to achieve larger breasts or who have asymmetrical breasts.
What Are My Breast Implant Options?
In addition to deciding on incision location and implant placement, patients need to select the type, style, and size of implants that best suit their goals. Breast implants are available as either round or shaped implants. Shaped implants are made to resemble the natural teardrop shape of a youthful breast. While these implants can produce natural-looking results, shaped implants do not increase fullness in the upper breast and they also require larger incisions to place. Round implants are more commonly used for patients seeking to enhance or restore their upper breast fullness. These implants also come in different sizes to achieve different degrees of breast projection and fullness. Since size and shape are important factors when considering a breast augmentation, the shape and material of your implants are directly responsible for the type of results you achieve. In addition to the different shapes, breast implants are available in two materials: silicone gel and saline.
What Are Silicone Gel Breast Implants?
Silicone implants are a safe and effective option for breast augmentation. Despite the misinformation that people hear about older silicone implants, modern silicone implants have never been linked to cancer or other diseases. Silicone gel implants are thick and strong, and have been tested extensively to ensure that they do not spill or leak. Silicone gel implants are popular for results that are both natural-looking and natural feeling. At RGV Cosmetic Surgery & Vein Center, we use the Keller Funnel to aid in silicone breast implant placement, decreasing the risks and minimizing the size of incisions. These implants are also resistant to rippling and deflation, making them a great option for long-lasting results. A disadvantage of silicone implants is that they require slightly larger incisions than saline implants, and ruptures can only be detected by MRI. For this reason, the FDA recommends regular surveillance MRIs every three to four years after surgery.
What Are Saline Breast Implants?
Saline-filled breast implants are comprised of a silicone outer shell (the same used for silicone gel implants) that is filled with sterile saltwater (saline) during the procedure. There are no health risks associated with the medical-grade saltwater solution that fills these implants. Since they are filled during the surgery, saline implants can be placed through very small incisions (even through the belly button). This allows fine tuning of the implants to correct minor breast size differences. A large benefit of saline implants is that in the case of leakage or rupture, the saline is harmlessly absorbed by the body and eliminated. However, they will deflate should a leak occur. This requires a return to the operating room to replace the deflated implant, which can complicate the shrinking implant. Some women report that saline implants can look and feel less natural than silicone gel implants. In some cases, they can exhibit a wrinkled appearance or feel firm if overfilled.
What Is Breast Implant Removal?
Breast implant removal surgery is a cosmetic procedure that reverses the breast augmentation. It simply removes the breast implants or revises the shape and size of them. If you have had complications with your breast implants, such as infection or capsular contracture, we may recommend that your breast implants be removed. Other reasons breast implants need to be removed include a build up of calcium, infection and/or bleeding, or necrosis or the development of dead tissues around the breast implant.
There are three types of breast implant removal procedures:
- Removing the implants and replacing them with new implants,
- Repositioning the existing implants, or
- Removing the breast implants without replacement.
How Much Do Breast Implants Cost?
To determine the cost of your breast implants, we invite you to schedule a private consultation at our practice. During your consultation, we will assess your cosmetic goals in order to pursue a treatment plan that matches your unique needs. Then, we will be able to provide you with a clear breakdown of the costs associated with your treatment. At RGV Cosmetic Surgery & Vein Center, we accept a number of payment and financing options, including cash, checks, money orders, major credit cards, and CareCredit® financing. We also offer simple and secure online payment options for the convenience of our patients.
Breast implants are a great solution for women who want to achieve fuller breasts or correct breast asymmetry. At RGV Cosmetic Surgery & Vein Center, we specialize in a number of breast augmentation techniques, offering breast procedures to residents of McAllen, the Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, and all of South Texas.