Breast Implant Selection

One area of Dr. Hoefflin's expertise is both primary and secondary (revisional) breast augmentation. As such, he performs breast augmentation surgery using all types of both saline and silicone breast implants. As important is the decision of incisional placement and pocket location of the implant, is the type of implant itself. Breast implants come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and projections. The type of breast implant selected should be based on your physical and soft-tissue characteristics, as well as your aesthetic goals.

The majority of breast augmentations over the last fifteen years have been with saline implants. An advantage of saline breast implants is that, if ruptured, the saline (salt solution) is absorbed by the body without fear of complication. Additional benefits include the ability to subtly change the implant volume within the operating room to accommodate small differences in volume between the breasts. The disadvantage of saline implants is that they are more likely to demonstrate rippling in small-breasted or breast reconstructive patients after a mastectomy. In patients with little breast tissue to cover the implants, wrinkling or rippling of the implant may become visible. However, the majority of breast augmentations in the United States today are performed with saline implants that lead to natural, beautiful, and youthful results.

On November 17, 2006, the FDA approved silicone gel implants for primary breast augmentation procedures in women who are at least 22 years of age and healthy. The newer generation of silicone breast implants are made with a thicker shell which reduces the spread of the silicone if rupture occurs. The advantage of silicone gel implants are a more natural feeling and appearing breast after breast augmentation. The disadvantage is a slightly larger incision must be performed to accommodate these types of implants.

Implants may be placed through the arm pit (transaxillary), belly-button (scarless, transumbilical), lower part of the areolar (periareolar), or through the breast fold (inframammary). Only saline implants may be used in the transumbilical (belly button) approach. Implants can be placed above or beneath the muscle. Dr. Hoefflin typically places implants beneath the muscle (submuscular) whenever possible in order to allow for more tissue coverage. The result is less implant visibility, less rippling, and a more natural and beautiful result.

Implants come in a variety of profile or projections. Higher profile implants provide patients with a great projection and more superior fullness of their breasts, with a smaller implant diameter. These implants are ideal in women who are thin and desire less lateral fullness, while still retaining their aesthetic ideal volume.

During your consultation with Dr. Hoefflin, the various options and techniques for both implant selection and placement for breast augmentation and breast enhancement will be discussed at length.

Dr. Hoefflin is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast augmentation, breast revision surgery, breast reduction, liposuction, body contouring, and many other plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Hoefflin's offices serve the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.

To learn if you are a candidate for the Los Angeles breast enhancement surgery, contact Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon Dr. Hoefflin for a complimentary consultation.