- Size and shape
- Spacing
- Placement
- Material
If you want your new breasts to look and feel as natural as possible, these five elements have a big influence!
1. Implant Size and Shape
When it comes to natural-looking breast implants, shape and size are very important. Many people think bigger breasts are always better and that higher-profile breasts always look perkier, but that’s not always the case. The truth is, large or high-profile implants may not produce the best results for your body. For example, on some women, large, high-profile implants protrude in a way that can look unnatural. When considering size and shape, the key is to forget about cup sizes and measurements and instead think about the various implant sizes and shapes in relation to your own body. Even if you have a particular cup size in mind, you may find when you speak with your surgeon that it just won’t work in conjunction with the profile that looks best with your proportions. For instance, high-profile implants are often best if you have a petite frame because their small diameter means they fit well on a narrow chest; however, this also means it’s easy for your implants to look unnatural if they’re too large.
2. Implant Spacing
Spacing determines where your implants are actually placed on your chest. It makes a subtle but significant difference in how your breasts look once the surgery is completed. If there’s too much space between the implants, the gap between your breasts can look unnaturally large. On the other hand, if there’s too little space between the implants, it can cause your cleavage to look artificial and may lead to a problem called skin tenting, where the skin between the breasts pulls away from the breast bone. The best implant spacing for you depends partially on your anatomy, which can’t be changed. For instance, the width of your breast bone and the shape and width of your chest wall are things your surgeon can’t change. If you choose a great surgeon, they will be able to take these factors into account when spacing your implants, ensuring they’re in the right position to look as good as possible.
3. Implant Site: Under-the-Muscle or Over-the-Muscle?
When breast augmentation with implants was a relatively new procedure, over-the-muscle placement was much more common, but these days, most surgeons agree that under-the-muscle implants offer a more natural-looking breast shape. With this technique, breast implants are placed beneath the pectoral muscle, which results in enhanced breasts with a more natural shape and feel and a better size and overall position. Another benefit? Scarring tends to be less visible when implants are placed under the muscle, and there’s less risk of problems such as skin rippling and stretching or drooping of the breasts. Even though under-the-muscle placement is generally considered the best option, it’s not necessarily the ideal for everybody. The best placement technique actually depends on your breast size and the amount of breast tissue you have, as well as other factors, so it’s important to talk about this issue with your surgeon during your consultation. For more in-depth information about under-versus-over-muscle placement, check out our video!
4. Implant Material
Among the options available today—which include saline and various kinds of silicone—silicone implants tend to produce the most natural-looking and natural-feeling breasts. Silicone implants are slightly more costly than saline, but because they’re made from a highly viscous gel, they’re much softer. Another advantage of silicone implants is that they retain their shape more effectively than saline, and they are less likely to wrinkle. To most people, silicone implants are indistinguishable from natural breasts, with a look and feel that’s almost exactly the same. That makes them the go-to option for many women who are considering breast implants. While they might be the most popular choice, it’s still important to discuss your options with your surgeon, so you and he are on the same page.
5. Your Choice of Surgeon
All of the above elements are highly important in terms of the influence they have on the look and feel of breast implants. If you want your new breasts that look and feel natural, paying close attention to these factors is definitely the way to go! But there’s another element that’s important too! That’s the skill and experience of your surgeon. To get the best possible results, choose a surgeon who is board-certified and who has lots of experience performing the kind of breast enhancement you want. Since there are several factors that help determine the best implants for your body, consider all of them together, rather than individually. And to make sure your implants look as natural as possible, discuss your body goals with your surgeon!