Breast Implants in Orange County
The recent FDA approval of silicone gel breast implants gives women new choices. Now, you can work with Dr. Smith to determine the right combination of size, placement and filling to give you the look you've been seeking.
The best way to get started is to schedule a complimentary surgical consultation with Dr. Smith by calling 949.450.2755 in Irvine or 951.734.2500 in Corona, or send us an email.
Breast Implant Size
One decision that often seems challenging for women to make is how big they want their breasts to be after the procedure. Having made the decision to seek breast augmentation surgery in the Newport Beach area, many women worry about looking too big. Others would choose large implants but fear they might not look natural.
Dr. Smith is very experienced in helping make this decision. During your consultation, he'll evaluate your body and skin type and take those into consideration. He'll have you try on bras with various implants inside and he'll have pictures to show you. He encourages you to bring your own photos and ideas to the appointment and be ready for an open discussion.
Implant Placement
Breast implants can be placed either under the chest muscle (submuscular) or above the muscle (subglandular). There are advantages in either case. Submuscular implants tend to create a gentle sloping of the chest wall that some patients believe looks more natural. With subglandular implants the chest muscles tend to recover more quickly from surgery and cause less discomfort.
Again, your individual body characteristics are key to looking and feeling your best following surgery. You and Dr. Smith will discuss implant placement when you meet.
Silicone vs. Saline
Many plastic surgeons around the country greeted the FDA approval of silicone gel breast implants with enthusiasm, believing that the implants are not only safe, but that they offer a superior natural look and feel as well. The cohesive material used in today's silicone implants holds together if the implant shell ruptures and is not likely to migrate outside the breast. If you are interested in silicone gel implants, you should know that the FDA recommends periodic MRI tests to check for these “silent ruptures.”
Saline implants have the advantage of being filled with a solution that's completely compatible with the human body. If a saline implant ruptures, the liquid is absorbed and the implant deflates. The chief disadvantages of saline implants are related to look and feel. They are more likely to cause rippling and wrinkling under the skin and some patients aren't content with the way they feel.
Dr. Smith does not use the same type of implant for all his Orange County patients. Silicone implants are best for some women, saline implants work well for others. When you visit him for your consultation, he will discuss the pros and cons of both fillings with you and you and he will make the choice together.
If You Already Have Breast Implants
If you have saline breast implants and you're unhappy with the results, this is a great time to have your augmentation revised. You may decide to switch to a silicone gel implant, or you may choose to go with a different saline model or a different placement. If you have silicone implants, some women are unhappy with placement of older silicone implants above the muscle and many of these older silicone implants are ruptured. Dr. Smith can determine whether you can expect a better result with a revision.
You already know that breasts droop over time for all women. There's no getting around it, it's a natural consequence of gravity and aging. For best results, you may decide to have a breast lift, or mastopexy, at the same time as your breast augmentation or revision.
Dr. Andrew Smith, providing cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery to those in the Orange County area including Newport Beach, Irvine, Huntington Beach & Riverside.