Breast Augmentation with Silicone Implants
When consulting with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Melanie Prince for breast augmentation surgery, also known as a “boob job,” patients are given the option to choose from different breast implant options based on their goals and desired look. Dr. Prince is happy to offer Natrelle INSPIRA® silicone breast implants, that are filled with a cohesive and gummy-like silicone gel that sticks together and has the tendency to hold its shape. Natrelle INSPIRA® Breast Implants are soft, with varying levels of gel squishiness. The best way to determine softness is to feel each implant during your consultation with Dr. Prince.
Why most patients choose silicone implants:
• Silicone implants feel softer
• Silicone implants typically look more natural
• Rippling is rarely an issue with silicone implants
• Silicone implants are generally lighter compared to saline in the same implant size
Silicone implants are created to last many years; however, no breast implant is considered a “lifetime device” as they are man-made products. At some point, most women will need to have their breast implants replaced, regardless of implant type. The chance of implant rupture remains very low for the first decade, and then starts to increase every year after—this is why you may hear that implants should be replaced every 10 years. There is no need to replace your breast implants unless you are having a problem or would like to exchange them for aesthetic reasons, even though it’s been 10 years. If a silicone implant ruptures, the gel may remain within the implant shell but could escape into the breast implant pocket. An MRI is the best way to accurately detect a silicone implant rupture. The FDA recommends MRI screenings for silicone implant ruptures 5 years after getting your implants and every two years after that—especially because most silicone implant ruptures are “silent,” meaning that they don’t present noticeable symptoms or changes to the breast’s appearance.
Silicone breast implants are FDA-approved for augmentation in women aged 22 or older. Silicone implants in patients under 22 years of age would be considered an off-label use but can be done.
For more information on Breast Augmentation, check out our Breast Augmentation blog. Click here to view Dr. Prince’s breast augmentation before and after gallery.