About Breast Implants

New York City, Manhattan, Long Island, and Westchester, New York

Once you have decided that you are interested in breast augmentation, you will also need to decide which type of breast implant you would like.  Dr. Newman offers more than one choice for his patients in his Manhattan, New York office.

Breast Implant Manufacturers

Currently, there are only two companies approved to manufacture breast implants in the United States for cosmetic use: Allergan, Inc and Mentor Corporation. Other companies do manufacture implants in the US, but their use is limited to clinical trials (experimental use). Both Allergan and Mentor manufacture a full range of implants. Dr. Newman has used implants from both companies and currently prefers the Mentor products. He is happy to discuss his reasons for this choice during your consultation.

Breast Implant Profiles

The term “profile” is used only when discussing round breast implants. The “base” of a round implant is circular in shape. The diameter of this circle is referred to as the “base diameter.” When the implant is placed base-down on a table, the height of the implant is called the “projection.”

There are three implant “profiles” for each implant size:

• Low – the low-profile style will be flattest, meaning that it will have the lowest projection and the widest base-diameter
• Medium
• High – the high-profile style will have the highest projection and the smallest base-diameter

So, even though you may choose a specific implant size for your surgery, there are still several different choices, each the same size, that will result in different final breast appearances. During your consultation Dr. Newman will attempt to decipher what seem to be endless possible choices. He will explain which implants, in his opinion, are the best choices for your particular situation, as well as explain his reasoning so this all makes sense.

Breast Implant Shapes

Breast implants are made in two basic shapes:

• Round – Round implants have a circular base and is as full on the top as it is on the bottom
• Contoured (also called “anatomical” or “teardrop”) – Contoured implants have a base that ranges from oval to almost triangular and is fuller at the bottom.

Most implants inserted for cosmetic breast augmentation are round implants. The most important reason for this is that, once inserted, the implant may move (spin) based on your activity. Implant movement is normal and adds to the normal appearance of a good result. As a round implant spins, your shape will not change. With a contoured implant that does not have a round base, implant movement can change your appearance dramatically. For this reason, all contoured implants are made with a rough (textured) shell to help to prevent the implant from spinning.

Dr. Newman's Opinion

“In my experience, I have seen 22 cases of contoured implants spinning leaving the patients with unusual appearances. This required additional surgery to correct. For this reason I rarely use contoured implants, although there are specific situations where I think they have a place. Round implants are also significantly cheaper than their textured counterparts.”

For more information regarding breast augmentation and breast implants, please contact board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Scott Newman at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center in New York City, New York.