The  of Breast Implants

4.   Breast Implant Surface

Textured Surface Breast Implants
Smooth Surface Breast Implants

SURFACE - You've picked out a round or anatomical implant.  What surface should the implant have?  You can choose a smooth surface breast implant or a textured surface breast implant. 

Textured Implants.   Why do some implants have textured surfaces?  All types of solutions have been attempted for decades to prevent scar tissue from becoming unacceptably hard around the breast implant.  Although the body causes scar tissue to form around any foreign object in the body, the condition is known as capsular contracture when it becomes painful or unacceptably firm. Textured surface implants are an attempt to solve this problem.  Detour:  Read more about capsular contracture . . .

Scar tissue typically forms around a foreign object in a uniform manner, which allows the scar tissue to tighten and cause contracture.   By adding a textured surface, manufacturers hope to prevent scar tissue fibers from laying down uniformly.   According to a number of studies, a textured surface is not likely to reduce the risk of capsular contracture but other studies do find a reduction in contracture.  Ask YOUR doctor what his or her experience has been and what is best for you.

Unfortunately, the same characteristics of a textured surface that may cause the scar tissue to form erratically around the textured implant (an intended benefit) may also cause the implant to appear rippled in appearance. Furthermore, textured implants often have thicker shells and may be firmer in appearance and palpability.

Whether or not the texture helps or hurts with contracture and rippling issues, anatomical implants basically require a textured surface in order serve a secondary purpose of keeping the implant from flipping over.   So, if you chose "anatomical" when choosing your shape of implants, chances are you picked a textured implant by default.

Smooth Breast Implants.  Most breast implants have a smooth surface.   Since there is little consensus on whether textured implants will actually reduce the rate of contracture significantly enough to warrant other potential disadvantages discussed above, many doctors prefer to use smooth, round implants.  Most often, implants are placed under the muscle in order to potentially reduce the incidence of capsular contracture.  Detour:  Read more about implant placement choices . . .

Next Stop:  Profile and Projection of the Breast Implant

Breast Implants: The Full Roadmap: 1.  Breast Implant Fill - Saline or silicone? Saline Silicone History & Controversy Studies about Silicone Gel Breast Implants Who Qualifies for Silicone Breast Implants? Cohesive Gel and Gummy Bear Silicone Breast Implants 2.   Breast Implant Size - How do I choose the right size? -Methods of determining ideal breast implant size choice -Using Nicole's Photo Gallery to help choose size -Choosing from Implant Manufacturer Specifications 3.   Breast Implant Shape -Round -Shaped / Anatomical / Teardrop 4.   Breast Implant Surface Textured Surface Breast Implants Smooth Surface Breast Implants 5.   Breast Implant Profile / Projection Moderate Profile (regular / standard) High Profile Low Profile Moderate “PLUS” Profile 6.   Breast Implant Manufacturers Mentor Corporation Inamed Aesthetics Silimed, Inc. Breast Implant Warranty Info See All Implant Dimensions and Specifications Other Implants / Considerations Overfill Insurance The Inamed (McGhan) Style 410 Implant The Mentor CPG (Contour Profile Gel) Implant Soy Expandable Breast Implants Becker Double Lumen Breast Implants

Breast Implants: Quick Links: 1.  FILL - Saline v. Silicone 2.  Size 3.  Shape 4.  Surface 5.  Profile 6.  Manufacturers 7.  Other Considerations

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