Garza Galante Plastic Surgery
322 U.S. 41 #103
Schererville, IN 46375
Phone: (219) 322-3131
Mo–Fr: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Breast Implant Options
One of the most important aspects of your breast augmentation is the choice of breast implants. In Schererville, Indiana, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rebecca Garza understands that this can make a big difference in the final appearance of your breasts. She offers a full spectrum of implant options to ensure that your results meet your expectations.
To learn about the many options for breast implants, women from Merrillville, Munster, and throughout Northwest Indiana can meet with Dr. Garza by requesting a consultation using the online form or by scheduling an appointment by calling (800) 721-3244.
Breast Augmentation
Before & After Photos
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Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Talking It Over
Dr. Garza will answer your questions and listen carefully to your goals during your consultation. Depending on your body type, preferences, and lifestyle, you may have several choices in terms of technique and implant characteristics. Dr. Garza will explain the advantages and limitations of each option.
Welcome to Our Practice
Board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Rebecca Garza and Dr. Gus Galante have established a plastic surgery practice dedicated to providing personalized care that gives you the confidence to make educated decisions about your surgery. Together with a hand-selected team of professionals who share our passion for patient care, we offer a range of surgical procedures designed to help you look and feel your best.
Impeccable Credentials
Both Dr. Garza and Dr. Galante are fellowship-trained plastic surgeons at the forefront of the aesthetic surgery field. They are each active in professional associations and have given back to the community by donating their time and services to local charity organizations.
Implant Fill Type
Breast augmentation patients can choose between implants filled with either saline or silicone gel. While some surgeons strongly favor one implant type, Dr. Garza has years of experience using both options successfully. She bases her recommendations on your anatomy and preferences. Each option has its own advantages in terms of look, feel, and comfort.
Saline
These implants are filled with a sterile, medical-grade saltwater solution. Saline implants remain a popular choice among breast augmentation patients for a variety of reasons, which include:
- Requiring only a small incision because the implant is empty and rolled up like a cigar when inserted.
- Allowing flexibility in incision location and in final breast size because they are filled after placement.
- Alleviating concerns about safety or implant rupture because saline is not harmful to the body.
- Being less expensive than silicone in most cases.
Silicone
This implant fill option is popular chiefly for its aesthetic benefits. Advantages include:
- Some women find that the texture of silicone implants has a more natural look and feel than saline implants.
- Silicone is preferable for women who have very little breast tissue of their own because the results tend to look and feel more like natural breast tissue.
Silicone implants are FDA approved for women aged 22 and over. Younger women who are considering breast augmentation should discuss their options thoroughly with Dr. Garza. These patients can either opt for saline-filled implants or wait until they are eligible for the silicone gel option.
Ideal Implant®
The third type of implant now available at our practice is the Ideal Implant, which is filled with saline but structured to look and feel similar to silicone gel implants. The innovative implant includes nested shells that function as baffles to control the saline solution’s movement and prevent bouncing. Approved by the FDA, the Ideal Implant provides the natural feel that most patients prefer without the risk of a “silent rupture” associated with silicone gel implants. Since the Ideal Implant has 2 chambers of filling, if one chamber leaks—a rare occurrence—the fluid is harmlessly absorbed by the body, but the implant usually maintains most of its shape. If this happens, the patient can choose to replace the implant electively.
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Implant Size, Shape, Profile & Texture
Once you’ve decided on your implant material, there are several more factors to consider. Our surgeons offer a wide variety of styles from only FDA-approved manufacturers, ensuring safe, beautiful, and custom results. They talk you through each step of the decision-making process. Read about the different implant factors below.
Size
Patients often think about implants in terms of bra sizes, saying, for example, that they want to go from bra cup size A to a large C. However, breast implants are measured in cubic centimeters (cc), rather than cup sizes, which are not standardized from one brand to another. It can be helpful to let us know what cup size you would like to achieve, but Dr. Garza also recommends that you bring some “wish photos” to your consultation—pictures showing the results you want. You can review our before-and-after gallery to find some options that appeal to you. That’s a good way for us to identify a specific size you desire. Your surgeon will recommend the volume that will help you achieve your goals based on how much breast tissue you already have.
Shape
Your options include round or anatomically shaped breast implants. A shaped implant resembles a teardrop, with more volume at the bottom, mimicking the slope of a natural breast. Round implants are often preferred by women who desire a fuller look in the upper portion of the breasts and more cleavage. Dr. Garza has experience with both round and shaped implants, and she asks you about your goals to determine which might work best for you.
A variety of shapes of implants from Allergan’s Natrelle® collection, one of the brands we offer
Profile
A breast implant’s profile corresponds to how much your breasts will project from the chest wall after your augmentation surgery. Dr. Garza’s recommendation for implant profile depends on whether you:
- Plan to have a breast lift at the same time as breast augmentation
- Have a larger or smaller amount of existing breast tissue
- Decide on an implant placement above or below the chest muscle
The implant profile choices—usually low profile, moderate profile, moderate plus profile, or high profile—can be a little confusing. Many patients rely on the experience and training of our board-certified plastic surgeon when she recommends an implant profile that will provide the best results.
Texture
A smooth implant shell, left, and a
textured shell, right, from
Allergan’s Natrelle collection
All breast implants have a silicone outer shell that contains saline or silicone filler. This shell can be smooth or textured. A smooth implant can move around more freely in the breast pocket, which many women believe looks very natural.
With textured implants, your natural breast tissue grows and conforms around the fine-textured surface and secures the implants in place. This prevents them from moving, which is especially important for shaped implants, which need to stay oriented upright. One of our surgeons will help you decide which option is right for you depending on the other implant factors you’ve chosen.
A Reputation Built on Results
Breast Implant FAQ
Are silicone implants as safe as saline?
The FDA restricted the use of silicone implants for 14 years to perform rigorous safety studies. In 2006, the FDA approved the use of a new generation of silicone implants for women age 22 and older, concluding that no evidence was found linking these implants to increased health risks. Many of our breast augmentation patients choose silicone breast implants because they believe silicone provides a more natural look and feel than saline. Others prefer saline because they are less expensive and are filled after the implant is placed.
Today, it is no longer as much a safety concern as it is a matter of personal preference. During your consultation, Dr. Garza will review your available options for breast implants to help you make an informed decision about your procedure.
Will I be able to breastfeed with breast implants?
Breastfeeding is often possible after breast augmentation. If you’re considering having children after surgery, be sure to share your plans with your surgeon. They can use special incision methods to minimize the involvement of the nipple, which increases the odds of successful breastfeeding. Additionally, the presence of implants does not affect breast milk.
Will my breast implants eventually leak and need to be replaced?
While breast implants are not designed to be “lifetime” medical devices, many women do not need to have them replaced. If a saline implant does leak, the saltwater solution is harmlessly absorbed by the body and the rupture is readily apparent. The FDA does recommend periodic MRI scans for silicone implants to monitor their integrity.
More Information
For answers to questions about breast augmentation, review our Breast Augmentation FAQs page.
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