Nowadays, breast reconstruction, including augmentation, is considered to be the most commonly performed surgery in the field of plastic surgery in Vienna. Today, taking into account the development of new technologies, manufacturers of breast implants are constantly updating their model range, either improving the existing models or producing new ones. Now implants are distinguished by high quality and safety.
Mainly three types of breast implantation techniques are used in the Viennan clinics for breast restoration, as well as for its augmentation and aesthetic improvement – the size, the shape and the texture:
The filler used for these implants is sterile salt water. If leakage occurs through the implant shell, the saline solution will be destroyed, then absorbed and naturally excreted by the body.
Saline implants provide a homogeneous shape and elasticity. They are pleasant to the touch and are approved by the FDA. They can be used for breast augmentation in women aged 18 and older.
Structured implants are filled with sterile salt water and contain a specific internal structure designed to make the implant look more natural.
Silicone breast implants, as the name suggests, are filled with silicone gel. The gel is heavier than the natural breast tissue. In case the implant has a leak, the gel may remain in the implant shell or may flow out into the implant pocket. A leaking implant filled with silicone gel does not break down.
Patients who have opted for silicone implants regularly visit a plastic surgeon in Vienna to make sure that the implants are functionally reliable and there are no complications. Ultrasound or MRI screening can evaluate the condition of the implants.
Silicone implants are also distinguished by the density of the gel. Models of the latest generation come with a cohesive (viscous) gel to ensure that the desired degree of elasticity and breast shape are maintained. In contrast to the previously used liquid silicone, it functions as a single unit, i.e. it is homogeneous in its entire volume.
Silicone implants are approved by the FDA for use in women aged 22 and over.
The shape and size of breast implants may vary. However, in Vienna, two shapes of implants are mainly used for implantation – round and anatomical in the shape of a drop. The latter variant most precisely reproduces the natural contours of the female breast, so it is more in demand and, accordingly, more expensive.
Anatomical implants are most often used because they help to make a classical breast augmentation or eliminate asymmetry. High-profile anatomical implants are used for those who wish to have their breasts slightly lifted.
Round implants are more likely to make the breasts look better than with other types of implants. Their main advantage is that if they are rotated and displaced, their appearance will not be significantly spoiled. This is why they are preferred by plastic surgeons in most cases.
Smooth implants are cheaper in cost, and they look natural. However, smooth implants are usually brittle because they are thinner. This means that they are much more likely to tear up.
Textured implants develop scar tissue that sticks to the implant making them less mobile in the breasts.
Texture gives some advantage in that it reduces the risk of depressurization of the capsule. They feature a thicker shell that reduces the risk of tearing. These implants take root more quickly and fit snugly in their pockets. However, textured implants are prone to wrinkles and are quite expensive.
Breast implants of the latest generation have a hard silicone shell with a smooth or textured surface. Textured breast implants are rough and are made of a higher density shell, which significantly reduces the risk of tearing, but at the same time limits the space for the implant in the breast.
In addition, the textured surface often leads to folds and wrinkles on the breast, which significantly spoils the aesthetic effect. The cost of implants with such a surface is very high. Breast implants that have a smooth surface are looser in the breast and carry minimal risk of wrinkles, but because of the thinner shell they have a high risk of tearing. Against this background, their cost is significantly lower than that of textured implants.
