Breast Implants

IN LONG BEACH, CA AND SERVING LA, ORANGE COUNTY AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Choosing the right breast implants is a vital part of your breast augmentation. Dr. Waltzman uses a variety of imaging methods and other techniques to help you visualize your results and choose the implants that will provide the best shape, size, and feel for your goals. 

Learn More About Breast Implants

What Types of Breast Implants Are Available?

This is one of the most important decisions: what kind of breast implants you get. You’ll get to choose between an incredible variety of implants, but the goal is to find the implant that best suits your unique needs.

Dr. Waltzman will explain all the factors that go into choosing your implant:

  • The quality of your skin
  • The texture of your skin
  • The elasticity of your skin
  • Whether you’ve had children
  • Whether you used to breastfeed
  • The amount of breast tissue you have available
  • The width of your breast

Of course, these implants all have different variations in size, projection, shape, and texture, but in general, there are three types a patient can choose from:

Saline implants have been around for quite some time, but they’re known for their reliability and high level of safety. They are filled with a saline solution (the same liquid they put in most IVs) and tend to feel firmer than other implants. Women tend to like saline implants because they can easily notice when an implant has ruptured (the breast will deflate). The body can absorb the saline solution without any complications.

Patients also tend to like saline implants because they’re inserted into the body, deflated, and then filled once placed inside the breast. This allows your Long Beach plastic surgeon to see how a certain implant volume will look once it’s in the chest. It also allows for a smaller incision to be used.

Silicone implants are becoming increasingly popular with breast augmentation patients in Long Beach because the soft silicone gel moves and feels like natural tissue. Because silicone implants come pre-filled, they need to be inserted through a somewhat larger incision on the body.

Silicone gel implants are FDA-approved for patients 22 and up, but it’s still highly recommended that patients receive an MRI every few years or so to check for ruptured implants, so-called “silent ruptures,” which are difficult to detect with the naked eye.

One innovative type of silicone implant, called highly cohesive or “gummy bear” implants, has a special gel that’s less fluid than most silicone implants. If highly cohesive implants rupture, the filling will stick to each other rather than seep into the body. 

Gummy bear implants also come in anatomic, also known as “teardrop-shaped” implants. Anatomic implants have a sloped shape that looks more like the natural breast. These anatomic implants also tend to have a textured surface so that they can adhere to the tissues adequately. Because it can adhere to the tissues, the anatomic implants are less likely to rotate and create an unnatural position in the breast.

The material will remain inside the implant even if it is cut in half, eliminating concerns about silicone spreading away from the implant in the rare event the implant ruptures. You’ll want to schedule regular breast imaging to check the status of the implants. 

Motiva® implants are designed to provide fullness and shape exactly where your breasts need it most. Their unique shape and SmoothSilk® Surface with ProgressiveGel PLUS® texture allow them to be placed with minimal incisions and quick healing. 

Even better, these implants create an attractive, natural-looking shape whether you are standing or lying down. By adjusting their shape from a teardrop when standing to a softer, rounder shape while lying down, these implants provide the most natural look and feel possible. 

With a dramatically lowered risk of capsular contracture (scar tissue around the implant), Motiva® breast implants are less likely to require replacement due to this issue. They have been designed for your safety foremost and are among the most advanced implants available, with a gel texture that will not leak if the implant is damaged.

How Do Breast Implants Work?

Dr. Waltzman performs three placement options for his breast augmentation patients in Long Beach. The pectoralis muscle plays a significant role in breast implant placement technique. For example, the implant may go under the muscle (submuscular placement), over the muscle (subglandular placement), or in front of the muscle but under the connective tissue (subfascial placement).

In submuscular breast implant placement, Dr. Waltzman positions the breast implants partially under the pectoralis muscles. This approach significantly reduces rippling on the upper portion of the breast and lowers capsular contracture rates.

Added benefits include:

  • Patients experience more accurate mammograms
  • A more natural appearance
  • Reduced rate of capsular contracture
  • Lower risk of rippling
  • A concurrent breast lift is easier to perform

Also referred to as over-the-muscle placement, the subglandular placement positions the implant between the chest muscle and existing breast tissue. Dr. Waltzman performs subglandular positioning so that the implant lies below the breast glands. Subglandular placement tends to be chosen by a subset of women who are athletes, bodybuilders, or desire this particular look.

Added benefits include:

  • No interference with pectoralis muscle function
  • No need for stretching muscle so that the implant will settle into the position
  • Less movement of implants during physical activities
  • Less discomfort after surgery

Subfascial breast augmentation provides Long Beach patients with the natural-looking result they desire while avoiding a lengthy recovery. This unique approach involves placing the implant beneath the fascia. This slender yet durable tissue can be found on nearly every muscle inside your body.

Benefits of subfascial breast augmentation include:

  • Shorter recovery: After placement, implants are permanently secured into their final position to eliminate the “settling” process, significantly reducing recovery time.
  • Minimized risk of distortion: This approach involves anchoring the implant above the muscle, leaving it untouched by muscle movements. Subfascial augmentation is ideal for women in Long Beach who want to enhance their physique and maintain an active lifestyle.
  • Discreet, long-lasting results: This technique provides support for the implant that’s similar to a bra. As a result, this creates a more natural, slope-like appearance, ensuring the breasts preserve their appearance and position for years to come

Breast Implant Shape

One selection you will make with Dr. Waltzman is what shape of implants you want. He offers two basic shapes: round and teardrop. While a round shape has traditionally been used and tends to create more cleavage and a fuller look, a teardrop shape tends to create a more natural appearance. Teardrop shapes also tend to be a bit firmer than round shapes. Some women appreciate this, while others prefer the softer feel of the round implant.

Breast Implant Sizing

Dr. Waltzman helps patients choose the size of their implants based on their unique characteristics; during the consultation process, Dr. Waltzman will perform a thorough analysis of your breasts. One of the most important measurements that can define the size of your implants is the width of your breasts, and your implant will need to be smaller than the width of your breasts to fit naturally.

Why Choose Dr. Waltzman for Breast Implants?

Dr. Waltzman is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon known for his natural-appearing blepharoplasty results. His immense knowledge of facial aesthetics and extensive training allow him to create stunning outcomes—it’s his dedication to tailoring the blepharoplasty for his Long Beach patients’ particular needs. 

By customizing each procedure, Dr. Waltzman can rejuvenate you without changing your unique eyes. With an eye lift in Long Beach, they can look as vibrant as they feel. 

Take the Next Step

When you are ready to consider breast implants, reach out to The Waltzman Institute Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics at (562) 448-6100 to schedule your initial consultation and learn more about our many aesthetic enhancement options.

We are located in Long Beach and serve patients in LA county, Orange County, the South Bay and all of Southern California. You’ll find that we are fully committed to the best possible experience and outcomes for all of our patients!

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