Breast Implants Before and After Gallery

IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implant Before & After Photos

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Sensitive Content: Below you can find unretouched before and after photos of several patients who have granted permission to show them here. While we protect the identities of our patients, please be advised that by their nature these photos are of a sensitive nature.
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If you are curious about what IDEAL IMPLANT patients look like before and after the procedure, please view the gallery below. Each patient featured received the IDEAL IMPLANT from one of the exclusive board-certified plastic surgeons who offers this new technology. The IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant gives women natural looking results with peace of mind. After viewing the breast implants before and after gallery read on to learn more about how the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant compares to silicone gel breast implants.

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Silicone Gel Breast Implants and IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implants: A Comparison

When comparing breast implants, before and after photos are just part of the equation. Breast implants are a big investment, financially, physically, and mentally. Your breast implants can be part of your body for 10, 20, even 30 years, so it is important that do your research and compare breast implant types. Many board-certified plastic surgeons see patients who want the beautiful results of silicone gel implants, but are worried about things like rupture rates, incision length, and getting repeated, expensive MRIs. Surgeons can now provide their patients with an alternative: the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant gives women peace of mind with lower complication rates, no need for MRIs, and more. Make sure your board-certified plastic surgeon offers the newest implant technology and is up-to-date with surgical techniques to ensure you get the best results. Compare facts about risks, complications, warranties and more between silicone gel breast implants and IDEAL IMPLANTS below.

Does the Implant Look Good?

Breast implants should not only look good while you stand still, they should move when you move, and fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.

  • Silicone gel: Yes, this implant gives women a beautiful look without ripples and wrinkles.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Yes, this implant gives women a beautiful look without ripples and wrinkles.

Does the Implant Feel Natural?

Natural feeling implants are dense enough to mimic natural breast tissue without being so stiff that they don’t move with you.

  • Silicone gel: These implants give women a soft, natural feeling result that mimics breast tissue.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: These implants give women a soft, natural feeling result that mimics breast tissue.

What is the Capsular Contracture Risk?

Capsular contracture occurs when the tissue surrounding the breast implant tightens, hardens, and can become painful. When looking at a patient with breast implants before and after capsular contracture, it is easy to see how the affected side is firmer, often misshapen, and higher in position. Capsular contracture is one of the leading causes of reoperation after a primary breast augmentation. Although the exact cause is unknown, board-certified plastic surgeons can take steps during surgery to reduce the chances of capsular contracture. Your implant type will also play a role in your chances of capsular contracture as seen in the statistics below. For more information about capsular contracture visit the FDA’s breast implant complications page.

  • Silicone gel: FDA core clinical trial results for primary augmentation found the following capsular contracture risks over six-to-seven year periods: Allergan 16.2% (seven-year period), Mentor 9.8% (six-year period), Sientra 10.0% (six-year period).
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: In its FDA core clinical trial results for primary augmentation the IDEAL IMPLANT had a capsular contracture risk over a seven-year period of 6.3%.

What is the Rupture risk?

A rupture happens when a hole forms in the implant shell and the filling begins to come out. In silicone gel implants, the patient will most likely not notice as the silicone gel comes into contact with the surrounding tissue. In the IDEAL IMPLANT, a leak will mean partial deflation of the breast implant. Before and after deflation is easily detectable by looking at the breast. A rupture can happen at any time, to any implant. However, choosing an implant with a lower rupture risk will lower your chances of experiencing this complication.

  • Silicone gel: FDA core clinical trial results for primary augmentation found the following rupture risks over six-to-seven year periods: Allergan 7.4% (seven-year period), Mentor 3.4% (six-year period), Sientra 5.4% (six-year period).
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: In its FDA core clinical trial results for primary augmentation the IDEAL IMPLANT had a rupture risk over a seven-year period period of 1.8%.

Is There Risk of Silent Rupture?

A silent rupture means the implant shell has formed a hole or tear without the patient’s knowledge. If the rupture does not cause any noticeable symptoms the patient will be unaware that their implant is not intact. Breast implant before and after photos will not show a silent rupture, and a surgeon will often not be able to detect rupture through a physical examination.

  • Silicone gel: Yes, ruptures can be silent and remain undetected for long periods of time.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: No, while the implant will not completely deflate, it will be evident immediately that a rupture has occurred.

How is Rupture Detected?

Rupture detection is important because the FDA recommends removal and replacement of ruptured breast implants, meaning additional and often immediate surgery. To reduce the number of surgeries you receive, accurate rupture detection is essential. Ruptures can also lead to other problems such as pain and lumps if not addressed quickly.

  • Silicone gel: Rupture is best detected through an MRI scan, however an MRI is not always 100% effective at detecting ruptures. Surgeons can unexpectedly discover ruptures during surgery. New York plastic surgeon, Dr. Sophie Bartsich says,

“I’ve found that sometimes MRIs are not actually very reliable. In some instances, a patient’s MRI said the silicone gel implant had ruptured, and then when I went in to operate on it, it actually hadn’t. I’ve had one or two patients where an MRI showed the implant wasn’t ruptured, but based on my clinical exam I really thought there was a concern, so I went in and it turned out it was ruptured.”

  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Rupture is evident through simply looking at the breast. Because of the two internal chambers, a rupture of one will only deflate the implant slightly. This allows women to schedule removal and replacement surgery when it is most convenient rather than rushing into an emergency surgery.

Does the FDA Recommended Monitoring for Rupture?

Taking care of your body and your breast implants, before and after your breast augmentation, will help you enjoy your implants for years to come. Some breast implants require more maintenance post-surgery. Knowing FDA recommendations for implant monitoring will help you prepare mentally and financially for life with breast implants.

  • Silicone gel: The FDA recommends an MRI scan three years after surgery, then every two years for the life of the implant. This procedure is typically not covered by insurance companies and can cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Business Insider gives an overview of estimated costs by state.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Because there is no risk of silent rupture, there is no monitoring recommendation by the FDA. After a primary augmentation there is no need for continued implant maintenance unless you encounter a complication.

Does the FDA Recommend Removal After a Rupture?

Breast implant removal surgery includes removing the shell of the IDEAL IMPLANT, or the shell with any extruded silicone gel fromf a silicone gel implant.

How Complicated is Rupture Removal Surgery?

Taking out the shell of a ruptured IDEAL IMPLANT, and taking out the shell and the extruded silicone gel of a ruptured silicone gel implant are two very different surgeries with different scopes.

  • Silicone gel: A complex surgery is required to remove a ruptured implant including any extruded silicone gel in contact with surrounding tissues, which possibly requires a capsulectomy. Dr. Eric Desman of Alexandria, Virginia explains,

“If you have silicone gel implants and you detect a rupture early enough, a lot of times we’re able to remove the implant as well as the scar tissue that surrounds the implant as one unit. But frequently that leak in the silicone gel implant is not detected quickly and the silicone starts to leak through that scar tissue. A patient will then need a challenging, complicated surgery to get that old implant out and then put a new implant in.”

  • IDEAL IMPLANT: A simple implant shell removal is all that is necessary. In some cases, this procedure can be performed under just local anesthesia.

Again, Dr. Desman explains, “With IDEAL IMPLANT Structured Breast Implants, it’s easy to detect a leak because the breast will just start to get a little bit smaller as the saline leaks out. If that does happen, then it’s a fairly straightforward operation to replace that implant.”

After a Rupture What Material Comes in Contact With Tissue?

When you have breast implants, before and after your augmentation, you should know what might be coming into contact with your tissue in case of a rupture. A 2017 independant survey of women (including doctors and nurses)  found that 91% of women (93% if nurses, 97% if doctors) reported they would prefer saline coming into contact with their tissue in case of rupture over silicone gel, including  73% of women who already had silicone gel breast implants.

  • Silicone gel: Silicone gel, a thick and sticky substance comes into contact with tissue following a rupture. According to the FDA, “When silicone gel-filled implants rupture, silicone gel may escape from the scar tissue capsule around the implant and migrate away from the breast. This can cause lumps to form in the breast, chest wall, armpit, arm, or abdomen.”
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Saline, the same liquid used in IV fluid, comes into contact with tissue following a rupture.

Is the Material Absorbed?

If your implant ruptures, will the material be absorbed naturally by your body leaving only the shell, or does the material need to be removed along with the shell?

  • Silicone gel: No, silicone gel is not absorbed by the body and needs to be removed. As noted above, the silicone gel may also migrate away from the breast area after a rupture. When removing the implant a surgeon must remove all the extruded silicone gel from the body.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Saline is safely and naturally absorbed by the body.

Is There a Rupture Warranty?

Breast implant manufacturers often offer a Lifetime Replacement and financial assistance. Be sure to check the details of your specific implant.

  • Silicone gel: Yes, ruptured implants are replaced.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Yes, ruptured implants are replaced.

Is There a Capsular Contracture Warranty?

Breast implant manufacturers may offer replacement implants for Baker grade 3 or 4 capsular contracture. Be sure to check the details of your specific implant.

  • Silicone gel: Yes, implants may be replaced if a Baker grade 3 or 4 capsular contracture occurs within some time period.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Yes, implants may be replaced if a Baker grade 3 or 4 capsular contracture occurs within 10 years.

Is the Implant FDA Approved for Ages 18-22?

The FDA approves implants for use in certain populations. Not every implant is approved for every age group.

  • Silicone gel: No, the FDA recommends use only in ages 22 and over.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Yes, the FDA has approved use for ages 18-22 and over.

How Long is the Incision?

The incision length required to place your implant will vary based on several factors including implant type, incision location, and your surgeon. However, silicone gel implants are pre-filled and will require a longer incision as they must fit through the incision when at their maximum size. Implants that are filled after placement can fit through a smaller incision. When asked about incisions and scarring, Dr. Larry Nichter of Newport Beach California said

“One advantage of the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant is the implant is placed into the body deflated and then once it’s in the pocket, it’s inflated and filled. Because it’s deflated, you can use a much smaller incision, so therefore, there’s less scarring involved with the IDEAL IMPLANT. A silicone gel implant in comparison, is factory filled without seams, and so in order to have an implant that’s sizeable, unfortunately, we need to make an incision that will accommodate it. So that’s a big advantage, there’s far less scarring with the IDEAL IMPLANT.”

  • Silicone gel: Must be long enough to fit a pre-filled implant. Typically several centimeters long or longer.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Only needs to be long enough to fit a deflated implant because the surgeon fills the implant with saline after it is placed. Typically several centimeters or shorter.

How Does the Patient Fee Compare?

Patient fees can vary based on location, surgeon, and insurance coverage. Keep in mind that the total costs for your breast implants will also vary based on whether or not you need long-term maintenance such as MRIs or revision surgeries. Choosing an implant with lower maintenance costs and lower complication rates will offset any upfront costs from choosing high quality breast implants. Before and after your primary augmentation, be sure to budget accordingly.

  • Silicone gel: Varies based on location, surgeon, and insurance coverage. Upfront costs do not include long-term maintenance, such as FDA recommended MRIs.
  • IDEAL IMPLANT: Varies based on location, surgeon, and insurance coverage. Primary augmentation costs may be up to $500 more than silicone gel implants.

Breast Implants: Before and After Your Research

It is not unusual to change your mind about which type of breast implant you want after you learn about all the options. Now that you have seen before and after pictures and know the facts about silicone gel breast implants vs IDEAL IMPLANT you can choose the best implant for your body and your lifestyle. To find a board-certified surgeon near you visit the IDEAL IMPLANT surgeon finder. For more answers to your breast implant questions visit the Breast Implant Blog.