The recent introduction of shaped implants has made many patients super excited. The question is, are these implants right for everyone interested in them? Dr. Mike Schwartz, a board certified plastic surgeon from Los Angeles, thinks the new shaped implants are great, but only in certain patients will the benefits really show themselves. The best part of these implants hitting the market is the increase in options surgeons have to make breast augmentation that much better.
By Michael R. Schwartz, MD
and Adam McMillon
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com
Beyond cosmetic surgery, people always seem to want that which is new. New means better, right? Dr. Schwartz finds this approach to breast implants possibly misleading. “The first thing patients need to know is that these implants are new,” says Schwartz. “There are not a lot of doctors out there who have experience with shaped implants, so there are going to be a lot of doctors using this as a marketing ploy as opposed to ‘Is this in the best interest of my patients?'”
As usual when thinking about cosmetic surgery, patient research is paramount. Finding a great surgeon is important, but finding one who has experience with new technologies is even more important. “The very first thing patients need to do is their homework on the surgeon,” says Schwartz. “You don’t want to go do the new thing because it’s new, you want to do the new thing if it’s best for you, and these implants aren’t best for everyone. You want to find a surgeon who will explain that, rather than sell you a product only because it’s new and popular.”
Who benefits from shaped implant?
“I think there are significant advantages to these implants in the right patient that are going to make a big difference,” says Schwartz. “There are great opportunities to do better breast surgery than we ever have before.
“The typical situation where shaped implants would be great is when a woman doesn’t have a lot of her own breast shape. A lot of young women come into my practice who are very small and don’t have a very well-defined shape. They want a reasonable amount of volume, but really want that natural breast shape they’ve never had. If you put in a round implant, the result looks very much like a round implant. Even if you’re using a round silicone implant, the result still may not be as natural as the patient would like for it to be. With a shaped implant, however, you get a beautiful breast with a very natural shape.”
Expanding the options for surgeons and patients in breast augmentation
Having more options is a great thing for any surgeon since there are a vast number of patients with slightly different anatomies. Having a variety of implant options gives plastic surgeons an opportunity to be even more precise, leading to better results in more patients. “There’s never been a better time to consider breast augmentation,” says Schwartz. “It doesn’t mean it’s the right surgery for everyone, or that any particular implant is the right one for everyone. The opportunity and options that are available are better now than ever before.
“I can be a better breast surgeon today because we have new implants options available that each individual woman has better choices with. That’s exciting.”