Is There Anything NEW in Breast Implants?

Breast augmentation is still one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. In 2012, more than 330,000 women in the United States chose to have breast augmentation and worldwide the number is about 1.5 million. Contrary to what you might believe from media reports, most of the females who opt to have their bust enlarged are NOT actresses or models. The women who decide to make a change come from all walks of life and are tired of being embarassed, or asymmetrial or just want to reclaim more volume after child birth.

The good news is there are MORE options than ever to restore breast volume and shape. Dr. Brad Bengtson, who practices in Grand Rapids, Michigan talks about the cutting edge developments in breast augmentation. 

By Dawn Tongish
and Brad Bengtson, MD

Gummy Bear Implants

Most women want a natural look when choosing a breast implant. Dr. Bengtson says the FDA-approved Natrelle^™ Style 410 Cohesive Gel “Gummy Bear” breast implant fits the body in the right way. “The highly cohesive shaped implant tends to create a nice taper of the upper pole, so it doesn’t look augmented.” It is more of a restored look. Bengtson is well-versed in the use of the “Gummy Bear” implant. At the time of it’s launch, Bengtson had the largest single-surgeon use in breast augmentation patients in the U.S. He has written extensively and published many book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on the use of cohesive gel breast implants and has educated thousands of plastic surgeons throughout the world on proper implant and patient selection.

The Right Choice

Patients who visit Bengtson in his Grand Rapids office will find a wide range of implant choices, but the most popular is still the cohesive gel gummy bear breast implant. Bengtson stresses that this implant helps patients achieve what he calls a “natural, proportional shape and volume to enhance their breast and body.”

Overall, the implant still has to match the size and skin type of the patient.” We like to say it’s about matching the patient’s wishes and tissues,” says Bengtson.

Round Implants

There are numerous breast implant options for a woman, which is great when you consider that women have different body shapes, lifestyles and goals when it comes to choosing an implant. There are new additions that are exciting. One of the newest implants to the product lineup from Natrelle^® is known as INSPIRA^™. This is a popular choice for Bengtson who says the advanced breast implant is designed specifically to increase fullness and provide additional fill of the upper breast. “It’s about 95 percent filled, so it has much less inherent wrinkling and rippling in the implant.”

Bengtson says this implant is a great product for women of a certain size. “Those patients who are thin are going to find that this shows much less wrinkling and rippling. The round implant is a great option for patients.” With so many options, patients are able to find a breast implant that suits their size and desire for a particular outcome. “We can achieve so much today. It is about getting the implant as deep as possible to get the best look for each patient.”