Women who are planning on getting breast implants have many concerns about the procedure and its results. Among the biggest concerns are those surrounding the way that the implants will feel—the question in their mind is, “Do breast implants feel natural?” Patients are naturally concerned about the appearance of their implants first. The way that they feel runs a close second.
These concerns are complicated by stories that many patients have heard about breast implants done decades ago. Surgeons once used a variety of materials for implants that had negative results. Even after surgeons began to use safer and more effective substances such as silicone and saline, implants sometimes hardened unnaturally or formed lumps. With modern techniques, the natural feeling of your implants is dependent on five different factors.
Five Factors Impacting the Way Your Breast Implants Feel
1. Type of Implant
Silicone and saline implants each feel differently. Neither substance is going to feel 100% natural under any conditions. However, each has its particular benefits and drawbacks. Silicone tends to feel more like flesh. Saline also feels soft but with a sensation that resembles that of a water balloon.
2. Placement
Your breast implants will either be placed over the chest muscles or under them. Under muscle placement or sub-fascial implantation creates a more natural feeling. This is due to the presence of actual tissue above the implant.
3. Initial Breast Tissue
If you begin the implant process with more breast tissue of your own, you will end up with breasts that feel very close to natural. The less endowed you are, the more likely it is that the feel of your implants will give away their artificiality.
4. Size of Implant
Since a larger implant will skew the tissue/implant ratio in favor of the implant, there will be a higher likelihood that the implant will feel unnatural.
5. Texture
Surgeons can either use textured or smooth implants for this procedure. A textured implant tends to grip the interior of the breast and stay relatively immobile. These implants do not feel as natural as the smooth implants, which give way more like real flesh.
These factors can overlap or outweigh one another. For example, if you have sufficient breast tissue prior to implantation, this may negate other factors causing an unnatural sensation. You should always consult your plastic surgeon and your personal physician about these matters ahead of time.
Do Breast Implants Feel Natural? Ask a board-certified plastic surgeon
Call 719-634-2503 to schedule a consultation with Colorado Springs plastic surgeon, Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS, to ask questions about your breast implants procedure.
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