Breast Augmentation

Looking to enhance your breast appearance with a professionally performed breast augmentation plastic surgery procedure? Breast augmentation plastic surgery is designed to restore lost breast volume and firmness, giving women a more youthful and contoured appearance. At Shape Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa, conveniently located in Spokane and the Tri Cities, we pride ourselves on providing premier plastic surgery results that meet the unique needs of each patient. Breast augmentation, which involves the use of implants, is a plastic cosmetic surgery procedure aimed at increasing breast size, improving contour, and enhancing fullness for a more balanced silhouette. During this surgical process, breast implants are carefully placed under the breast tissue, resulting in a noticeable enlargement of the bust. There are a variety of reasons why women choose to undergo breast augmentation plastic surgery, including:

• Achieving a more proportionate breast symmetry, size and contour

• Restoring breast volume and firmness for women after weight loss, pregnancy, or breastfeeding

• Improving breast shapes for women that have sagging or have lost skin elasticity (a reason that also frequently involves breast lift surgery)

Saline Implants

Saline-filled breast implants are filled with saline, or a salt-water solution that is compatible with the human body. During breast augmentation surgery plastic surgery, the empty breast implant shell is placed inside the woman’s body and then filled with saline – enough to achieve the desired result. On the other hand, silicone gel-filled breast implants already contain silicone gel before being implanted inside a woman’s body.  Their volume cannot be adjusted during surgery.

Silicone Gel Implants-Gummy Bear Implants

Natrelle® silicone gel-filled breast implants have experienced acceptance for more than 25 years in over 60 countries. They were approved by the FDA for use in the US in November 2006. A gel-filled breast implant has an elastic silicone rubber shell and is filled with cohesive silicone gel. The safety of Natrelle® silicone gel-filled breast implants meet one of the most rigorous standards of all medical devices.

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are FDA approved for augmentation in women 22 years of age and older.

The Safety of Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implant

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are among the most extensively studied FDA-approved medical devices in existence. In the United States alone, Allergan has examined the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants in more than 80,000 women.

Women in the United States considering breast implant surgery now have the option of saline-filled or silicone gel-filled breast implants. The FDA has approved both types of breast implants after determining that each is safe and effective options for women undergoing breast augmentation, reconstruction or revision surgery. Ultimately, it is up to each woman, along with her surgeon, to decide which breast implant option will provide the look and outcome desired from the surgery.

The Shell of the Implants

The outer covering or shell of all breast implants is made of a silicone elastomer that is designed to be as durable as possible.

Today’s silicone gel-filled breast implants have a thicker outer shell, a silicone patch and a silicone barrier material covering the entire surface.

The silicone patch covers the opening where the silicone gel is inserted into the shell. The thicker outer shell enables current silicone gel-filled breast implants to withstand more than 25 times the force of a normal mammogram without failure.

It is important to note that breast implants are not lifetime devices and breast implant surgery is likely not a one-time surgery. A woman may need additional unplanned surgeries on the breast(s) because of complications or unacceptable cosmetic outcomes. These additional surgeries can include implant removal with or without replacement, or other surgical procedures.

The Difference between Saline and Silicone

Women should discuss with their surgeons the implant filler material that is best for them. There are differences in the cohesiveness (firmness of the implant filler) between silicone and saline filler material. The decision of which breast implant filler is best for each woman also depends on the woman’s body type and her personal goals for surgery.

Incision Sites for Breast Implant Placement

Your cosmetic surgeon plays a important role in explaining your options for surgery.
 Breast tissue, body type and implant type and size will all be considered 
before you and your cosmetic surgeon finalize a surgical plan.  Below is an overview of 
the most common incision choices our surgeons offer at Shape Cosmetic Surgery & MedSpa.

Periareolar Incision

The periareolar incision is performed on the border of the areolar (dark skin) around your nipple. 
It is known to have fast recovery times and will accommodate every size and shape of implant.  At Shape this incision site is one of the top choices that patient’s choose, due to the incision is concealed very well in the areolar once healed.

Inframammary Incision

An inframammary incision is placed near the fold beneath your breast. This 
location can accommodate every size and shape of implant and is often 
concealed under your breast fold.

The Two Choices for Implant Placement

You can have your implants placed above the muscle (either subglandular or subfascial) or below the muscle (subpectoral). Your surgeon will discuss this with you, and help you decide which placement location is best for you based on your goals, breast type and other factors. The location choice will be part of your surgical plan.

How Can Large Silicone Implants be Implanted in most Incisions?

The Keller Funnel™ offers plastic cosmetic surgeons many advantages:

• A simpler and easier gel implant delivery method

• The ability to offer patients shorter axillary and periareolar incisions

• A No-Touch delivery technique

Introduced to the market in 2009, the Keller Funnel™ has been used successfully in more than 50,000+ augmentation and reconstruction procedures. The Funnel is versatile in its ability to be used for both augmentation and reconstruction procedures, and can be sized to work with a variety of implants, including: smooth round; textured; form stable; pectoral and gluteal.

The Keller Funnel™ is a disposable, FDA Class 1 device that is cone-shaped, with a special hydrophilic interior coating. It can be sized to accommodate the largest implants.

Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation

To schedule a complimentary consultation with the experienced Spokane and Tri Cities surgeon, Dr. Lundeby, we invite you to send an email or give us a call at Shape Cosmetic Surgery & Med Spa, PLLC. You can reach us at 509-458-7546 for our Spokane location or 509-735-2636 for our Tri Cities office in Washington. We look forward to assisting you on your journey.