New Saline Implant may offer More Natural-Looking Results

Have developers really come up with a new breast implant combining the safety of saline with the natural-looking results of silicone gel? A clinical trial being launched this month is set to answer that very question. The new implant is called the IDEAL IMPLANT® Saline-filled Breast Implant. Though it is filled entirely with saline, the implant offers several layers of implant shell designed to control sloshing. The implant is also said to fit better on the chest wall, reducing the wrinkling effect often associated with saline implants.

Though silicone gel implants have been approved by the FDA since 2006, a recent study revealed that 60 percent of breast augmentations are still being performed using saline. Silicone gel implants tend to produce a more natural look and feel than saline, but fears of rupture and other health concerns still play a big role in the type of implant surgeons and patients ultimately choose.

The clinical trial for the new implants will be conducted by select plastic surgeons in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Southeast Florida, and Southern California.

Though these new implants are being tested in only 500 women initially, the traditional saline and silicone gel options are widely available now. For those considering breast augmentation, Jacksonville plastic surgeon Dr. Dean De Roberts offers great information on his website. Or, find a board certified plastic surgeon near you at plasticsurgery.org and schedule a personal consultation.

Constricted Breast Correction

Though many who visit plastic surgeons do so to increase their breast size, several breast abnormalities exist which can cause aesthetic issues as well. For some women, a condition called constricted or "tubular" breasts can affect the shape and appearance of their breasts. This developmental breast deformity causes breasts to be very narrow at the chest and appear tubular in shape. Often, the tissue protrudes into the aerola as well, and the inframammary fold can be abnormally close to the nipple. Constricted breasts tend to appear much smaller than round breasts of the same volume. The breasts also often point downward with the nipples resting below the inframammary fold. Though women with this condition often know something is wrong, they may not know the cause nor the treatment available.

This condition can be surgically corrected with a combination of breast augmentation and a modified breast lift technique. The narrow breast base must be expanded to accommodate breast implants and the protruding breast tissue corrected.

Though the results of this procedure can be extremely positive, it's important to find a surgeon skilled in tubular breast correction. For a consultation for this condition, or if you're considering other procedures such as a breast lift or breast augmentation, San Francisco plastic surgeon Dr. Roy Kim can help.