One of the most important guidelines Portland plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Bohley follows when establishing patient candidacy for cosmetic surgery is to determine whether the person is pursuing plastic surgery of his or her own volition. If an individual is pursuing cosmetic surgery to please someone else or to live up to someone else’s aesthetic ideal, that person is not a suitable candidate for plastic surgery. The same holds true for women considering breast augmentation surgery with breast implants.

Dr. Bohley wants to remind his female patients: When deciding whether to get breast implants, it’s all about you and your aesthetic desires. Similarly, when choosing which type of breast implants to get, women should mainly consider their own body type, and not that of a friend or celebrity.

When to Pursue Breast Augmentation With Implants

Have you been frustrated with the petite size of your breasts ever since adolescence? Have you noticed a loss of volume in your breasts following pregnancy and breastfeeding? Do your breasts seem smaller since having recently lost a significant amount of weight? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you might be a suitable candidate for breast augmentation surgery.

The principal question to ask yourself when deciding whether to pursue breast augmentation surgery with implants is: Do I want to undergo breast augmentation surgery to correct an aesthetic concern that I have or that someone else has about me? If the answer does not involve your own personal concerns, you should not pursue breast augmentation surgery.

How to Decide Which Type of Implants to Get

Once you have identified that the motivating factor for pursuing breast implant surgery is yourself, you can start considering your treatment options. One of the biggest choices you have regarding breast augmentation is which type of implants to get.

Your breast implant options include: saline, traditional silicone or highly cohesive, form-stable silicone gel implants. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of implant.

For instance, saline implants are the least expensive, and the sterile saltwater filling solution is safe for your body to absorb in case of an implant leak. However, saline implants are also prone to folding or rippling within the implant pocket, and may not be an appropriate option for women with thin skin or too little breast tissue to cover and support the implant properly.

Silicone breast implants are slightly more expensive than saline ones, and are less likely to fold or wrinkle within the implant pocket. However, the body cannot absorb the filling material in case the implant ruptures, which may make it more difficult to detect a problem with the implant.

The best way to determine which type of implant is right for you is to come in for a consultation with Dr. Bohley. During your consultation, Dr. Bohley evaluates your specific body type and frame before suggesting the type of implant that is most appropriate for your unique aesthetic concerns and anatomical needs.

Find out More About What’s Right for You

To schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Bohley to learn more about the breast augmentation treatment options that will best suit your unique needs, contact his Portland cosmetic surgery practice by calling (503) 253-3458.