Breast Implants

Customizing your choice of breast implants at our San Jose practice is easier than ever. When it comes to choosing breast implants, women from Palo Alto, Los Gatos, and other nearby communities trust Dr. Benjamin Maser and Dr. Steven J. Bates for their insight into the options that will look the best on them based on their body proportions, lifestyles, and overall cosmetic goals.

Request a free consultation with one of the board-certified plastic surgeons at Reveal Plastic Surgery or call (408) 356-4241 to schedule your appointment today.

Breast Implants
 Before & After Photos

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Looking Your Best

Getting the best results from breast augmentation surgery involves communicating your cosmetic goals to a highly qualified and experienced plastic surgeon who can make those goals a reality. Dr. Bates or Dr. Maser may advise a patient who comes in asking for a specific size of implant because it looks good on a friend that she would be better off with a different implant size. That’s because every patient has a unique body type and proportion, and our surgeons have the trained aesthetic eyes to help you find the options that would make you look your best.

Additionally, one of the jobs of a plastic surgeon is to help patients understand the breast implant options they have. There are so many choices on the market today, and more are coming out all the time. Our surgeons find personal and professional fulfillment in evaluating these options and making sure they meet their patients’ standards. They are glad to walk you through each of your many options until you find a great match.

Financing Made Easy

You have options when it comes to paying for your procedure. Patient financing makes it affordable and stress free.

See Financing Options

Your Options

Choosing the correct implants for you involves more than selecting a size, although that’s an important decision. Other choices include the material filling the implant shell, the shape, and the implants’ projection. Each of these factors is discussed below:

Implant Size

The first thing to know is that implants are measured in cubic centimeters (cc), not bra cup sizes. That’s because, as you probably know, bra sizes aren’t standard and are an unreliable way to choose implants. Some of the other factors to consider when choosing an implant size include:

  • Aesthetic goals: Do you want breasts that look natural but larger, or do you want to enhance the upper areas of the breasts to emphasize cleavage for a more dramatic result?
  • Body frame: The same size of implants will look very different on a petite woman than on a woman with a wider torso, for instance. Your surgeon may take measurements to find an implant size that fits your frame.
  • Lifestyle: Women who are very active — runners, tennis players, hikers — should consider if the size of their breasts will interfere with those activities.

Looking at plenty of before-and-after photos and remaining flexible when it comes to your surgeon’s size recommendations are 2 of the best ways to get the results you want.

Implant Filler

Breast implants are either filled with a saline solution or silicone gel.

  • Saline: Saline is a sterile, saltwater solution that is naturally absorbed by the body in the rare case of a leak. Our surgeons fill the implants with saline after inserting them into the breast pocket, meaning the incisions to insert them are very small and the size can be fine-tuned to ensure symmetry. Some patients believe saline implants don’t look or feel as natural as silicone gel implants, but, that depends on a patient’s body type and tissue, and it may be less of an issue if they are placed behind the pectoral muscle.
  • Silicone gel: Silicone implants are the most popular implants in the U.S. Patients tend to think they look and feel more like natural breasts. Incisions are slightly larger than for saline implants, but our surgeons make incisions that are as inconspicuous as possible, regardless of their location.
  • Highly cohesive silicone gel: These are the implants nicknamed “gummy bears” because the consistency of the filler is similar to that of a gummy bear candy, holding its cohesive shape even if it was cut in half. Even though the gel is made of a more “solid” substance than that of regular silicone gel implants, it remains soft and pliable. Many patients find the cohesive gel implant’s consistency more like that of a natural breast. These are also sometimes referred to as form-stable implants.

Our Plastic Surgeons

Our board-certified plastic surgeons have decades of combined experience performing cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. Their expertise, superior care, and impressive outcomes draw patients from across the San Francisco Bay Area. Their caring, down-to-earth personalities cultivate lasting doctor-patient relationships.

Credentials you can trust

ASPS, ABMS, ASF, and Aesthetic Society logos ASPS, ABMS, ASF, and Aesthetic Society logos

Implant Shape

Implants are either round or anatomically shaped (sometimes called teardrop-shaped).

  • Round implants: Both saline and silicone gel implants are available in a round shape. Round implants offer more fullness in the upper breast (the upper pole).
  • Anatomical implants: These implants are designed to mimic the slope of a natural breast, with more volume in the lower pole. Teardrop-shaped implants are textured and often placed behind the muscle to help prevent them from rotating within the pocket.
Anatomical implant and round implant Anatomical implant and round implant

Implant Profile

Another part of the decision-making process is choosing the projection of your implants. The implant profile refers to its height versus the width of its base. Although the options offered by the 3 major makers of breast implants in the U.S. are similar, some offer more choices than others. The choices include:

  • Low profile
  • Moderate profile
  • Moderate-plus profile
  • High profile
  • Extra high profile
alt="infographic comparing low, moderate, and high profile implants"

A patient with a narrow chest who wants a fuller look in the upper pole of the breasts may select a high-profile implant, which is narrower at the base. The choice of profile depends primarily on the look of your natural breasts, your chest width, and your cosmetic goals. It’s critical to discuss this factor with your surgeon during your consultation and look at examples of the various options.

You’ll also have the opportunity to try on the various sizes, shapes, and styles of implants, to assist you in determining the look that will suit you best.

Breast Implants FAQ

How long do breast implants last?

Years ago, the rule of thumb was that breast implants needed to be replaced every 10 years. Even though some implants may last 10 years, the newest generation of breast implants can last up to 15, 20, or even 25 years. By scheduling regular imaging tests for silicone implants, you can be sure that your implants remain intact. Read more about the longevity of breast implants.

Will I still be able to breastfeed with implants?

Getting breast implants rarely interferes with a woman’s ability to breastfeed an infant. By having incisions made at the base of the breast or in the natural crease of the armpit, you’ll avoid the risk of disrupting the milk ducts.

What’s the difference between breast implants and a breast augmentation with fat transfer?

Fat transfer breast augmentation enhances the size of the breasts without implants. The fat transfer technique is appropriate only for women who want a modest increase in their breast size—typically about 1 bra cup. Breast implants don’t have the same limitations. Fat transfer may be combined with implants to soften the look and feel of the breasts after augmentation.

Can I get implants with a breast lift?

It’s quite common for women considering a breast lift to also want to restore volume to their breasts with implants. Combining breast augmentation with a breast lift produces beautiful results.

Will my breasts look natural with implants?

Most women these days want the results of breast augmentation to look natural. That goal is best achieved when your breasts look in proportion to the rest of your body. Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates help you choose the size of implants that will create natural-looking results.

Your Next Step

To begin your conversation about breast augmentation with Dr. Bates or Dr. Maser in San Jose, California, and discuss your choice of breast implants, request a free cosmetic consultation online or call the office at  (408) 356-4241.

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