Few procedures are as talked about, or as misunderstood, as breast implants. Some women call them the best decision they ever made. Others want them banned. Wherever you land, you deserve to decide from a place of knowledge.
Here’s what most people never hear.
THE BASICS
- Implants add volume. They don’t lift.
They can make the breasts fuller and rounder, but they won’t correct sagging on their own.
- Saline isn’t “safer” than silicone.
Both have the same silicone outer shell. Saline feels firmer, and if it breaks, you’ll know within a day. Silicone feels softer and more natural, and a break may go unnoticed for months.
- “Gummy bear” implants no longer exist.
It was great marketing for a firm, a teardrop-shaped implant that’s been off the market for years. Today’s implants are softer than they ever were.
- Placement and incision matter.
I place implants partially under the muscle, through the crease beneath the breast. It looks more natural, hides rippling, and lowers the risk of the implant hardening.
SIZE AND FIT
- Your bra size won’t tell you your implant size.
Bra sizes vary by brand, and “natural” means something different to everyone. The wrong size is one of the most common reasons for a second surgery. Instead, I have patients bring photos of breasts they love, then match that look in the operating room.
- Your body sets the limit.
Your chest only has so much room. Forcing an implant that’s too big is behind many long-term problems, from implants that drop too low or drift toward the armpit to numbness.
- Your body will form a capsule around the implant.
It does this with any implant, from a pacemaker to a knee replacement. Usually, it goes unnoticed. Occasionally, it tightens, and the breast becomes firm or changes shape. It isn’t dangerous, but it does require surgery to fix.
GOOD TO KNOW
Implants have never been shown to cause breast cancer.
Thousands of studies, no link. However, two very rare cancers of the capsule have been tied to textured implants, which have since been taken off the market. If you have textured implants, there’s no need to panic or remove them. Just watch for gradual swelling in one breast and see your surgeon if you notice it. Caught early, it’s treatable by removing the capsule.
THE HARD QUESTIONS
- The most marketed implant isn’t right for everyone.
Motiva, newly approved in the U.S., is the first implant brand patients ask for by name. It forms a thinner capsule, which can help women prone to thick scar tissue. But for women with thin, delicate tissue, that same thin capsule can mean less support and an implant that shifts. It’s a great tool, not a universal answer.
- Breast implant illness is real, but it isn’t the whole story.
A small subset of women react strongly to implants, with symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog, and many feel better once they’re removed. The science behind why is still unknown. What’s also true is that millions of women live happily with their implants. Both experiences deserve respect.
- Removing implants won’t always solve the problem.
Sometimes symptoms turn out to have another cause. It’s worth a thorough conversation before deciding.
- Know what your breasts will look like after removal.
If you have a good amount of natural breast tissue, results after removal can be beautiful. If the implant makes up most of your breast, expect a significant change. Fat grafting can help, but it can’t fully rebuild what isn’t there. Be wary of anyone who promises otherwise.
- Not enough fat of your own? There’s another option.
Fat grafting needs fat, and most thin patients don’t have as much to spare as they think. Taking large amounts from one area to build up another is robbing Peter to pay Paul, and the area you took it from often pays the price. For these patients, there’s AlloClae, purified donor fat that arrives ready to use, so nothing has to be taken from your body. In the breast, it can add modest fullness up top, even out mild asymmetry, soften visible implant rippling, or restore some shape after implants come out. It isn’t a replacement for an implant. It’s a subtle tool for refinement.
A good consultation should cover all of this.
Mine takes an hour. If you’re making a decision without this information, ask more questions.
Book a Consultation with Dr. Rahban
