Introduction
Breast implants are used in the context of breast enlargement (breast augmentation), malformations of the breast or breast reconstruction. In most cases, the surgical implantation is performed for purely aesthetic reasons. A medically indicated use of breast implants is in the case of disfiguring malformations of the female breast (such as a pathologically underdeveloped breast, clearly visible asymmetries, dispositional disorders of the breast) or breast reconstruction after the loss of a breast, for example due to cancer.
Breast implants are medical devices according to the Medical Devices Act. They are classified in the highest risk category for medical devices in Europe, as in the past there have been repeated serious incidents and complications, for example due to burst breast implants. Breast implants basically consist of a silicone shell, which can contain various filling materials.
Breast implants currently approved in Germany are filled with silicone, saline solution or in rare cases with hydrogel. The selection and decision for a variant depends on the desired ideas, as each material has different properties and achieves a different result. Since the implants are mostly used for aesthetic breast augmentation, such a procedure is a self-paying procedure. All additional costs for corrections, follow-up treatment or possible complications (such as a necessary implant change) must be paid by the patient. If there is a medical indication for the use of breast implants, health insurance companies often cover the costs of the entire treatment or grant cost subsidies.
Form of breast implants
There are various implants that differ in size, shape, surface structure and material. In addition, the strength of the breast implant can be selected and adapted to the individually varying tissue strength. Drop-shaped breast implants are asymmetrical and thus imitate the natural breast shape.
For this reason, they are also called anatomical breast implants (corresponding to the human physique). These anatomical breast implants are rather narrow at the top and become wider towards the bottom. This mimics the natural shape of the female breast and creates a natural looking breast silhouette.
Depending on individual differences, anatomical breast implants can be varied in three dimensions: height, width and projection thickness. A disadvantage of these asymmetrically shaped breast implants is that in some cases there is an unintentional change in the shape of the operated breast. This complication can be caused by a possible rotation of the breast implant in the breast.
This danger does not exist with rotationally symmetrical breast implants with a lens shape. The probability of implant rotation can be reduced with asymmetric breast implants by using only textured (roughened) implant shells. Round breast implants result in a naturally falling shape with filling of the décolleté and are therefore the most frequently implanted forms in breast augmentation.
The anatomically shaped implants have the shape of a drop. The fact that the centre of volume is in the lower breast area and the implant becomes narrower towards the top makes these implants similar to the natural breast shape. Depending on the manufacturer, there are different subtypes of this implant form.
Opticon® refers to breast implants with an anatomical curvature and a transversely oval contact surface. Another subtype is Optimam®, the longest implant, which is particularly suitable for tall, narrow women. The Optimam implant has a longitudinal oval contact surface with an anatomical curvature.
There is also the Opticon® implant, which also has an anatomical curvature with a transverse oval contact surface. The Replicon® implant is considered the absolute basic form of the anatomically shaped implant, which has a central curvature in the lower half. This implant form also has a round contact surface.
This implant form has a central curvature and gives the breast more fullness at the top, bottom and sides. The round or lenticular shape of these implants gives the breast a more rounded appearance in profile and décolleté. This makes them look unnatural compared to the implants in drop form. Même® implants are particularly suitable for maintaining such a breast shape, as they have a central curvature and a round contact surface.
