The Three Latest Trends in Breast Implants

Updated for 2018

Many women who are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts turn to breast augmentation surgery for a solution. Although the procedure itself remains one of the most popular in the United States, the specific trends in breast augmentation are definitely changing. Here’s a closer look at what more women are asking for when it comes to breast implants.

Natural-Looking Results

When breast augmentation first started gaining momentum, women were opting for large, dramatic-looking breast implants. Today, women want more natural-looking results for breasts that look less obviously enhanced.The extreme look is out, and the more natural look is in. 

This has led to a secondary trend of looking for plastic surgeons who offer 3D imaging for breast augmentation. Cup size is already highly subjective, and bra sizes are not standardized among different manufacturers. Women want results that are flattering and proportionate, and planning your breast augmentation with 3D imaging carries a higher likelihood of meeting that goal.*

For both patients and surgeons, focusing on how the end results enhance the figure rather than getting hung up on achieving a specific bra size needs to be the priority. Women are looking for timeless results, and 3D imaging can help you choose the best implant size to achieve natural-looking breast augmentation.*

Silicone Gel Implants

Patients and surgeons alike show a distinct preference for silicone gel implants over saline. Silicone implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue than saline implants due to their consistency and response to motion. Besides the natural look that silicone gel gives over saline, they also are less likely to leak than saline, since the cohesiveness of the silicone keeps it integral to the surgical pocket.*

Silicone implants look and feel so natural, they typically cannot be distinguished from natural breast tissue to the uninformed observer, providing the size remains proportionate. Rippling and wrinkling are less likely to occur with silicone because of the thicker consistency of silicone gel compared to the more liquid saline. Silicone implants can be placed over the muscle in women with little breast tissue or body fat without aesthetic concerns over implant visibility or palpability, both of which are a typical concern in saline implant use for thinner women. Silicone is also lighter than saline, so the risk of sagging due to gravity is lessened.*

Natural Breast Augmentation

Finally, breast augmentation is seeing a trend away from using breast implants entirely in favor of fat transfer breast augmentation. Implants that are modest in size and shape can produce very nice results, but the most natural-looking breast augmentation results for women use fat transfer, offering subtle enhancement without concerns of looking or feeling self-conscious about getting a new look.*

Choosing natural breast augmentation can be the perfect happy medium for those women who want to enhance their figure, but don’t want results that are too obvious. Natural breast augmentation won’t require any updates down the road. Plus, a smaller boost in size makes it easier for women to keep up with the active lifestyle that is so prevalent today, while larger implants can sometimes feel like they get in the way.*

Getting Great Results

Regardless of what the latest trends may be, the best way to ensure getting great results from your breast enhancement is by choosing an excellent breast surgeon and focusing on the look that’s best for your body.

Women with a larger frame may need more generous implants, despite the trend toward smaller enhancements in the majority of patients. Similarly, some women may get better results with saline implants, regardless of silicone gel implants being used more commonly. The important thing is to find the look that helps women feel beautiful and confident about their results, no matter which approach is taken for breast augmentation.*

*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.