Breast augmentation remains one of the most popular and enduring plastic surgeries. As such, there continue to be a number of innovative surgical techniques and technologies applied to this procedure. One of the latest involves a new type of implant that’s purported to be much lighter than either silicone or saline implants in their current form. Could this be the next big breakthrough for breast augmentation?
A Weighty Matter
Breasts are supported by a combination of ligaments and skin, which is why there’s a tendency toward ptosis (sagging) as women age, with or without implants. While today’s breast implants are safer, more durable, and more realistic-looking than ever before,* the silicone gel or saline solutions used to fill them mean individual implants can weigh up to 500 g each, depending on volume.
An Israeli partnership of two brothers, one a plastic surgeon and the other a biomedical engineer, recently announced a new invention: breast implants that are up to 30 percent lighter than existing models. Using materials already approved for medical use, the team created a lighter-weight implant by filling the outer shell with a solution of hollow microspheres suspended in silicone gel. The company, G & G Biotechnology, claims the lighter implants are just as safe as those currently in use.
The “Next Big Thing”?
Whether these new lightweight breast implants could become a legitimate option in breast augmentation depends on the approval process and their long-term safety performance. There will likely be European clinical trials later in 2014, but the United States’ comprehensive approval process most likely means that it will be many years before they are available here, if they become available at all. Ultimately, to become a broadly successful innovation qualifying as a larger trend, the safety and reliability of these implants will have to be tested over the long term.
*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.
Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
