What are the most natural looking breast implants? Ask the Expert

What are the most natural looking breast implants?

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK, accounting for 7,700 procedures in 2019 alone. The aim of this procedure is to change the size, shape and texture of the breast.

There are two types of implants, made of silicone or saline. Saline-filled implants are silicone shells filled with sterile salt water (saline). Silicone gel-filled implants are silicone shells filled with a plastic gel (silicone).

Silicone implants are the most common type used in the UK. They look and feel more natural than the saline option and are less likely to wrinkle or ripple. Saline implants are more likely to fold, rupture or go down over time, leading to an unnatural result.

Breast implants are not designed to last a lifetime and will need to be replaced. Implants can also be replaced to change the size or shape of the breasts if your preferences change with time.

How can I make my breast implants look natural?

Cosmetic Surgery

Breast Enlargement

Breast enlargement and augmentation aims to cosmetically enhance the size and shape of your breasts.

There are ways to make your breast implants appear more natural.

At your consultation, our surgeons here at the Cadogan Clinic will help you to choose the right implant to suit your body shape and size, helping to achieve a natural look. We typically recommend FDA-approved Sebbin implants. The chosen implants must also be the right shape (round, anatomical or teardrop, or conical), the right size and volume, and the right profile.

For each implant there are four different profiles, ranging from ‘low’ to ‘extra high’. These refer to where the implant meets the chest. A low profile will result in a softer, subtler, more natural effect. In contrast, an extra high profile will have a steeper edge to the implant. This will result in greater cleavage, but the overall result will be a more false appearance.

Breast implants can be placed above or below the pectoralis major muscle. This placing can have a huge impact on the natural appearance of the breasts. Our surgeons will discuss with you where is the best placing to ensure a natural result.

Finally, fat transfer techniques can also be applied to make implants appear more natural.

It is vital that after breast enlargement surgery, patients follow post-surgical aftercare instructions to ensure the best possible results. Wearing the right supportive bra will keep breasts in their correct, natural position as well as avoid unduly rubbing settling scars.

Certain activities, such as aerobics and sports that use your arms, will need to be avoided for a short period of time, whilst you should take care when lifting your elbows above your shoulders (eg washing your hair etc) to stop the implant from turning, leading to an unnatural result that may require more surgery.

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Is there a natural breast implant?

Silicone implants offer the most natural look and feel of all the available breast implant options.

Here at the Cadogan Clinic, our surgeons typically recommend FDA-approved Sebbin implants. These are made from cohesive medical-grade silicone gel, which mimics the feel of natural breast tissue. To ensure a natural appearance, the chosen implants must be the right shape, the right size and volume and the right profile to suit the individual patient.

A 10-year study into Sebbin implants have shown that these silicone implants have an excellent safety profile.

What makes breast implants look fake?

Cosmetic Surgery

Breast Enlargement

Breast enlargement and augmentation aims to cosmetically enhance the size and shape of your breasts.

Selecting an implant with a higher profile, which means it has a steeper edge, can make breasts look false and less natural. The placement of the implant, behind the breast or behind the breast muscle, can also affect the natural appearance of the breast.

A woman’s size and body shape and the volume of the chosen implant are very important factors in determining whether surgically enhanced breasts look fake or not. For example, a petite woman whose breasts jump in size from an A cup to an E or and F will look less natural than a woman who only gains one or two cup sizes as a result of breast augmentation surgery.

Words from our clients:

"At the beginning before the operation the nurse taking care of me made me feel so comfortable. The surgeon and anesthetist helped me feel so calm. Fantastic before and after treatment"

Scarlett Elliott

“I was treated with care and provided with thorough knowledge about the procedure I was undertaking. My surgeon was very methodical (a perfectionist) and I felt I received A class treatment."

Courtney O'Sullivan

"Outstanding experience from the first appointment to being discharged. Very professional, friendly and a fantastic outcome."

Gemma Stevenson

"Reception staff very welcoming and efficient. Both nurses who I dealt with were fantastic, and the whole team (anaesthetist, surgeon etc) were friendly but professional, and really put my mind at ease. That I was able to stay later than I perhaps needed after my surgery to fit in with my husbands schedule was greatly appreciated."

Emma Davies

What are the natural alternatives to implants?

Although people may associate breast augmentation with implants, there are natural alternatives available, such as Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation.

Here at the Cadogan Clinic, we offer Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation, a popular surgical treatment which increases the volume of the breast using fat grafting techniques. This eliminates the need for foreign implant materials such as breast implants, and enables more natural-looking outcomes.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation (or natural breast augmentation or ‘fat transfer to breast’) benefits from the use of liposuction to harvest the fat to be transferred and injected to the breast, allowing the surgeon to remove unwanted fat from stubborn areas anywhere in the body as part of this procedure. Natural breast augmentation leaves minimal scarring on the body.

This procedure is completely natural and organic. The likelihood of infection is greatly reduced as a foreign implant is not being placed in the body.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation is common among women who are unsatisfied with the texture of previous breast implants, or those who have undergone a mastectomy or breast reconstructive surgery, and require reshaping of the breast or the restoration of symmetry.

This procedure can be performed on its own or in conjunction with breast implant surgery. If the patient is looking for more fat to be removed from other areas of the body, additional liposuction treatments can be carried out.

Surgeons at the Cadogan Clinic use virtual imaging to help patients visualise potential outcomes via Crisalix Imaging software. By using this technology, this helps to carefully manage patients’ expectations and increase the chances of achieving an individual’s aesthetic goals.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation is performed under general anaesthetic and the procedure takes between one and three hours, depending on the volume of fat being transferred.

Recovery time from breast fat transfer tends to be between one and three weeks. We recommend taking time off work and reducing physical movement until the swelling has subsided in order to speed up recovery. Normal activities can be resumed in around six weeks.

Treatments mentioned in this article

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted pockets of fat on the body and face.

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Body Surgery

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted pockets of fat on the body and face.

Breast Surgery

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction helps those after a mastectomy safely regain natural-looking breasts.

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Fat transfer for breasts allows for natural breast enlargement by using your own fat stores.

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