Today, high quality and durable breast prosthesis types are produced all over the world. Companies are constantly launching high quality breast prostheses that are durable, compatible with the body. These are highly aesthetic products used instead of breast tissue in breast augmentation surgeries. Prostheses, which are widely used in the surgical field, are produced in two different types.

What are the types of breast prosthesis?

Breast prostheses with gel inside Breast prostheses with saline inside

Liquid silicone is not preferred in breast prostheses used in breast augmentation operations. Instead, non-fluid silicones called cohesive silicone are preferred. Breast prostheses, whether gel or saline, have a silicone layer on the outside. The feature of the silicone layer is that it is robust, does not burst and does not tear. Even if they are damaged by a sharp instrument in accidents or blows, there is no risk of leakage or leakage into the tissue. This greatly reduces the risk of capsular contracture. Even the softness of silicone prostheses with cohesive gel is adjustable. Soft, hard and medium soft prostheses are produced. In breast augmentation surgeries, these are selected according to the patients' preference and where the prosthesis will be placed.

In which shapes are breast prostheses produced?

Today, anatomical and round prostheses are produced. Round prostheses have a round base and an oval structure. Anatomical prostheses are produced in the shape of a drop. Breast implants are produced in different projections that determine the degree of prominence. These prostheses are separated by the difference in the distance from the base to the nipple. In breast augmentation operations using prostheses with a higher projection, more upright and protruding breasts are obtained. If the patient has existing breast tissue, the projection is kept short, and if there is no breast tissue, the projection is kept long. In addition, the projection distance is kept long in prostheses placed in patients with narrow chest circumference. Apart from the shape of breast prostheses, their surfaces can also be produced differently. These may have smooth or rough surfaces.

How to choose a breast prosthesis?

In order for the plastic surgeon to choose a breast prosthesis for his/her patient, the patient's breast volume, the characteristics of the skin structure and the width of the skin must be evaluated. By analyzing these, the projection ratio of the breast prosthesis is determined. Prostheses with a high projection ratio are preferred in patients with extremely elastic skin, sagging and loose breast tissue, and prostheses with low projection are preferred in patients with a tight skin structure and patients whose breast tissue is not too saggy. According to the measurement between the two breasts, it is determined whether there is a symmetrical difference. The distance between the nipple and the middle part, the distance between the nipple and the middle part of the neck and rib cage, that is, the distance to the sternal notch, the symmetry of the nipples, and the symmetry of the inframammary fold are evaluated. If asymmetry is detected between the breasts, either a different prosthesis can be inserted or the inframammary fold is reconstructed and a symmetrical structure is tried to be achieved. Apart from these evaluations, the patient's age, weight and breast measurements play an important role in breast prosthesis preferences.

Which values are measured in the breast during breast prosthesis selection?

The distance between the nipple and the sternal notch, i.e. the distance between the sternum notch The distance between the center of the collarbone and the nipple Measurement of the breast base Measurement of the breast height Measurement of the distance between the nipple and the lower fold Measurement of the nipple diameter Measurement of the distance between the two breasts.

What are the features of silicone dentures?

Silicone prostheses are covered with a hard silicone sheath on the outside. The gel inside has a soft consistency. The size of silicone implants is measured by the width, height, length or projection of the implant. The size of the prosthesis is determined according to the patient's rib cage characteristics, breast tissue and desired breast size. The base size of the prosthesis is determined according to its proportion to the width of the rib cage. The projection, which is the factor that determines the thickness of the prosthesis, makes the breasts look larger according to its thickness. Women have a certain breast size due to their natural structure. Therefore, breast size cannot be chosen randomly in patients. Apart from this, there is a slight asymmetry between the two breasts in women. If this asymmetry is not too noticeable, a prosthesis with the same size can be placed in both breasts during surgery. However, if the asymmetry between the breasts is too much, prostheses of different sizes are placed to reduce the asymmetry.

The most appropriate choice is made among round or anatomically shaped prostheses in accordance with the structure of the breast tissue, breasts and body of the patients.  The round prostheses are spread under the breast tissue during the operation and thus enlarge the breasts. The drop-shaped or anatomical implants are advanced from the upper part of the breasts to the bottom during the operation to provide a soft angle. In patients with enough tissue in the upper part of their breasts, only the middle part of the breast is filled with the prosthesis and the procedure is completed. In order to provide a natural appearance in the breasts of patients with little breast tissue, the breast tissue is enlarged by using drop-shaped prostheses that grow downward from the upper part.

The prostheses, which have a silicone outer sheath, contain silicone or saline in the consistency of a gel. Since prostheses containing saline, i.e. physiologic, can leak this liquid over time, they are likely to shrink. They can be inserted through a small incision in the skin and then, because they are filled with saline, they can be inserted under the armpit or through the belly button. In this way, there is no visible scar on the breasts. The structure of prostheses containing silicone gel can be in hard and soft gel content. Hard prostheses contain adhesive molecules. These prostheses have the feature of not leaking even if they are scratched by the effect of hard objects.

Do silicone prostheses cause a disease when used?

There are many explanations about silicone prostheses. However, as a result of clinical studies, it has been determined that silicone prostheses do not cause any other disease in the body. After these determinations, it was decided to use silicone prostheses for aesthetic purposes. However, since the application is an operation, there are risks such as infection, bleeding, late healing of wounds. In addition, some risks may develop due to the anesthesia given during surgery. There are risks such as deformation of the prostheses over time, wear and hardening reactions. Furthermore, prostheses are not likely to cause diseases such as cancer in patients. In order to eliminate the risks, the necessary examinations are performed on the patients before the surgery and all kinds of precautions are taken.

Where and how are silicone implants placed in the breast tissue?

In breast augmentation surgeries, silicone implants are placed in the nipple, armpit and belly button. The places where the implants are placed in the breast tissue can be under the muscle and above the muscle, under the muscle membrane, under the breast and in the bilateral plan. The decision on how the implants will be placed and where they will be placed should be made by the plastic surgeon and the patient mutually. Since the prostheses have their own size and a certain shape, the experience of the plastic surgeon is very important in terms of where to place the prostheses. Because prostheses are placed in patients for long-term use. In addition, in order to reduce the complications that may occur after surgery, the prostheses should be placed in the most appropriate place and in the most appropriate position.

Depending on the technique followed during surgery, silicone implants leave a certain scar around the belly button, under the arm and around the nipple. It has been determined that the healthiest and least risky of these choices is the placement of prostheses with silicone gel content through the under-breast groove during surgery. These make breast augmentation surgery healthier and more successful. Prostheses containing saline will be more successful when placed in the armpit.

There is a layer of fat around the milk glands and milk ducts in the breast structure. The fat layer in the breast tissue helps to shape the breast. There is a pectoral chest muscle under the breast. The silicone prosthesis can be placed below or above this muscle during surgery. Apart from this, there are techniques to place the implants in the lower part of the muscle membrane called fascia or in the muscle and breast tissue called dual plan. The methods used for implantation have their own advantages and disadvantages. Placing the silicone prosthesis used during the surgery of patients with insufficient breast tissue under the muscle gives more successful results. Prostheses placed with this method provide a more natural result in the breasts. However, prostheses placed under the muscle have the possibility of displacement due to the movements of the muscles over time. In prostheses placed above the muscle, hardening and an unnatural wavy appearance in the breasts may occur over time.