Can Silicone Breast Implants Correct Mild Drooping?

Silicone breast implants are increasingly becoming popular these days as they provide a more natural result than saline implants.  This is not surprising because they are filled with a cohesive silicone gel designed to replicate the “feel” and move of glandular tissue and fats; another bonus is that the filling does not evaporate—unlike the saline solution—which means the patients can maintain their breast volume unless in the event of leak or rupture.

The good news is that breast implants—particularly the silicone-filled versions—can correct mild or pseudo ptosis (sagging) which is caused by breastfeeding.  It happens when the mammary glands put pressure on some glandular fats, but after the enlargement resolves, the breasts somewhat “deflate.”

On the other hand, true ptosis is caused by stretched and damaged suspensory ligaments in the breasts.  Oftentimes, the problems can only be addressed by mastopexy or more commonly referred to as breast lift; this can be performed as a standalone procedure or as a complementary to breast implantsurgery.

To correct mild or pseudo ptosis, it is highly recommend to use small implants (300 to 350 cubic centimeters would be the right range) because introducing large ones can aggravate the problem as the tissue is forced to carry the extra weight.  And over time, the stretched tissues will worsen.

By using large implants, there is a higher chance that the patients will need breast lift sooner rather than later.

It is important to note that even small implants can provide upper pole fullness in the breast, the area which is often affected by childbirth and breastfeeding.  But as mentioned earlier, silicone implants are better than the saline versions because they do not have a natural deflation rate.

By contrast, saline implants have been found to lose about 10 percent of their volume after a decade because of evaporation and other factors.  This simply means that patients with these devices are more likely to need revisions sooner than those who have silicone implants.

Meanwhile, there is still a debate whether the subglandular or submuscular implant placement provides more lift.

In the subglandular implant placement, the device is positioned above the muscle which is believed to provide a more lifting effect.  But one downside is that only the tissue and skin support the implant, something which may aggravate the ongoing ptosis.

On the other hand, the submuscular implant placement is said to prevent future ptosis because the device, which is positioned under the pec muscle, is being supported not only by the tissue and skin but also by a thick amount of muscle.