Many women who are having a breast augmentation desire the most natural-looking results possible. There are certainly some women who want to look enhanced, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, it’s common for women to want their figures to look natural after their procedure.

When planning your breast augmentation, you’ll have a variety of choices to make. If a natural look is your goal, how can you best achieve this? Which options will be the most likely to lead to your desired result?

Proportional size

One of the most important decisions you’ll make is how large you want your implants to be. Of course, women who are choosing breast augmentation want their breasts to be larger than they currently are. However, if you want the look of naturally full breasts, then you should make sure that the size you choose is in proportion to the rest of your figure. If you’re thin, then very large breasts will not look as natural on you as a more moderate size increase.

Implant type

When choosing between saline and silicone, the silicone implants will provide a more natural result. Silicone bears a closer resemblance to the look, feel, and bounce of natural breast tissue. Although some women choose saline because they have concerns about the health effects of silicone, extensive research has shown that silicone implants are safe, which is why they’re approved for use in the U.S. by the FDA.

Implant shape

Some implants are round, while others are shaped. In general, a round implant will create the most cleavage, but the resulting breasts tend to appear enhanced rather than natural. Many surgeons prefer the new generation of highly cohesive (“gummy bear”) implants, which are shaped to be fuller at the bottom (like natural breast tissue). Although previous generations of shaped implants had problems with the implants rotating within the breast pocket and creating an unnatural shape to the breast, this is much less of a problem with the newer ones. As long as the surgeon is highly skilled in creating the implant pocket and placing the implants (as Dr. Miles is), there shouldn’t be a problem with implant rotation.

At the same time, implants that can rotate are able to respond to gravity in a more natural-appearing way. Because shaped implants are fixed within the breast pocket, they may not respond to gravity as naturally. For some women, such as dancers, this may be a concern. In this case, smooth round implants may give a better result.

Implant placement

For most women, submuscular placement (below the pec muscles of the chest) will create the most natural-looking results. This is because the extra tissue helps to hide the edges of the implant, and conceal any rippling that may occur. Placing the implants beneath the chest muscle (submuscular) hides the edges of the implant and creates a more graceful and feminine contour to the body.

However, submuscular placement may lead to “motion artifact,” in which movement of the shoulders and chest leads to movement of the implants that doesn’t resemble that of natural breasts. Placing the implants above the muscle (subglandular) will eliminate the problem of motion artifact. Motion artifact is not a problem for most everyday movements. However, for those women who are athletic or very active, such as fitness professionals, subglandular placement may be preferred to avoid this issue.

Charlotte breast augmentation

If all of the choices you have to make seem overwhelming, don’t worry. When you come in for a visit with Dr. Miles, you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have, and to discuss your preferences with him. He’ll offer his professional advice as to which options he would recommend. You’ll also be able to touch and hold the various implants, to see what they’re really like. Above all, we want you to feel confident and empowered as you prepare for your procedure.