Can Breast Implants Look Natural?

It’s normal to be concerned about what the results will be like when you’re contemplating breast augmentation. Some patients worry that their breasts will be too large while others worry that they may not be big enough. Another concern some patients have is that their implants will look too artificial. While in the early 2000s, having very large and obvious implants that could be noticed from across a room was a trend, these days patients are preferring more subtle, balanced results from breast implants that mimic natural breasts as closely as possible. Most of our patients prefer a naturally curvy appearance from breast augmentation at our Vancouver area practice. They consider the best breast implants to be the ones who look real. There are ways to ensure that the outcome from this procedure looks as real as possible.

  • Get Them Placed Under the Muscle

Breast implants can be placed either over or under the pectoral muscle. When implants are placed under the muscle, it makes the curve of the breasts at the top appear more gradual and natural. This under the muscle placement also helps to conceal the edges of the implant. It’s common for the under the muscle placement to be used when the patient has a thin body with not much natural breast tissue.

  • Fat Transfer

Fat grafting is another technique used to get more natural results. It can be combined with implants to allow the breasts to settle more naturally and to address any imperfections from breast implants. The patient’s own body fat is used, so the results look and feel completely natural.

  • Choose the Right Implant Size

Getting the size right for implants is important if you want yours to look as real and balanced as possible. The size of the breast implants is measured not in terms of cup sizes but in “CCs,” and this size will help to determine whether they fit in proportion to the rest of your body. If your implants are too wide or too full, they may project too much or spill out into surrounding areas, which can lead to an unnatural look.

To discover more about the benefits of breast augmentation, contact the Vancouver area office of Dr. Owen Reid. Call us at 604-343-9309 or submit a contact form to schedule a consultation if you’re interested in learning about cosmetic surgery to enhance the appearance of the breasts.


Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Dr. Reid is now able to provide easier access to immediate breast reconstruction for patients in the Vancouver area. In case you're not familiar with the term, 'immediate reconstruction' refers to the timing of the reconstructive procedure in relation to the mastectomy. Immediate reconstruction takes place at the time of the mastectomy, while 'delayed reconstruction' is performed months or years later.

Breast reconstruction is an important part of Dr. Reid's hospital practice in Richmond.  Although not every breast cancer patient is a candidate for immediate reconstruction, for those who are there are significant benefits. One of the most obvious benefits of immediate reconstruction is that there are fewer operations and with that fewer general anaesthetics and recovery periods. The other primary benefit of immediate reconstruction is that patients who receive this type of care don't have to live without a breast.

At the Richmond Hospital, we are now able to provide easier access to immediate reconstruction for our breast cancer patients.  This requires a coordinated effort between Dr. Reid and the general surgeons who are performing the mastectomies. The indications for a mastectomy may differ. Some patients with a new diagnosis of breast cancer are candidates for immediate reconstruction. In that circumstance the mastectomy and immediate reconstruction will be arranged on an urgent basis. Other patients may choose to have a prophylactic mastectomy, in which case, immediate reconstruction is almost always indicated.