Breast Enlargement Options
in New Orleans

Saline vs. Silicone Implants

We offer our breast augmentation patients a choice of either silicone gel or saline implants, each with their own advantages. Most patients report that silicone gel implants look and feel the most natural of the two types.  Although the silicone shell can rupture it maintains its shape and stays in the pocket due to its enhanced cohesiveness, so you will never experience a “flat tire”. Saline implants, on the other hand,  are generally less expensive than silicone,  their volume of saline  can be adjusted during surgery for better symmetry between breasts, and they do not require MRI monitoring for rupture.  Instead, if they were to rupture they would slowly deflate over a few days, the change in size alerting their owner that there is a problem requiring surgical replacement.

Keller Funnel

The innovative Keller Funnel™ allows women who choose silicone gel implants to benefit from shorter incisions and improved comfort and safety, with faster healing. By using a lubricated funnel, Dr. Cooper can compress the implant through a smaller incision and insert it more precisely. In addition, the Keller Funnel keeps the implant sterile with a “no touch technique.” This method reduces the risk of infection while shortening surgical time. Dr. Cooper has been certified to use the Keller Funnel for silicone breast implant augmentation.

Implant Placement

Breast augmentation patients have the option of placing the breast implant over or under the pectoralis (chest) muscle. These placement options offer the following benefits:

Submuscular: The implant is placed beneath the pectoralis (chest) muscle and the breast tissue. Although this may require a slightly longer recovery period than subglandular placement, having the implant below the muscle may result in a more natural look and feel. Additionally, the incidence of capsular contracture and rippling has been shown to be lower with this placement approach. The muscle also adds a natural divider between the implant and the breast tissue on mammogram, allowing better visualization of the breast tissue. The trade off for these benefits is the movement of the implants with the muscle when the muscle is engaged, think push-ups, bench press, or holding a child on your hip. The implant returns to normal position when you stop contracting the muscle. The muscle holding up the implant is great in that it acts like a natural bra so the implant never sags, however over time your breast tissue may sag off the implant requiring a lift because the muscle does not support your breast skin, only the implant. For example, if you breastfeed one or more babies and your breasts enlarge and then deflate, your tissue would hang more naturally even without an implant,  but the implant won’t sag, thus necessitating a breast lift to put the breast tissue back on top of the implant.

Subglandular: The implant is placed above the muscle but below the breast tissue. Women with thin skin or little breast tissue may not benefit from this approach because of increased visibility, which can show wrinkling and rippling more easily. However, many patients note that an advantage to this placement is a shorter, more comfortable recovery, normal jiggling and movement of the implant with the breast, no motion deformity seen with the submuscular approach, and as you age and your breasts sag the implants sag with them. The trade off is that only your skin is holding up the implant, not the muscle, so if you have rather stretchy skin or very large implants this could contribute to early sagging and need for a breast lift.