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Breast Implant Exchange in Portland & Lake Oswego, OR
Your relationship with your breast implants can evolve over time. Many women who once loved their original augmentation find that years later, their aesthetic preferences, lifestyle, or body have changed. Breast implant exchange allows you to refresh your look with updated implant technology that aligns with your current goals.
At Burgess Plastic Surgery, Dr. Elisa Burgess guides patients through the customization process in preparation for new breast implants that feel elegant, current, and undeniably yours.
Why Consider an Implant Exchange?
Breast implant exchange is an exciting opportunity to elevate your look for the next stage of life. Many patients seek an exchange because their preferences or body proportions have changed since their original breast augmentation.
Common reasons patients come to us to explore breast implant exchange options include:
- Desire for a larger or smaller implant size
- Switching from saline to silicone for a softer feel
- Upgrading to cohesive gel “gummy bear” implants
- Refreshing the breast shape after pregnancy or weight fluctuations
- Improving cleavage, projection, or overall silhouette
- Trying newer implant technology and materials
- Creating a more athletic, elegant, or proportionate appearance
To further rejuvenate the breasts, many patients choose to combine their implant exchange with a breast lift.
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Saline Implants
Saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution after they are placed in the breast pocket. This means their volume can be fine-tuned during surgery, offering some flexibility in terms of sizing.
Saline implant benefits include:
- Smaller incisions
- Adjustable volume during surgery
- Immediate detectability in the case of rupture
- Peace of mind knowing saline is safely absorbed by the body
The downside of saline implants is that they tend to feel firmer and may show more visible rippling in patients with thinner breast tissue.
Silicone “Gummy Bear” Implants
Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel and are designed to mimic the density of natural breast tissue. Modern cohesive gel implants, more commonly known as gummy bear implants, are especially popular among exchange patients because they provide the most natural breast feel and appearance.
Benefits of silicone implants can include:
- Softer, more natural texture
- More natural movement and drape
- Reduced risk of rippling
- Excellent shape retention
- Enhanced upper pole fullness
Routine imaging is important with silicone implants, as rupture is often undetectable. At Burgess Plastic Surgery, Dr. Burgess offers a high resolution ultrasound (HRUS) to evaluate for implant integrity. This ultrasound is a quick and convenient alternative to an MRI to have your implants visualized and evaluated for rupture.
For many patients considering gummy bear implants in Portland and Lake Oswego, different brands, profiles, and sizes will all be discussed during your consultation.
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Customizing Your Silhouette: Shapes and Profiles
Breast implant exchange gives patients the opportunity to fine-tune the overall shape and projection of the breasts.
Round vs. Ergonomix® Implants
Round implants are designed to create fullness in the upper part of the breast. This is the most common implant style offered by implant brands. They move naturally with the breasts while maintaining a youthful appearance. Patients who want maximum cleavage or a perkier look often prefer round implants.
Ergonomix implants are the first of their kind exclusive to Motiva®. They are designed to move and flow organically with body movement. They appear round when laying flat, and gently sloped when standing to mimic the natural breast movement. They also come in three different profiles: Mini, Demi, and Full. Motiva Ergonomix implants are a great option for patients who want a very natural look and feel.
Understanding Implant Profiles
Implant profile refers to how far the implant projects outward from the chest wall. Implant exchange gives patients the opportunity to change their final silhouette.
Low Profile
Low-profile implants are flatter in appearance, with a broader base and minimal projection. They’re excellent for subtle enhancement, or, for women with wider chests.
Moderate Profile
Moderate-profile implants provide the most natural-looking enhancement, with a balanced ratio of width and projection.
Moderate Plus Profile
Moderate plus implants are a great option for women with a medium chest frame who want a bit more projection. They feature more projection than moderate implants, but their wider base helps maintain more natural-looking proportions.
High Profile
High-profile implants create a fuller, more lifted appearance with increased forward projection. They’re a good option for women with narrower chests.
Ultra-High Profile
Ultra-high profile implants feature the narrowest base and maximum forward projection for dramatic fullness.
During your consultation, Dr. Burgess will evaluate your chest wall dimensions and body proportions to help determine which implant profile best suits your frame.
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The Next Generation of Breast Implants
Modern breast implants offer more customization dimensions and advanced engineering than ever before. At Burgess Plastic Surgery, patients can explore several leading implant brands.
Motiva®
Motiva® implants are known for their innovation and advanced surface technology. The Motiva® Ergonomix® exchange has become increasingly popular among patients seeking implants that move naturally with the body.
The SmoothSilk® surface creates the lowest inflammation immediately after surgery which lowers the rate and severity of capsular contracture. Their highly cohesive and viscoelastic gel provides great shape to their Ergonomix implant while mimicking natural breast tissue and movement.
Sientra®
Sientra® implants are backed by extensive clinical use and offer more than 200 implant options across multiple profile levels. Their implants feature high-strength cohesive gel technology and are supported by a 20-year warranty with lifetime replacement for rupture. These implants also have some of the lowest reported rates of rupture and capsular contracture in the industry.
Mentor®
Mentor® implants have a long-standing reputation in breast augmentation. Their MemoryGel® and MemoryGel BOOST™ implants use a soft, cohesive silicone gel designed to feel like natural breast tissue while providing enhanced shape retention.
Natrelle®
The INSPIRA® collection by Natrelle® gives patients options—with a wide range of silicone implant sizes and profiles for supremely customized results. These implants are known for their soft feel and versatility, allowing patients to achieve subtle enhancement or more dramatic projection, depending on their goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Implant Exchange
Is implant exchange easier than the first surgery?
In many cases, recovery from breast implant exchange can feel more manageable than the initial augmentation because the breast pocket has already been created. Of course, every procedure is unique, and your experience depends on the extent of changes being made.
Can I get a breast lift at the same time as my exchange?
Yes. It is common for patients to combine their implant exchange with a breast lift to improve sagging, nipple position, or breast shape after pregnancy or aging.
How do I know if it’s time to update my implants?
While there is no set expiration date for breast implant devices, many women choose to update them because their aesthetic goals have changed, or because they want to improve their long-term breast health with access to newer implant technology.
Transformations That Speak Volumes
See What Our Patients Are Saying
Dr. Burgess and her professional staff are top notch. From the initial consultation to the final results, I couldn’t be more pleased
Dr. Burgess performed Ultherapy around my mouth and lips and within 3 weeks I felt firmer and my lips appeared to be ‘lifted’ and more shapely. Now at 2 months, I am enjoying a more defined lip line. The procedure was less painful than I expected and took less than 30 minutes.
I have visited Burgess Plastic Surgery several times for a variety of reasons. I have never had a bad experience. First of all, the clinic is always clean, warm, and inviting. The staff is friendly and helpful. They are eager to help and answer questions and make me feel safe and secure. Dr. Burgess is amazing! She always has the right ideas and I always walk away feeling beautiful without any pressure! I highly recommend this clinic!
I was really nervous about the whole process but the staff made me feel very comfortable with my procedure. She changed my life!
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Schedule Your Sizing Consultation
Breast implant exchange is an opportunity to refine your silhouette with today’s most advanced implant options. Whether you want a refresh with new tech or a more dramatic transformation, Dr. Elisa Burgess can help you explore the possibilities with expert recommendations and advanced 3D breast surgery simulation technology.
To learn more about breast implant exchange in Portland and Lake Oswego, contact Burgess Plastic Surgery at (503) 699-6464 or use our online contact form to schedule your consultation today.
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