Breast Implants in Cambridge & Peterborough – Periareolar & Dual-plane Breast Augmentation

Breast Implants in Cambridge & Peterborough – Periareolar & Dual-plane Breast Augmentation by Professor Malata FRCS (Plast): Professor Malata specialises in cosmetic plastic surgery & cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery with practices in Cambridge & Peterborough. His interest in breast implants started during his 3-year full time research period at the Bradford University Plastic Surgery Research Unit where he investigated ways of modifying the tissue reactions to silicone breast implants. There are 2 main breast implant shapes namely:

1. Round breast implants

2. Tear-drop shaped implants (aka anatomical breast implants or contour profile implants).

Professor Malata uses breast prostheses which are filled with:

1. “liquid” silicone gel (traditional silicone breast implants)

2. saline (salt water): saline breast implants

3. cohesive silicone gel (soft touch, cogel, sensitive gel, responsive gel breast implants)

Professor Malata rarely utilises saline implants but had extensive experience with these in America in the late 1990’s at the time of the American Food & Drug Administration moratorium on the use of silicone gel breast implants. The decision whether to use the different degrees of cohesive silicone is based on your preference, the quality of your tissues and whether the implant will be placed on top of the muscle or underneath it.

Most patients have their implants placed underneath their chest muscle (the pectoralis major muscle). This is called subpectoral breast augmentation. Sometimes , in women with asymmetry, atypical shape, or mild to moderate droop (ptosis), insertion beneath the breast gland or partially beneath the gland and muscle (subglandular breast augmentation or dual-plane breast augmentation) may be considered. Professor Malata is proficient in performing all these types of breast augmentations and will discuss these aspects of your treatment in full during your consultation. He also regularly performs breast augmentation using the inframammary route or the periareolar route.

The incisions for placing breast implants are:

1. Inframammary (in the breast skin crease) – the commonest in the UK

2. Periareolar (around the lower half of the nipple-areola)

3. Transaxillary (via the arm pit – preferably with keyhole equipment

4. Transumbilical (via the belly button) – only with specialised equipment.

Professor Malata has considerable experience in performing breast implants via the inframammary crease incision and the peri-areolar incision. He does not offer transumbilical breast augmentation.