Can Breast Implants Ever Feel Completely Natural?

Thank you for your question. Yes. It is normal that they will feel swollen and firm for the first few weeks after surgery, but they will then settle. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certified Plastic surgeon Hoffman Estates barrington Oakbrook Chicago 

Thank you for your question.  Yes, breast implants can definitely feel very natural in many situations.  Silicone gel implants tend to look and feel much more natural than saline implants do, especially when placed below the chest or pectoralis muscle.  Implant size selection is also very important when patients ultimate goal is to have a natural augmentation.  It is important not to go too big in implant size and that the more breast tissue you have to begin with, the better implant coverage and more natural your result will be.   I would recommend scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your cosmetic surgery goals in more detail.  Best of luck!

Satisfaction rates following breast
augmentation are related to how breast implants look and feel. Women not only want their breasts to look
good following breast enlargement, but also want them to feel natural.Several factors are associated with more
natural feeling breasts.These include
the type of implant-fill material used, the position of the implant relative to
the pectoralis muscle, the amount of native breast tissue and the size of the
breast implants used. Multiple implant materials are
currently available for breast augmentation.These fall into three broad categories including silicone gel, cohesive
gel and saline breast implants.Although
each of these implants offers advantages and disadvantages, most surgeons feel
that silicone gel implants feel more natural than cohesive gel or saline
implants.The position of the implant
relative to the muscles is also extremely important.When implants are placed beneath the muscles,
there’s more soft tissue coverage.There’s also more soft tissue coverage when patients have large amounts
of native breast tissue.Both of these
factors tend to make the implants less distinct which ultimately results in a
more natural feeling breast.In contrast, larger implants are
less likely to feel natural because they exceed the ability of the soft tissue
to adequately cover the implants. All of these factors contribute to
how breast implants feel once they’ve been placed.It’s important to realize that how implants
feel, is just one of the many issues that must be considered before proceeding
with breast augmentation.If you’re
considering this procedure, make sure you consult a board certified plastic
surgeon who has experience in this area.

Factors such as technique, placement and implant type all contribute to how real implants look and feel, and these factors are all determined by a patient's unique physiology and expectations. However, in general, when it comes to implants cohesive silicone gel are considered to look and feel more natural.

They may not feel like natural breasts... but they can really can feel pretty close!!! They can be soft and very natural looking, depending on size of the implant and the build of the woman. As far as the fat transfer, I don't think it will add much to the natural feel...

Many patients who have had the armpit/axillary incision (so no incision is visible on the breast) report their GYN doctor could not tell the difference during their annual breast exams.  This includes patients who have had silicone as well as saline implants.  So, yes, this is possible.  The "gummy bear" implants (which have not been cleared by the FDA in the US) are reported by some to be quite firm.  Implants are often combined with fat transfer in reconstructive patients.  All the best, "Dr. Joe" Gryskiewicz

there is a lot of discussion about this topic but after 20 years as a plastic surgeon and 40 years as a heterosexual male,  i would say the answer is no

When an appropriate size implant is placed, you should be able to achieve a natural look and feel.  More often than not, patients choose much larger implants that would be natural.  This is not bad, but can lead to an implant look.  Also, I feel that silicone implants placed under the muscle or in a dual plane positing give the best results as the implant is covered by both your muscle and your breast tissue.

 

Good Luck.

Many patients report that their breasts are very natural in appearance and feel after implants. This is more true with gel implants than saline. The assumption however is that there is no capsular contraction. This complication may make the breast feel firm. Submuscular placement helps. I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine how best to meet your goals. Fat transfer may or may not be necessary to give you the look and feel you desire. Best of luck! 

Concern about whether an implant feels real is valid. That said, it is better to not let it confuse you in your implant selection.
The implant you choose will be based on what size and shape meet your desired look. To avoid making your decision more confusing or difficult, here is what you need to know about implant feel.
First off, many surgeons, including myself, are now only placing implants below the muscle. (There is a strong list of reasons why we go this route.) Although saline (with a water balloon consistency) does feel less realistic than silicone (which has a thicker consistency) if you are holding the implants in your hands, it is a different story when they are behind breast tissue AND muscle. Since there is muscle and also flesh over the implants, the difference in their feel becomes negligible.
For example, when you hold a saline implants in your hand, they do feel like water-balloons. But they will feel more natural going under the muscle because you have more of your body's own soft tissue over them. Also, the more breast tissue you have, the more natural they will feel. Imagine trying to feel the same saline implant under a thick pillow. You'll feel the pillow more than anything else. That's how it works.
Natural looks can be achieved with any implant type. The natural look is a function of staying within your body's measurements, which your plastic surgeon will take.
Larger implants may feel less real than smaller ones. But the difference is not important enough for patients whose beauty goal is set on a bigger, fuller look (while still appearing natural, of course).
One may be able to tell the difference between the feel of breasts with and without implants. But in my experience, I have found that patients are happy with the feel of their breasts whether they go with saline, silicone, or anatomic (gummy bear). It may be comforting to know the subtle differences among the feel of the implants, but I would not let it make your decision more difficult.
Implants should not feel hard. If they do, this is mostly like due to a complication known as capsular contracture. If a patient experiences this complication, she should be evaluated by her plastic surgeon. If the diagnosis is made of capsular contracture, depending on its severity, the implants may need to be removed and replaced.
I hope that answers your question on choosing the right implant. It’s great that you’re doing this research. I always say that the best patients are informed patients.
You might also want to research your options for breast implants. Choosing the right implant is the number one concern among women considering breast augmentation. Did you know, there’s actually a way to select a implant shape, size, and profile that is perfect for you?
A term that I use with my patients for the perfect implant is the “Pony Implant”.
So what do I mean by “perfect”? Well, a Pony Implant has three qualities to it. First, the implant meets your beauty goals. For example, you want to your breasts to look fuller while still appearing natural.
Second, when you chose your Pony Implant, you walk out of your consultation 100% confident that you’ve chosen the right shape and size for you. In other words, you won’t be second guessing your decision, and you won’t be afraid of having gone too big or too small.
And third, after your procedure, you are thrilled with your results, and say, "I’m so happy. This is exactly what I wanted!"
That’s the Pony Implant. And the great news is that there is a simple process to go about finding yours.
This issue of selecting the right implant is so important when it comes to patient satisfaction or dissatisfaction that, again, I really encourage you to learn more about it.
Thank you for reading and best of luck on your journey!