Mentor vs. Natrelle Breast Implants

Hi there-
It is my opinion that both implant manufacturers produce a consistently high quality product, evidenced by the outstanding warranty programs both offer.
Most often the choice of manufacturer for a surgeon comes down to what they are comfortable and familiar with... I have been using Mentor implants for years, and am extremely comfortable and familiar with the dimensions of the implants, so using them allows me to achieve predictably good results for my patients. I know and respect surgeons who feel as strongly that Natrelle is all they would use. I think the best way to think about this is to use the analogy of luxury cars- this is like asking if Mercedes or BMW is better... you will find some people on both sides of the fence, but the truth is they are both great cars.
Having said all of that, it is important to emphasize to you that the most important consideration in terms of maximizing your chances of getting the superior outcome you desire, and of minimizing your risk in general. is to choose your surgeon wisely. The old saying "it's the carpenter, not his tools" applies here- so don't worry as much about the implants- but be very careful who you let put them in.
Here is a bit more advice on choosing a surgeon:

I prefer the feel, shape, dimensions and the sizes of the Mentor implants.  They have the Lion's share of the market.

Thank you for your question and doing your research before surgery.  Mentor, Allergan, Sientra, and Ideal Implant are the four implant manufacturers with products available in the United States.  Most surgeons have experience with more than one line of implants and can assist you in choosing the implant brand, size, and profile that best suits your individual needs.  It is best to have an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to discuss your personal goals and develop a customized plan just for you.  Best wishes on a great result and speedy recovery!

We are fortunate enough to have access to several brands of breast implants in the U.S.  Having access to each of these implants expands -- all of excellent quality -- allows us to have more options to offer our patients in various different situations.  Implant brand is far less important than surgeon expertise, proper implant selection, and the quality of your care.  I recommend choosing a Plastic Surgeon based upon these factors.  

For all of my breast procedures I only use Mentor implants. I have been practicing for over 23 years and can stand behind this product with confidence. Mentor takes very good care of their customers with reliable and good quality products. Please feel free to reference my before and after photos for my breast surgeries for further understanding of the great results. 

There are many choices right now in regards to implants.  Size, shape, texture, brand.  Mentor is a great choice.  Allergan has great choices too, and right now you and a friend can get a free bottle of Botox when you choose Allergan implants.  I tend to have many patients that like to sign up for that deal.  I hope one this helps :)

Mentor and Natrelle(from Allergan) are the two most commonly used implants in the US today.  They both have very safe products, from very stable companies and are FDA approved. There are subtleties between them.  Your plastic surgeon can help you sort through the choices. I believe that your choice of plastic surgeon has larger variability than the brand of implants. Sometimes, the Manufacturers will have some special incentives to choose one over the other.  I use them both, more Mentor than Natrelle. 

In Canada, there are Mentor implants and Allergan (Natrelle or Inspira) implants. These are the most widely used and both have their merits. They are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and textures. However, the "best" one for you depends on a consultation with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. They can help you determine what would be most suitable for your body. 

There are two companies that currently manufacture silicone breast implants.  Natrelle and Mentor both have silicone implants that have been FDA approved.
We have had extensive experience with both types of breast implants and have found both to be equivalent products.  Both Mentor and Natrelle are excellent companies that have similar products, safety records, warranties, and support services.
If you are considering breast augmentation, the choice of implant is less important than the choice of surgeon.  It’s important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon that has experience performing breast augmentation surgery.

Dear anon,

 

Generally there's no real difference.  Both companies make great implants.  I like using the more optimally filled Inspira line offered by Natrelle as I believe they result in less rippling.  Natrelle also offers more choice in terms of gel cohesiveness.

If choosing a textured form-stable implant (Mentor's CPG vs. Natrelle's 410 implants), I would recommend speaking to your plastic surgeon about recent findings regarding anaplastic large cell lymphoma and textured implants.  Although the findings are inconclusive and preliminary, I think they are worth discussion, and I inform my patients of these findings.

I hope this helps.

 

Sincerely,

Asif Pirani, MD, FRCS(C)

My experience is that both Mentor (made by J&J) and Natrelle implants (made by Allergan) are excellent implants with ethical back up from their parent companies. That is all that has been available in the USA until now. Starting in 2012, patients will have another option for  silicone breast implants from another solid company. Competition is always great for patients. Patients can choose an implant from Sientra (Silimed) a world leader in breast implant (and other silicone implants). Prospective breast augmentation patients aware that the FDA has approved a new silicone gel-filled breast implant made by Sientra, Inc. for use in the United States.

The implants will be available for women at least 22 years old seeking augmentation surgery, and women of any age seeking breast reconstruction surgery.

Silicone gel-filled breast implants are medical devices implanted under the breast tissue or under the chest muscle for breast augmentation or reconstruction. These implants have a silicone outer shell that is filled with silicone gel. They come in different sizes and have either smooth or textured shells.

This approval introduces a third company into the U.S. breast implant market, which previously consisted only of Allergan and Mentor.

The deputy director for for science at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Dr. William Maisel, commented that although silicone gel-filled breast implants have demonstrated consistent safety, “It’s important to remember that breast implants are not lifetime devices. Women should fully understand risks associated with breast implants before considering augmentation or reconstruction surgery, and recognize that long-term monitoring is essential.”

The approval of these new implants follows a 3-year study involving clinical trials of the implants on 1,788 women.

As a condition of the approval, Sientra will carry out five- and ten-year studies into the long-term health effects of their implants.

Source: FDA – FDA approves new silicone gel-filled breast implant