Natrelle Inspira Implants: What You Need to Know

Written byKaryn RepinskiUpdated on August 25, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.
Written byKaryn RepinskiUpdated on August 25, 2023
You can trust RealSelf content to be unbiased and medically accurate. Learn more about our content standards.

Fast facts

94% Worth It rating based on 50 reviews

$6,875 average cost

1 week of downtime

General anesthesia


Inspira Breast Implants (Page Image)
Inspira Breast Implants (Page Image)

Natrelle Inspira implants are the latest generation of smooth, round, silicone gel–filled breast implants from Allergan. These implants are FDA-approved for breast augmentation for patients age 22 or older and for breast reconstruction at any age. 

The Inspira collection has a greater fill ratio than older models of Natrelle implants and offers three different types of silicone gel implants, with varying levels of “cohesiveness.” (This term refers to the degree of crosslinking of the gel inside of the implant, which determines the firmness or gumminess of the device). The more cohesive the silicone gel, the better the implant maintains its shape, including fullness on top, which is key for creating cleavage.

  • Responsive implants are the softest, least cohesive, and least expensive of the three. These are ideal for those who want a natural feel, already have a good breast shape, and desire only a subtle boost in cleavage.
  • SoftTouch implants are a bit firmer than Responsive implants and hold their shape better. They offer superior “upper pole” fullness (the cleavage above the nipple), a common request from women undergoing breast augmentation.
  • Cohesive gel implants are the firmest and most form-stable of the three. Their highly cohesive gel filling helps prevent rippling, making them a good choice for women who have very thin breast tissue and lack natural shape. However, the extra firmness also means that the implants may not feel or look as natural. 

Inspira implants of every type come in a variety of sizes and shapes, plus five profile options (how far from the chest wall the implant projects when you’re standing). A number of factors, including your body size, chest measurements, desired breast size, and the amount of breast tissue you have, will determine which option is most appropriate.

During your initial consultation with a plastic surgeon, you should have the opportunity to see and feel each option they recommend for your frame and aesthetic goals. Natrelle offers an online, 3D “Breast Visualizer” to help simulate how different implant options will look, and many plastic surgeons have similar technology in their practices.

RealSelf Tip: In October 2021, the FDA announced stronger safety requirements for breast implants, including a boxed warning and “patient decision checklist,” to enhance patient safety and improve transparency around implant risks.

Interested in Inspira breast implants?

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Pros

  • As the new-generation cohesive silicone gel implant from Allergan, Natrelle Inspira implants add natural-looking fullness and shape to flat chests or breasts that have lost volume from breastfeeding or aging.
  • They can also help reconstruct breasts after a mastectomy or significant lumpectomy.
  • With a higher gel fill ratio than older models, Inspira implants are less apt to have wrinkling and rippling.
  • Inspira implants are designed to create a full, round look. 
  • The brand offers a wide range of implants, with varying styles, sizes, shapes, and levels of gel cohesiveness.
  • Inspira breast implants come with a warranty that covers implant replacement for the most common complications, including rupture and capsular contracture (the formation of scar tissue around the implant), as well as BIA-ALCL (breast implant–associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma).
  • Since the current Natrelle Inspira implants have smooth shells, as opposed to textured shells, they’re unlikely to cause BIA-ALCL.

Cons

  • Breast implants aren’t expected to last a lifetime, and breast augmentation is not a one-time surgery. Revision procedures have a higher risk of complications than the initial implant procedure. Learn more about potential risks of breast implants. 
  • Most silicone gel breast implant ruptures are “silent” (not immediately noticeable). Pain and/or changes in the shape or contour of your breasts are possible symptoms of a rupture. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound screenings to monitor for rupture. 
  • Breast augmentation surgery is expensive and not covered by insurance (except in the case of breast reconstruction).
  • Mammography for detecting breast cancer (or cancer recurrence) can be more difficult with breast implants. Be sure to notify the technologist that you have breast implants prior to your procedure.
  • Some women who undergo breast augmentation or reconstruction surgery with breast implants can’t successfully breastfeed.
  • Some women with breast implants may develop systemic symptoms, like chronic pain and fatigue, potentially linked to the implants. This may be more likely for patients with preexisting autoimmune conditions. Read more about breast implant illness (BII) in our Breast Implant Safety Guide.

RealSelf Tip: Inspira implants are more filled with gel than other silicone implants, which can be a benefit for patients with thinner skin and little breast tissue (including those undergoing breast reconstruction after a mastectomy). “I personally really like the fill ratio of the Natrelle Inspira,” says Dr. Josh Waltzman, a plastic surgeon in Long Beach, California. “I think it provides a very nice full shape, with minimal rippling.”

  • Average Cost:
  • $6,875
  • Range:
  • $4,700 - $9,251

Your price will depend on several factors, including the type of Inspira implants you choose, your surgeon’s level of experience, their practice location, the type of anesthesia you have, and other details of your procedure.

Inspira implant costs increase with the implants’ cohesiveness. “The traditional gels [Responsive] are the least expensive, then they go up by $300–$500 per implant for the SoftTouch and another $300–$500 per implant for the Cohesives,” says Dr. Christopher Maloney Jr., a board-certified plastic surgeon in Tucson, Arizona.

Breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons is not covered by health insurance, but in the U.S., insurance carriers are legally obligated to cover at least a portion of the breast reconstruction method of your choosing after a mastectomy.

Interested in Inspira breast implants?

Find a Doctor Near You

The outer shells of Natrelle Inspira implants used to be available in both smooth and textured surfaces, but now they are available only with smooth surfaces. 

In July 2019, Allergan issued a voluntary worldwide recall of their saline and silicone-filled Biocell textured implants after they were linked to BIA-ALCL. Several styles of Natrelle Inspira implants with Biocell texturing were removed from the market at that time.

The Inspira breast implant photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Updated August 25, 2023

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