Q: What are the pros and cons of Natrelle breast implants?

Pros Natrelle implants reshape and add fullness to a naturally flat chest, or breasts that have lost volume from breastfeeding or weight loss. They can also replace breast tissue that has been removed by a mastectomy (performed to treat or prevent breast cancer). They come in a wide range of silicone and saline breast implant sizes. Natrelle Inspira silicone implants, also known as gummy or gel implants, come in varying levels of gel cohesiveness (or squishiness). Natrelle breast implants come with a warranty that covers implant replacement for the most common complications, including implant rupture and capsular contracture (the formation of scar tissue around the implant). Cons Breast implants aren’t expected to last a lifetime, so breast augmentation is generally not a one-time surgery. Silicone gel–filled breast implant ruptures are often “silent,” so it’s not likely that you or your doctor will immediately notice if one occurs. Most implant ruptures don't come with symptoms, so the FDA recommends regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), at a cost of around $2,000, to monitor for implant rupture. Primary breast augmentation surgery is expensive and not covered by health insurance (though insurance companies are legally required to cover breast reconstruction after breast cancer treatment). Mammography for detecting breast cancer (or a cancer recurrence) can be more difficult with implants in place. Rarely, women who undergo breast augmentation or primary reconstruction surgery with breast implants can’t successfully breastfeed, though most women don't have this issue.

Question 1

What are Natrelle breast implants?

Accepted Answer

Natrelle breast implants, manufactured by Allergan, are FDA-approved for breast augmentation and reconstruction.

Natrelle offers both saline implants and cohesive silicone gel implants. Compared to other types of silicone, this gummy-like gel sticks together and tends to retain its shape, which is why they’re often called gummy bear implants.

Natrelle breast implants come in a range of sizes, projections (how far forward from your chest wall the implant comes when you’re standing), and fills (the number of ccs the implant contains) to help you achieve your desired look.

Question 2

What are the pros and cons of Natrelle breast implants?

Accepted Answer

Pros

Natrelle implants reshape and add fullness to a naturally flat chest, or breasts that have lost volume from breastfeeding or weight loss.
They can also replace breast tissue that has been removed by a mastectomy (performed to treat or prevent breast cancer).
They come in a wide range of silicone and saline breast implant sizes.
Natrelle Inspira silicone implants, also known as gummy or gel implants, come in varying levels of gel cohesiveness (or squishiness).
Natrelle breast implants come with a warranty that covers implant replacement for the most common complications, including implant rupture and capsular contracture (the formation of scar tissue around the implant).

Cons

Breast implants aren’t expected to last a lifetime, so breast augmentation is generally not a one-time surgery.
Silicone gel–filled breast implant ruptures are often “silent,” so it’s not likely that you or your doctor will immediately notice if one occurs. Most implant ruptures don't come with symptoms, so the FDA recommends regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), at a cost of around $2,000, to monitor for implant rupture.
Primary breast augmentation surgery is expensive and not covered by health insurance (though insurance companies are legally required to cover breast reconstruction after breast cancer treatment).
Mammography for detecting breast cancer (or a cancer recurrence) can be more difficult with implants in place.
Rarely, women who undergo breast augmentation or primary reconstruction surgery with breast implants can’t successfully breastfeed, though most women don't have this issue.

Question 3

How much do Natrelle breast implants cost?

Accepted Answer

The price you pay will depend on:

The type of Natrelle implants you choose
Your plastic surgeon’s level of experience
Their practice location
The type of anesthesia you have (general is more expensive)
The credentials of your anesthesia provider

While breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons is not covered by health insurance, your insurance carrier is legally obligated to cover the breast reconstruction method of your choosing after a mastectomy or lumpectomy.

You can finance your treatment.

Question 4

Natrelle breast implant before and after pictures

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

What are Natrelle implants made from?

Accepted Answer

Silicone implants

Natrelle Inspirasilicone gel implants are offered in three levels of cohesiveness. “The more cohesive the gel, the firmer the implant and the better it maintains its shape,” explains Dr. Daniel Butz, a plastic surgeon in Miquon, Wisconsin. “This provides more upper-pole fullness [at the top of the breast] and less potential for rippling.”

The Responsive is the most popular Inspira implant. “It’s the most commonly used and the least expensive,” says Dr. Butz.
The Cohesive model has the highest level of cohesiveness and the highest cost. “This might be ideal for a patient looking to go subglandular [have their implants placed under the muscle] to minimize rippling,” explains Dr. Butz.
The SoftTouch is the “happy medium between the two,” says Dr. Butz. “A lot of my patients chose this implant for its more natural feel.”

Most surgeons recommend silicone implants. “They have a few advantages over saline,” says Dr. Nancy de Kleer, a plastic surgeon in Oakville, Ontario. “If they break, they still hold together and don’t go completely flat. They have less chance of rippling than a saline implant does, and they often feel more natural.”

Saline implants

Smooth, round Natrelle saline implants are available in 55 sizes and three projection styles. Saline implants can be filled after they’re placed, so incisions and scars are smaller.

Ruptures are also more likely to be caught quickly, because it’s easier to see signs like a deflated breast, according to Dr. Jerome Edelstein, a plastic surgeon in Toronto, Ontario. They also offer peace of mind in that if they do rupture, the saline fluid is harmlessly absorbed by the body.

Other factors to weigh when choosing a breast implant include your body size, your desired breast size, and the amount of breast skin you have. Your plastic surgeon will discuss your goals with you before recommending the best implant options.

RealSelf Tip: When you’re considering breast implant surgery, most RealSelf doctors say that choosing the right plastic surgeon is more important than which company’s breast implants they use. In fact, many surgeons say they use all brands on a regular basis.

Question 6

Are Natrelle implants textured?

Accepted Answer

Natrelle implants used to be available with both textured and smooth surfaces. However, in July 2019, the FDA requested that Allergan withdraw and suspend sales of its textured implants—sold under the name Biocell—after an association was found between that surface and breast implant–associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare form of cancer of the immune system.

Biocelltextured breast implants had been implicated in 481 of the 573 confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL, which may not arise until years after the initial breast implant placement.

Shortly after the FDA's request, Allergan issued a worldwide recall of its Biocell textured products, including Natrelle silicone- and saline-filled implants, Natrelle Inspira implants, Natrelle 410 implants, the Natrelle 133 tissue expander, and the Natrelle 133 Plus tissue expander.

You can find the full list of recalled Natrelle products at the FDA's website.

Question 7

Are Natrelle implants safe? What are the risks?

Accepted Answer

Breast implants are some of the most studied medical devices, and FDA-approved implants, including Natrelle implants, undergo extensive testing for safety and effectiveness. However, growing patient concerns about breast implant risks and side effects have prompted FDA warnings.

Natrelle breast implants—like all breast implants—are not lifetime devices and may require revision surgery or implant removal if you experience complications or a malfunction like leaking, wrinkling, migration, or deflation as your implants age. Augmentation patients should expect regular maintenance and monitoring of their implants.

Silicone breast implants are FDA-approved for breast augmentation in women age 22 or older, while saline implants are approved for women at least 18 years old. All implants are approved for breast reconstruction in women of any age.

Breast implant risks include:

Complications like asymmetry, breast pain, and changes in nipple and breast sensation.
Capsular contracture, when scar tissue forms around—and squeezes—the implant, occurs in between 15% and 45% of people, usually within the first year after surgery.
Rupture and deflation.
Additional surgeries, for instance to remove the scar tissue around the breast implant or to remove or replace the implants.
Systemic symptoms, such as fatigue, memory loss, “brain fog,” and joint pain. Collectively, these are known as “breast implant illness” (BII).
Inability to breastfeed. This doesn’t usually occur, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Regarding concerns about the safety of breastfeeding with implants, the CDC says that “research is limited, but there have been no recent reports of clinical problems in infants of mothers with silicone breast implants.”

Concern about the risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) prompted the FDA to request a worldwide recall of Natrelle’s Biocell silicone implants, which had a macro-textured surface designed to reduce complications like capsular contracture. Allergan complied with a worldwide recall in July 2019.

The recall did not affect Natrelle smooth or Microcell breast implants. According to recent research, micro-textured implants have a lower risk of capsular contracture. They also have not been associated with cases of BIA-ALCL.

See our complete guide to breast implant safety and risks

Question 8

How long do Natrelle implants last?

Accepted Answer

How long do Natrelle implants last?

Like all breast implants, Natrelle implants aren’t considered lifetime devices, but they do not have a specific lifespan. “I tell my patients that these implants typically last about 10 years, but certainly could have a much shorter or longer life,” says Dr. Ira Rex, a plastic surgeon in Fall River, Massachusetts. “I don’t recommend replacement after 10 years if the implant is serving the patient well. The cost and risks of reoperating, not to mention buying new implants, lead me to recommend vigilance for rupture but not automatic exchange of implants.”

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NATRELLE BREAST IMPLANTS

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Jerome Edelstein, MD

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