Which implant is better? Mentor or Natrelle?

Thank you for your question.  Definitely on the FAQ list in my practice.  Mentor and Allergan are 2 of 3 companies that sell breast implants in the US.  The third is Sientra.  All are FDA approved and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your specific needs.  Sientra only distributes their implants to plastic and reconstructive surgeons.  Having worked with all of them I can honestly say that they are all high quality implants that can give great results.  Surgeon preference is really what determines the brand of implant you're likely to get at any given office, and choosing between Allergan, Mentor or Sientra implants is less important than choosing the right surgeon.  What is important is that you consult with an experienced plastic surgeon who can deliver the results you desire.  Best of luck to you,Ruth Celestin, MD

The reality is that the surgeon you choose is more important than the company.  I use primarily Allergan because I only use anatomically shaped form stable "gummy bear" implants.  I believe the safety profile is well worth the extra expense and Allergan has the largest diversity in size and shape allowing me to pick the best implant for each patient from their 410 line.  Mentor has only one shape that applies well to less patients but their form stable anatomic implant is of similar quality.  Sientra also makes an excellent product but I find the profile of their implants to be a bit too high for most of my patients seeking a natural look.  I would avoid older generation non-form stable implants because I do not believe additional risk is worth a bit of financial savings and would avoid at all cost high profile round shapes!  I hope this helps!All the best,Rian A. Maerkcs M.D.

Good question. No real good answer. I have used both for many years. They both perform very well. Some surgeons will prefer one over the other because of service. I think the only real difference I can say for sure is that the textured surface on the Allergan implants is more aggressive and tends to adhere better and give a thinner capsule. More detail than you probably care about.

Both manufacturers make high quality implants. Rupture rates are comparable between both companies. For the round gels there is little difference. Natrelle does have a larger variety of shaped gel implants, but they are quite a bit firmer than Mentors. The bottom line is that choosing between the two implant companies is much less important than choosing the correct procedure for yourself.

I think they are both great products.I use Mentor which is my choice.Either one will give you a good result.More important than the type of implant is the surgeon you go to.