Breast implants feel hard to the touch. What should I do?

It’s hard to answer all these questions in the abstract, without having seen you. There certainly are differences between implants, but not necessarily how you describe them. Saline implants invariably feel and appear harder to the touch. Silicone implants are generally softer to the touch. A capsular contracture can make all of them feel hard, though. Shaped vs round implants will depend on your anatomy and your postoperative desires as to the result you are looking for. Textured implants will be significantly less likely to develop capsular contracture than smooth implants. ALL implants are recommended to be replaced periodically over their lifetimes. The current recommendation for ALL implants is 10 years. You can certainly go longer with saline implants, because the worst case is a fully ruptured, deflated implant. Silicone implants should be replaced more regularly because a ruptured silicone implant can leave more residual silicone in place resulting in more potential for recurrent scarring, contracture-not to mention more expensive, lengthy surgeries to remove and replace the implants. Hope this helps. Best. 

Hello, teardrop-shaped implants generally do feel firmer than other types of implants because their gel has to be thick enough to maintain their shape.  However, if a person has a thick enough layer of breast tissue they can still feel very natural.  Your surgeon will be able to give you more specific advice based on your body type.  Any breast implant can rupture or develop other problems so it is important to be aware that you might require additional surgery in the future, no matter what implants you choose.

I personally do not use MENTOR breast implants but instead favor the Allergan Inspira series of gel implants.  They are definitely soft and give my patients a very natural look and feel that is far superior to the saline implants.  Keep in mind that most Plastic Surgeons nationwide have gone away from saline breast implants because they simply do not look and feel natural and have a much higher tendency to ripple. I hope that helps and wish you the very best!-Gregory A Buford MD FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author

Thank you for your question.  How hard an implant will feel will depend on the amount of native soft tissue coverage that a patient has, implant placement (submuscular vs. subglandular), implant type and implant size.  In my experience, smooth round silicone gel breast implants placed in the submuscular position typically afford patients a more natural look and feel than saline implants do.  This is especially true in thinner patients with little soft tissue coverage.  At the time of consultation in my practice I make sure that my patients are able to see and feel the differences between the various implant options.  I would encourage you to schedule another consultation to discuss the pros and cons of the various implant options available to you and to actually see and feel each.  I wish you all of the best.

Thank you for your questions. If you saw a surgeon who picked an implant for you without letting you look and feel implants and make choices you think are best for you, then I think you should see another surgeon. Everyone has a different philosophy, but I think that making a life-long decision for someone as a surgeon without them having a say is not the right way to do things and you are obviously not happy with that plan either. Make sure you find a board certified plastic surgeon with which you feel comfortable and confident before planning any surgical procedure.Best of luck!

In general Memory shape Mentor implants are softer in my opinion than saline implants.  If you have concerns I would ask your surgeon his opinion and see if he has samples of both for you to feel.  Best of luck.