Having undergone four breast augmentations and/or revisions over the past 15 years, I am not new to implants or the emotions that go along with the appearance of our breasts. Therefore, when I say that INSPIRAs offer something more than other implants - something that can make a real difference - it comes from a lot of personal experience. With my INSPIRA implants, I now have the best of both worlds – a look that perfectly combines the features I loved about my overfilled salines with the benefits of gels.
After over 10 years with round, moderate profile, submuscular, overfilled saline implants (and some long-standing capsular contracture on the right), I thought it was a good time to go ahead and switch out my implants, but this time to gels. I decided on round, high profile Mentor Memory Gels placed under the muscle. I truly went into the surgery with reasonable expectations. I knew that my breasts were far from perfect and wasn’t even going for “better.” I just wanted to retain some of those things I liked about my overfilled salines – specifically the size, roundness, and upper pole fullness.
Unfortunately, upon waking from surgery, it was obvious that the Memory Gels did not give me the look I wanted for my body. I no longer had what I liked about my previous breasts and, to make matters worse, had new problems I never anticipated. Sure, they were softer and my surgeon had corrected the capsular contracture, but the implants themselves offered none of the things I cared about. Anytime I was upright, they collapsed, revealing my totally flat chest wall and then abrupt, very large torpedo-shaped breasts. Thanks to the inescapable force of gravity on planet Earth, no amount of shortening bra-straps or trying different bras to push up the implants could change this - they'd just collapse. I totally regretted not leaving well-enough alone and wished I had my not-so-perfect overfilled salines back. I gave it some time to see if I could learn to like them or at least accept them, but to no avail.
I ended up going in to see Dr. Salzman for a consultation and to discuss my options. He suggested trying INSPIRAs which have only recently become available in the U.S. They have a “higher fill ratio” than others which means that the implant itself is filled-up more and, therefore, should not collapse as much. I held some of the samples and could really see the difference when comparing them to regular gel implants. The INSPIRAs still collapsed slightly, but FAR less than the others. Logically, I knew it had to be at least a little better than what I had been living with, so I went for it.
When I awoke from my surgery, I peeked and could immediately see a significant difference with the INSPIRAs! I was in a semi-reclined position and it was obvious that I had large, rounded breasts and upper-pole fullness. I was so happy! Little did I know that, once I got home, I would see many other great things the INSPIRAs have given me: softness (surprisingly even softer than the Memory Gels), no wrinkles, cleavage (the deep valley between my breasts is gone), and a nice slope from my chest wall, despite having very little breast tissue. Frankly, I would’ve been perfectly happy to have large, rounded breasts with upper pole fullness like with my overfilled salines. I am thrilled that I now have all those and more!
After over 10 years with round, moderate profile, submuscular, overfilled saline implants (and some long-standing capsular contracture on the right), I thought it was a good time to go ahead and switch out my implants, but this time to gels. I decided on round, high profile Mentor Memory Gels placed under the muscle. I truly went into the surgery with reasonable expectations. I knew that my breasts were far from perfect and wasn’t even going for “better.” I just wanted to retain some of those things I liked about my overfilled salines – specifically the size, roundness, and upper pole fullness.
Unfortunately, upon waking from surgery, it was obvious that the Memory Gels did not give me the look I wanted for my body. I no longer had what I liked about my previous breasts and, to make matters worse, had new problems I never anticipated. Sure, they were softer and my surgeon had corrected the capsular contracture, but the implants themselves offered none of the things I cared about. Anytime I was upright, they collapsed, revealing my totally flat chest wall and then abrupt, very large torpedo-shaped breasts. Thanks to the inescapable force of gravity on planet Earth, no amount of shortening bra-straps or trying different bras to push up the implants could change this - they'd just collapse. I totally regretted not leaving well-enough alone and wished I had my not-so-perfect overfilled salines back. I gave it some time to see if I could learn to like them or at least accept them, but to no avail.
I ended up going in to see Dr. Salzman for a consultation and to discuss my options. He suggested trying INSPIRAs which have only recently become available in the U.S. They have a “higher fill ratio” than others which means that the implant itself is filled-up more and, therefore, should not collapse as much. I held some of the samples and could really see the difference when comparing them to regular gel implants. The INSPIRAs still collapsed slightly, but FAR less than the others. Logically, I knew it had to be at least a little better than what I had been living with, so I went for it.
When I awoke from my surgery, I peeked and could immediately see a significant difference with the INSPIRAs! I was in a semi-reclined position and it was obvious that I had large, rounded breasts and upper-pole fullness. I was so happy! Little did I know that, once I got home, I would see many other great things the INSPIRAs have given me: softness (surprisingly even softer than the Memory Gels), no wrinkles, cleavage (the deep valley between my breasts is gone), and a nice slope from my chest wall, despite having very little breast tissue. Frankly, I would’ve been perfectly happy to have large, rounded breasts with upper pole fullness like with my overfilled salines. I am thrilled that I now have all those and more!
