May 17th, 2025
Dr. Mulholland, Md
Breast augmentation is one of the top five elective plastic surgery procedures. A breast augmentation can completely change the appearance of a woman’s body and make them appear more youthful and vibrant while boosting their confidence. But besides these factors, why do women get breast implants?
With modern breast augmentation methods more accessible than ever before, it’s never been a better time to get breast implants and augmentation.
In this article, we look at some of the most common reasons and answer the question, “Why do women get breast implants?”
Size
The most common reason why women get breast implants is due to unhappiness with the size of their breasts. Large breasts are nearly universally considered attractive and a sign of youth, vitality, femininity, and beauty.
It is important to keep in mind that breast size alone is not the only factor that goes into breast augmentation, and keeping realistic expectations in mind when seeking consultation is important.
Shape
The shape is another popular reason why women get breast implants. Breasts come in many shapes, with some flatter, others rounder, and others more elongated. Aging breasts also change over time as well. Implants come in several shapes as well, from the classic perfect circle to a more shapely teardrop-style implant.
Symmetry
Symmetry is probably the second biggest reason why women get breast implants. While it is perfectly natural for one breast to be larger, smaller, or a different shape than the opposite breast, many women seek the look of perfect symmetry. As breast implants are artificially made and manually inserted, the symmetry between the breasts can be created.
Self Confidence
A woman’s confidence levels play a large part in deciding to get cosmetic plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation. Women may be self-conscious of their breasts, whether it be for size, shape, symmetry, or otherwise, and feel that their breasts make them feel unattractive.
Oftentimes, those who have undergone breast augmentation report newfound confidence and are happier, more social, and more comfortable in their skin.
Correct Problems
While it is very rare that a patient is unhappy with their breast augmentation, the situation does occur. Revision breast augmentation can be undergone to correct any unhappiness with a previous breast augmentation. In some cases, an implant may have shifted slightly or become asymmetrical. Others may not like how unnatural their results look or simply desire a different-sized implant, whether larger or smaller.
Weight Fluctuation
When a person loses a significant amount of weight, some of the fat loss can be in the chest, leading a woman’s breasts to appear smaller and saggy and to loose skin. Using a combination of breast implants and breast lift, the breasts can be lifted and made perkier to restore them to a more optimal and desired appearance.
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Similar to weight fluctuation, pregnancy and childbirth can alter the shape and size of a woman’s breasts. This is why breast implants are often a part of a combination of surgical procedures known as a mommy makeover. In a mommy makeover, procedures such as breast implants, breast lifts, tummy tucks, liposuction, laser hair removal, and more are performed at once, creating a total transformation for the patient and restoring their bodies to their former (or even improved) state.
When it comes to breast augmentation vs. breast lift, essentially, augmentation changes the underlying tissues of the breast, while a lift corrects the appearance on the outside.
Restore Breasts after a Mastectomy
A mastectomy can be a very sensitive situation to deal with among the women who have had the procedure, which removes the breasts as part of breast cancer therapy. A breast augmentation can be performed to restore a woman’s breasts following a mastectomy, giving her her confidence back. A-list actor Angelina Jolie famously spoke out about her double-mastectomy and breast augmentation following the procedure.
Breast Implant Types
Our clinic offers a wide variety of Toronto breast implants in a range of sizes, shapes, and materials, including the following.
Saline Breast Implants
The most common and traditional form of breast implant is the saline breast implant. Saline implants have been around for decades and are more advanced than ever. Saline implants have the benefit of being inserted into the body as empty casings and then filled to their desired size after insertion. The benefit of this form of surgical insertion is that the empty casing is smaller, leading to minimal scarring and recovery following the procedure.
Saline implants are also a great option, as their contents are a sterile saline solution that can be safely absorbed by the body in the rare event of a rupture. The primary drawback of getting saline implants, however, is that their contents do not feel as realistic as natural breast tissue, and their consistency is not the same either. These inconsistencies can cause the breast implants to be more noticeable when feeling them, as well as when moving during physical activities such as bending and jumping (creating a rippling effect under the skin.)
Silicone Breast Implants (Gummy Bear)
Silicone breast implants are a more modern and advanced style of breast implant, created to have a more authentic weight and feel to them than their saline counterparts. Because the cohesive silicone gel in the implant is firmer, it does not move as much during activities and feels almost exactly like natural tissue under the skin.
However, there are a few drawbacks to this implant style. First of all, the implant must be inserted intact, resulting in a slightly more extensive procedure than with saline implants. Secondly, in the rare event of a rupture, the silicone filling of the implant cannot be safely absorbed by the body and thus requires surgical removal. It is advised that patients with silicone breast implants seek out an MRI every few years to ensure the structural integrity of their breast implants.
Fat Transfer
While implants are safer and well-made than ever before, there are those who would still prefer not to have implants for either personal reasons or medical ones, such as an allergy to silicone.
A fat transfer augmentation is a surgical procedure that utilizes liposuction to provide volume to a woman’s breasts. This procedure can be performed alone or in conjunction with implants to help them appear and feel more realistic, especially with saline implants, where the fat can hide any rippling.
During a fat transfer procedure, fat is removed from the previously discussed donor area on the patient and transferred into the breasts. This donor area can be anywhere on the body where fat is unwanted, such as the stomach, legs, and thighs. Sometimes fat may have to be taken from multiple areas of the body to achieve the ideal volume for the procedure.
Can Implants Be Removed
While it is rare for a patient to be unhappy with the results of breast augmentation, reversal of the procedure is possible. We generally ask that a patient wait almost a year following their surgery before removing their implants, so the area has had ample time to recover before undergoing another procedure.
In addition, it is recommended that breast implants be removed and replaced with new ones every 10-12 years to ensure their structural integrity and reduce the risk of any complications.
Book Your Breast Augmentation with Us Today
If you’re feeling self-conscious about your breasts for any of the above reasons, consider calling our clinic today and booking a consultation for plastic surgery in Toronto. Alternatively, you can book an appointment with us online directly through our website. Don’t stay feeling self-conscious about your breasts; contact us today!
Dr. Stephen Mulholland, Md
Dr. Stephen Mulholland has been practicing plastic surgery for over 20 years. He is one of Canada’s most renowned and best plastic surgeons in Toronto with his wealth of experience, artistry, and humbleness towards his patients.
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