Breast augmentation has come a long way, with new options opening up possibilities for both breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery. If you’re curious about the latest choices or thinking about making a change, understanding implant options is key. Women now ask about everything from breast preservation surgery to the larger-than-ever MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants from Mentor. These exciting updates have raised both hopes and questions, especially about size, safety, and long-term health.
Let’s break down what’s new in the world of MENTOR MemoryGel Breast Implants, how it affects you, and what you should know before taking your next step.
Contents
- 1 Two Extremes in Breast Surgery: Preservation vs. Super-Sized Implants
- 2 Introducing Mentor MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants
- 3 Saline vs. Silicone Gel Implants: How Size Changes the Game
- 4 The Cost: What to Expect With MemoryGel Enhance Implants
- 5 Safety and Suitability: Consulting With a Plastic Surgeon
- 6 What About Implants for Life?
- 7 Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Path for You
Two Extremes in Breast Surgery: Preservation vs. Super-Sized Implants
Women seeking breast surgery usually fall into two groups. On one hand, you have those exploring breast preservation surgery, which are procedures that aim to keep natural breast tissue as much as possible. On the other hand, there’s a growing interest in very large MemoryShape Breast Implants and the new MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants.
Here’s a quick rundown of these two extremes:
- Breast Preservation Surgery: Maintains natural tissue with minimal or no implant use
- Large Enhancing Implants: Uses advanced silicone gel or saline-filled implants for dramatic increases in size
Both have unique benefits. Past limitations made it tough for women to get a very full look with silicone or gel implants, but now that’s changed.
Introducing Mentor MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants
Mentor’s MemoryGel Enhance Implants have sparked plenty of buzz, and for good reason. For years, the biggest gel or gummy bear breast implant you could get in the United States topped out at 800 cc. That was the cap, no matter how much fullness you wanted. Now, for the first time, surgeons can offer MENTOR breast implants with much more volume, without giving up the softness of silicone.
What Makes MemoryGel Enhance Implants Different
- First FDA-cleared silicone gel implants over 800 cc in the U.S.
- Available sizes: From 930 cc all the way up to more than 1,400 cc
- Primary Purpose: Invented for breast reconstruction in women needing significant volume after mastectomy or tissue loss
- New Cosmetic Uses: Crossing into the world of breast augmentation for patients who want a much fuller appearance
You might hear people refer to them as the first “mega-volume” gel breast implants available in this country. The material is the same safe, cohesive silicone that Mentor is known for. Unlike overfilled saline versions, MemoryGel Enhance Implants offer softness and a more natural feel in even the largest sizes.
The 800 cc Barrier: Why It Matters
Until recently, the standard gel-filled breast implant couldn’t get you past 800 cc in the United States, even if you wanted more. Patients wanting “very large” results either had to:
- Choose saline-filled implants and overfill them, sometimes to uncomfortable levels
- Accept a firmer feel and sometimes more visible rippling
With MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants, women can now choose MENTOR breast implants that go above and beyond this old limit. This change matters because gel implants tend to feel softer and look more like natural breast tissue, even at larger sizes.
Who Are the Right Candidates for MemoryGel Enhance Implants?
While the idea of a super-full look is tempting, these new options aren’t for everyone. Surgeons recommend them mostly for patients who already have implants and want to “size up” safely. Jumping straight from an A-cup with no implant to a 1,400 cc MemoryGel Enhance is not safe and could cause serious problems.
Ideal candidates for MemoryGel Enhance Implants:
- Patients with current implants who want more fullness
- Women seeking breast reconstruction who need a large volume
- Individuals with suitable chest width and tissue coverage for larger sizes
- Those willing to make changes in gradual, stair-step increases, not all at once
It’s important to talk to your plastic surgeon about your goals and physical limits. Safety—especially with large implants—should always come first.
Saline vs. Silicone Gel Implants: How Size Changes the Game
Choosing between MENTOR Saline-filled Implants and MemoryGel Enhance Gel Implants involves more than just the final size. The inner filling, feel, and long-term results can be quite different as the size increases.
What Happens When Saline Implants Are Overfilled?
In the past, women seeking large breast volume often had to use saline implants and overfill them. This means putting more salt water into the implant than its official rating, sometimes going well above 800 cc. While this did create bigger breasts, it also came with downsides.
Picture a water balloon that’s been stretched way past full. Here’s what patients experience:
- Implants get much firmer to the touch
- The breast can look and feel unnaturally tight
- Too much overfilling may cause more visible “rippling” on the sides of the breast
Plastic surgeons sometimes overfill saline implants slightly to help avoid very visible rippling. But there’s a limit before comfort, movement, and natural feel all suffer.
Saline-filled implants also have other things to consider:
| Overfilled Saline Implants | Silicone Gel Implants (MemoryGel Enhance) | |
| Softness | Can become too firm and rigid | Remain soft and natural |
| Rippling Risk | Decreased with some overfilling | Minimal with proper gel fill |
| Look | Often less natural in larger sizes | More natural in all sizes |
| Feel | Like a tight water balloon | Like real breast tissue |
Advantages of Large MemoryGel Enhance Implants
MemoryGel Enhance Gel Implants are designed to solve the issues of big saline implants. Here’s what patients prefer:
- Consistent softness regardless of size
- Lower risk of rippling or visible folds, even at high volumes
- Closer match to the feel of natural breast tissue
- Less need for “overfilling” tricks used in saline implants
- More choices in size to let patients and surgeons find the right fit
Benefits of Mentor MemoryGel Enhance over saline for large implants:
- Softer and more natural feel
- Wide range of sizes for personalized results
- Reduced risk of complications related to overfilling and firmness
- Better shape retention, even after time
For those who want maximum volume without giving up comfort or a pleasing look, these gel implants are a real improvement.
The Cost: What to Expect With MemoryGel Enhance Implants
Superior results sometimes cost more. Mentor MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants come with a premium price tag due to their advanced design and limited availability. For many women, the investment pays off in better results and satisfaction. For others, price might encourage them to consider more common saline-filled or standard gel implants.
Keep in mind, bigger implants can also mean additional health and maintenance costs over the years. Always consider your budget when making your decision.
Talk to your plastic surgeon about your price range and explore possible payment plans or financing options. Some clinics have programs for patients seeking reconstruction after breast cancer as well.
Safety and Suitability: Consulting With a Plastic Surgeon
If you love the idea of a fuller chest or are considering an upgrade, it’s tempting to go big right away. But safety comes before size in breast implant surgery. Even though MENTOR breast implants are approved and have a strong safety record, the bigger the implant, the greater the pressure on your tissues.
Plastic surgeons almost always use a stair-step method for going larger—that means increasing size gradually over multiple surgeries, not in one huge leap. Your skin, breast tissue, and the underlying muscles need time to adapt.
Key Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
- Am I a good candidate for larger Mentor MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants?
- What’s the safest size for my body and chest width?
- How many procedures will I need if I want a major size increase?
- Can you explain the risks of capsular contracture, rupture, or implant removal?
- Are there any concerns about MRI compatibility, silent rupture, or needing MRI screenings for early detection of issues?
- What are the long-term risks, including BIA-ALCL (a rare lymphoma), complication risk over time, and possible need for reoperation?
- Can I see before and after photos of patients with similar builds and large MemoryGel Enhance Implants?
- Do I need a tissue expander like the ARTOURA or CONTOUR PROFILE, especially after reconstruction?
- Are there differences between implant types, such as MENTOR MemoryShape Implants, Saline-filled Breast Implants, or MemoryGel Enhance Implants, for my situation?
Having this discussion keeps you informed and in control of your choices.
What About Implants for Life?
Even the best implants aren’t lifetime devices. Over time, the risks of rupture, capsular contracture, or other complications increase. That’s why you’ll need follow-up visits, and in some cases, implant removal or replacement later on.
Mentor’s MemoryGel, MemoryShape, and Saline-filled options have strong safety data, but nothing lasts forever. Be prepared for regular check-ups and the potential of future surgery. MRI screenings may be needed to catch a “silent rupture”—a break in the silicone shell that doesn’t show any outside changes.
Always follow your surgeon’s instructions, read the Instructions for Use (IFU), and talk about possible costs down the road.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Path for You
Mentor’s MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants have opened up new options for patients who crave greater fullness without the hard feel of overfilled saline. These implants are especially valuable for women who already have breast implants and want to size up safely, or those needing major volume after breast reconstruction.
Remember:
- Don’t jump to super-large implants right away: Your health and safety come first.
- Consult with your board-certified plastic surgeon: Every woman’s body and goals are different.
- Plan for the future: Understand that implants, no matter how advanced, aren’t forever.
- Stay informed: Ask questions about MRI compatibility, rupture risk, BIA-ALCL, and your long-term plan.
If you’re interested in MENTOR MemoryGel Breast Implants, MENTOR breast implants, MemoryShape Breast Implants, MemoryGel Enhance Breast Implants, or any of Mentor’s saline or gel-filled choices, a good conversation with your surgeon is the best first step. Bring your dreams, your questions, and your concerns—together, you can find the solution that’s just right for you.
Thinking about a change? Take your time, study your options, and choose what makes you feel best. Your journey starts with making informed, confident decisions.