Breast surgery is the most popular type of plastic surgery in the world. Every year, more than 3 million women undergo breast contouring procedures. More than half opt for breast augmentation, and the vast majority choose silicone implants. They come in a wide variety of types and shapes, but the manufacturing technology has changed very little over the past 50 years. Until now.

There is no such thing as a perfect implant. First of all, they do not last forever. Second, the larger the implants, the more they weigh, and the faster they sag under the force of gravity. “However, technology is advancing, and today we can offer women a truly unique solution,” says Dr. Saulius Vikšraitis, an expert in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the SV Plastic Surgery Center.

An Easier Life

Three years ago, a new generation of B-Lite implants hit the market; they are 30 percent lighter than traditional ones. What does this mean for plastic and reconstructive surgery?

“If, for example, a woman wants to increase her breast size to a D cup, with traditional implants, one breast would weigh about 500 g, and both would add up to a full kilogram. This can start to cause certain problems: the center of gravity shifts, it becomes harder to exercise, the back may ache, the bra may feel too tight, and so on. The more they weigh, the faster they sag and lose their shape,” explains Dr. S. Vikšraitis.

Quite a few problems also arise for petite, lightweight women—or following reconstructive surgery after breast cancer. To increase breast size to at least a B cup, the additional weight from traditional implants can be quite significant.

Two brothers from Israel set out to solve this problem: one is a plastic surgeon, the other a biomedical engineer. In developing this new generation of implants, they utilized technologies used in the space industry to achieve maximum lightness when launching spacecraft from the Earth’s surface.

The Latest Scientific Discovery

“The innovation behind B-Lite implants lies in the hollow microspheres; when added to the cross-linked silicone gel, they reduce its density, resulting in implants that weigh up to 30 percent less,” explains Dr. S. Vikšraitis. “Meanwhile, all other parameters remain unchanged and are even better than those of conventional implants.”

According to the medical expert, with these new-generation implants, it is easier to achieve the desired breast shape and size, resulting in full breasts that feel extremely natural to the touch. Lighter implants place less stress on soft tissues, which can otherwise cause them to lose elasticity and lead to discomfort. This allows the desired breast shape to be maintained for longer.

“These implants ensure a smoother recovery after surgery; they are firmer and very durable—designed to last a lifetime. The manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty against rupture and a ten-year warranty against capsular contracture,” the medical expert lists the advantages, adding that women with lighter implants can lead a much more active lifestyle.

Are they really more expensive?

According to Dr. Saulius Vikšraitis’s experience, about 10 percent of women choose lighter implants. For one thing, they are still not very well known; for another, they are twice as expensive as traditional ones. 

The cost of breast augmentation with standard silicone implants ranges globally from 3,000 to 6,000 euros on average. B-Lite implants add about 1,000 euros to the cost of this procedure.

“Considering all the benefits, these implants aren’t expensive. They’re more durable, have a longer lifespan, and carry a lower risk of breast sagging that would require additional surgery. One should also consider their impact on well-being—lighter implants, even those with a larger volume, do not strain the spine and therefore do not cause discomfort or pain,” says Dr. S. Vikšraitis. “I recommend them to my patients because they are among the most advanced; they represent the latest scientific innovation.”

B-Lite implants come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The latest innovation, presented in early June at the international aesthetic medicine congress “Beauty through Science” held in Sweden, is an exceptionally smooth implant surface. 

“The smoother the implant surface, the less it irritates the surrounding tissues. That is why most implant manufacturers are switching from rough, macrotextured surfaces to microtextured surfaces that are several times smoother. The manufacturers of B-Lite implants are no exception,” says Dr. S. Vikšraitis.