If you’re considering a breast augmentation or even just starting your research, you’ve probably realized there is a lot more to implants than just “bigger or smaller.” Choosing the right breast implant is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the process, and it plays a major role in how natural your results look, how your breasts feel, and how they age over time.

At Integrated Aesthetics, Dr. Young Cho takes a personalized, anatomy-based approach to implant selection so that your results look balanced, proportional, and beautiful, not overdone. This guide will walk you through the key decisions involved in choosing breast implants, including saline vs. silicone, implant firmness, size, shape, and the leading brands we offer: Natrelle, Mentor, and Motiva.

Why Implant Choice Matters

Your implant isn’t just about volume; it determines:

Two patients can choose the same “cup size” and end up with completely different results based on implant type, dimensions, and firmness. That’s why implant selection is always customized during your consultation.

Saline vs. Silicone Implants 

One of the first choices you’ll make is between saline and silicone implants.

Saline Implants

Saline implants are filled with sterile saltwater after they are placed in the breast. They tend to feel firmer and can show more rippling in patients with less natural breast tissue. One benefit of saline is that if the implant ruptures, the breast deflates quickly, making it easy to detect.

Silicone Implants

Silicone implants are pre-filled with a cohesive silicone gel that closely mimics the feel of natural breast tissue. Because of this, silicone implants are by far the most popular choice today. They feel softer, move more naturally, and look more realistic, especially in patients who are slender or starting with smaller breasts.

A rupture in a silicone implant is often “silent”, meaning you won’t see sudden deflation, but modern implants are designed to keep the gel contained within the shell.

Understanding Implant Firmness & “Feel” 

Not all silicone implants feel the same. Modern implants come in different gel cohesiveness levels, which affect how soft or firm they feel and how the breast looks in different positions.

Softer Gel Implants

These create a soft, natural transition between the chest and the breast. When you’re upright, the implant gently settles downward, giving more fullness to the bottom of the breast, similar to how natural breast tissue behaves.

Medium-Firm Gel Implants

These maintain more shape while still feeling natural. They offer a balance of softness and upper-pole fullness.

Firmer Gel Implants

These hold their shape more strongly and maintain more fullness at the top of the breast, even when upright. This is often chosen by patients who want more visible cleavage or a more augmented look.

Breast Implant Brand Options at Integrated Aesthetics

We offer three of the most advanced implant brands available today:

Natrelle® (by Allergan)

Natrelle is one of the most widely used and trusted implant brands. They offer a wide range of silicone gel implants with different profiles, widths, and firmness levels, making it easier to customize your results. Natrelle implants are especially popular for patients who want a soft, natural look with proven long-term safety data.

Mentor®

Mentor implants are known for their consistency, safety, and durability. They offer both saline and silicone options with a range of profiles and sizes. Mentor implants are often chosen for patients who want reliable, time-tested results.

Motiva®

Motiva represents the next generation of breast implant technology. These implants are designed to move and feel more like natural breast tissue, with extremely soft gel and a smooth, adaptive surface. Motiva is ideal for patients who want the most natural look and feel possible with advanced technology.

Choosing the Right Implant Size 

This is where the process becomes truly personalized.

At your consultation, you won’t just pick a number; you’ll see it on your body. At Integrated Aesthetics, we use a sizing process that includes:

You’ll try different volumes until you find a range that feels right. Most patients naturally gravitate toward a narrow volume window where they feel confident but still balanced. Once that range is identified, detailed measurements are taken of your chest, breast width, and tissue to determine whether a wider or taller implant will best achieve the look you want.

Implant firmness then fine-tunes how much fullness and cleavage you’ll have.

Your Pre-Op Visit: What to Expect

Your pre-operative appointment is where everything comes together. During this visit, we review:

This ensures you feel confident, informed, and prepared for surgery.

Take the Next Step Toward Your Ideal Results 

Choosing the right breast implant is only part of the journey—choosing the right surgeon is what brings everything together. At Integrated Aesthetics, your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Young Cho is a personalized, in-depth experience designed to create results that look natural, balanced, and tailored to your body.

Dr. Cho will evaluate your anatomy, walk you through implant options from Natrelle, Mentor, and Motiva, and help you confidently choose the size, shape, and feel that best match your goals.

Schedule your breast augmentation consultation with Dr. Young Cho at Integrated Aesthetics today and start your journey with expert guidance, precision, and care.

When it comes to filler treatments, most patients think about smoothing lines or adding volume. However, truly natural, balanced results come from understanding why and how the face changes over time. That’s where MD Codes® comes in. MD Codes is an advanced, anatomy-based injection system that helps injectors treat the underlying causes of aging rather than just the surface concerns. As our team at Integrated Aesthetics begins incorporating this method into your injectable treatments, you’ll experience a more strategic, precise, and results-driven approach designed to enhance overall facial harmony and elevate your outcome. 

What Are MD Codes®? 

Developed by world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Mauricio de Maio, MD Codes® is a highly structured, evidence-based approach to facial injectables. Instead of simply “filling lines,” the MD Codes system breaks the face into precise, anatomically validated injection points, each with a defined purpose, depth, and expected outcome. 

MD Codes help injectors address: 

This method moves treatments from “chasing wrinkles” to strategically restoring facial support and creating results patients truly love. 

Why MD Codes Matter for Patients 

1. Natural, More Predictable Results 

MD Codes guide injectors to treat foundational areas first by creating lift, structure, and balance before refining smaller details.

This leads to: 

2. Safer, Anatomy-Based Techniques 

Each injection point in the MD Codes system aligns with: 

Patients get the benefit of a safer, more controlled approach, and a team trained to prioritize precision. 

3. Treating the Real Cause, Not Just the Symptom 

For example, under-eye hollowing may actually stem from volume loss in the cheeks.
MD Codes gives injectors a map to treat the origin of the issue, not just the visible line. This ultimately leads to longer-lasting, more impactful rejuvenation. 

4. Emotionally Focused Outcomes 

One of the strengths of MD Codes is its alignment with emotional goals.

Common patient goals include: 

MD Codes help achieve these outcomes strategically and intentionally

Why Practices (Like Ours) Choose to Implement MD Codes 

Adopting MD Codes is a major investment in training and technique, but it’s also one of the most powerful ways a practice can enhance patient results and safety. 

Here’s why Integrated Aesthetics is implementing MD Codes across our injectable services: 

1. Elevated Precision and Consistency 

MD Codes create a shared language and process across providers. 

Patients benefit from: 

This is especially important in a practice with multiple advanced injectors. 

2. A Stronger, More Comprehensive Treatment Experience 

MD Codes allow for full-face treatment planning that considers structure, symmetry, and long-term aesthetic goals, not just isolated concerns.

This creates: 

3. Superior Consultation & Patient Education 

MD Codes make our consultations clearer, more strategic, and more collaborative, so patients understand: 

This improves trust and increases treatment success. 

4. Enhanced Safety & Clinical Excellence 

Because MD Codes are rooted in anatomy and evidence, they: 

This reflects our commitment to delivering the safest and most advanced injectable techniques available. 

5. Better Patient Satisfaction & Retention 

Natural, emotionally aligned results build trust, and trust keeps patients continuing treatment with the same provider. 

MD Codes support: 

What Patients Can Expect at Integrated Aesthetics 

As our injectors begin incorporating MD Codes, your treatment will become: 

Expect an elevated consultation, a clearer plan, and outcomes aligned with your aesthetic and emotional goals. 

The Power of MD Codes® 

MD Codes® represents the future of injectable artistry and safety, and we’re proud to bring this advanced approach to our patients at Integrated Aesthetics. 

This system helps us deliver natural, predictable, emotionally powerful results while raising the bar for safety, precision, and patient care. Ready to experience the difference? Schedule your injectable consultation today. 

No matter how dedicated you are to your diet and fitness routine, stubborn pockets of fat or loose skin can sometimes hold you back from the body you’ve worked so hard to achieve. That’s where body contouring comes in—a range of treatments designed to sculpt, tighten, and tone your figure.

But with so many options available, how do you know which approach is right for you? Should you consider a non-surgical treatment with minimal downtime, or is a surgical procedure necessary for more dramatic results? Let’s break it down.

Decoding Body Contouring Options 

Non-surgical body contouring includes minimally invasive treatments that target fat, tighten skin, and even tone muscles without the need for incisions or anesthesia. Popular examples include CoolSculpting, Morpheus8, and Emsculpt or Emsculpt Neo

Benefits: 

Limitations: 

Surgical Body Contouring 

Surgical procedures physically remove fat or excess skin to create a more dramatic transformation. Options include liposuction, tummy tucks, body lifts, arm lifts, and thigh lifts.

Benefits: 

Considerations: 

Did you know? Surgical results are often more dramatic, but non-surgical options are ideal for subtle, targeted refinement.

Are You a Candidate for Non-Surgical Treatments?

Non-surgical body contouring is best suited for individuals who are:

Common treatment areas include the abdomen, flanks, arms, thighs, and double chin. Patients should also be committed to maintaining their results through a balanced diet, regular exercise, and follow-up treatments.

Limitations:

Pro tip: Many patients opt for non-surgical contouring after reaching a plateau in their fitness journey—it’s a way to refine their shape without surgery.

Are You a Candidate for Surgical Procedures?

Surgical body contouring is ideal for individuals who:

Common areas treated surgically include the abdomen, arms, thighs, back, and buttocks. While the results are more dramatic, surgical procedures require medical clearance, a longer recovery period, and a tolerance for scarring and anesthesia.

Surgical transformation can feel like hitting the reset button, which is perfect for those ready for a bigger change.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself 

Before deciding between non-surgical and surgical options, consider:

Taking time to answer these questions honestly will help guide your decision.

The Value of a Consultation at Integrated Aesthetics

At Integrated Aesthetics, we understand that every body is unique—and so is every treatment plan. During a personalized consultation, our expert providers, including Dr. Cho, evaluate your:

This allows us to recommend the approach that will deliver safe, realistic, and beautiful results, whether you’re considering non-surgical body contouring or a surgical procedure. Our team works closely with each patient to answer questions, manage expectations, and create a roadmap for their body transformation journey.

Why Choose Integrated Aesthetics

At Integrated Aesthetics, we believe your body contouring journey should be customized, precise, and effective. Our patients benefit from:

Whether you’re seeking subtle, targeted refinement or a more dramatic transformation, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Schedule a consultation today to explore your options and discover the treatment plan that aligns perfectly with your goals.

Shrink, Tighten, and Tone
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Join us for an exciting in-person event, Shrink, Tighten, and Tone - Powered by InMode, where we introduce the latest advancements in aesthetic treatments and cutting-edge technology coming to our practice that are designed to help you look and feel your best!

Thursday, October 17, 2024
‘Lunch and Learn’ (12PM -1PM) and Happy Hour (4-7PM)

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