Are 3D Printed Breast Implants the Future of Augmentation?

Are 3D Printed Breast Implants the Future of Augmentation?

Updated for November 2018.

By now, many people have heard of 3D printing and what it entails. This technology has enabled some amazing things to happen to and for people from all walks of life, but what happens when the conversation turns to breast enhancement?

Is this new technology going to transform how we think about breast implants, and even the future of aesthetic medicine?

What Are 3D Printed Breast Implants?

The concept of 3D printing of breast implants envisions personalized printing using the patient’s own cells. Essentially, the printing process would allow for a very personalized fit to each individual’s needs, increased options for the patient, and longer lasting results than with more traditional breast augmentation methods.

[pullquote]3-D printed breast implants could revolutionize the breast implant industry with natural, fully customizable implants.[/pullquote]

As 3D printing impacts the medical field in a variety of ways, it’s interesting to consider the possibilities in the plastic surgery field. Cosmetic medicine has been one of the most innovative fields, and competition to offer easier treatments and longer lasting results is fierce. I suspect that plastic surgeons will remain open and curious about technologies like this.

Using 3D printed breast implants could potentially be a huge advancement in aesthetic medicine, and could provide both patients and surgeons with huge advantages.

The Verdict

This technology is still relatively new, so it will be interesting to see how it unfolds as time goes on. Like all innovations that could improve outcomes for my patients, I will keep my eye on this to see how it develops. Will 3D printing really impact aesthetic medicine, and how? Only time will tell.