Silicone gel implants now use a more cohesive gel and a more durable shell making them good alternatives to Saline implants for breast augmentation. Photo Credit: Video GrabJuly 02, 2009, (Sawf News) - Breast augmentation surgery typically uses ‘Breast implants’ to enhance the size of the breasts. A breast implant is a soft shell or a rubber sac that is filled with silicone gel or saline (salt-water). It is available in different sizes to accommodate different patient needs and surgeon preferences. The surface texture of the implant can be smooth or contoured.
Silicone Implants:
Silicone implants have a silicone rubber shell that is filled with a fixed amount of silicone gel. The shell is pre-filled and the surgeon just has to put it in place; there is no need to fill it as in case of Saline implants. Most silicone gel-filled implants are not adjustable and vary in shell surface (smooth/textured), shape, profile, volume, shell thickness, and number of shell lumens.
In the early 1990's it was reported that silicone breast implants were responsible for connective tissue diseases in some women and their use for cosmetic surgery was suspended in 1992.
However after rigorous evaluation, the Institute of Medicine concluded that there is "no definitive evidence linking breast implants to cancer, neurological diseases, neurological problems or other systemic diseases."
In 2006, the FDA lifted a moratorium on their use for women who are at least 22 years old, following advances in gel filled implants.
Silicone gel implants now use a more cohesive gel and a more durable shell. Cohesive gel implants, in use elsewhere in the world for 15 years, have yet to get a FDA nod in the US.
Advantages and Disadvantages of silicone gel implants are:
Silicone implants mimic the natural look more effectively as they have a texture more similar to the breast tissue. With cohesive implants - even if the shell were to rupture their content would not spill out. They remain whole without any divisions. They do not lose their volume as time goes by. They do not make 'liquid' sounds during physical activities.
Silicone implant ruptures are harder to detect. When silicone implants rupture, the breast often looks and feels the same because the silicone gel may leak into surrounding areas of the breast without a visible difference.
The size of silicone implants cannot be changed without actually changing the implant with an operation.
Silicone implants are very good for women who do not have a lot of soft tissue coverage," says Ben Lee, M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon of Englewood, Colorado, who specializes in breast augmentation. According to Dr. Lee, implants made with silicone have a more "natural-looking and natural-feeling quality."
Saline Implants:
There are two types of saline-filled implants: A fixed volume implant, which is filled with the entire volume of saline at implantation, and an adjustable volume implant, where the size of the implant can be altered depending on the aesthetic and physical needs of the patient.
As compared to silicone implants, saline implants can be inserted through four different ways -- the armpit, the belly button, under the breast, or the outside of the areola. Also, Doctors have to make smaller incisions as the shell is initially empty and filled once inside the patient. This helps the doctor to add or subtract the liquid as the need be.
Saline has a very good track record," says Dr. Lee, admitting that while it lacks a realistic feel to most women, there are still benefits to its placement.
Advantages and Disadvantages of saline breast implants are:
If they rupture, the salt water of the implants is simply absorbed by the body tissue of the patient in a completely natural way. These implants lose their volume in few hours and, since this change in volume is clearly visible, they can be replaced immediately.
Saline implants don’t offer as natural look as Silicone implants especially in small-breasted or reconstructive patients.
In all cases, patient safety and informed decision making should be primary considerations in selecting a particular type of implant, reports the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
As with any surgery these implants also carry risks like capsular contracture, infection, pain, and nerve damage. Implants, whether filled with saline or silicone, are not a lifetime device and may need to be replaced. So you should make a well researched and educated decision before opting for implants and the type of implants for breast augmentation.
More reading:
Non surgical breast enhancement – What you need to know
Breast Fit – Tips for finding a bra that really fits you!
Finding the best bra after breast surgery
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