The Year of the Implant

If, like so many others, you have made up your mind that 2012 will be the year that you undergo breast augmentation, then the question you are probably juggling is, saline or silicone?

Saline of course is salt water, and in the case of breast implants, it is a sterile solution of salt water enclosed in a silicone shell.  The shell for the silicone implant is virtually the same, but instead of saline, it is filled with a gel, also made from silicone.  Silicone is a synthetic compound that is used in a great many modern-day products, including soaps, chewing gum, antiperspirants, contact lenses and baby bottle nipples…to name just a very few.

Silicone implants have traveled a bit of a rocky road, but if you have heard recent rumors about a rash of implant ruptures, it’s important that you understand that they have taken place primarily in some European countries, where faulty implant production was limited to a particular manufacturer.  In fact, silicone implants have paid their dues.  Since they first began to be used in the U.S. in the 1960s, they have undergone nonstop refinement, for purposes of fine tuning the technology, as well as improving safety measures.

That does not mean that there are never instances of leakage.  Although rare, both saline and silicone implants can leak as a result of damage during implantation or trauma to the chest area.  Or they can simply wear out over time.  But newer implants pose less of a threat than ever before, and some implants even have a double shell, to further ensure safety.  Leakage in a saline implant will eventually result in a change in the size and shape of the breast.  The saline itself is absorbed by the body and does not cause any health risks.  By virtue of its viscous nature, leaking silicone is less likely to escape from the shell or at least from the pocket created for its placement.  Because a silicone leak can be difficult to determine, many women opt to have periodical MRI or ultrasound screenings.  But even if some silicone does escape, there are no long term health problems associated with such an event—though there can be some discomfort.  In both cases, new implants can be inserted in the same surgery in which the old ones are removed.  But again, ruptures and leaks are rare.

Saline and silicone-filled implants are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for both breast augmentation and breast reconstruction.  Except in cases where implants are being used for reconstructive surgery, the FDA has approved saline implants for women 18 and over and silicone implants for women 22 and over.  The age restrictions are to ensure that young women give their breast tissue a chance to reach maturity.

Both saline and silicone implants come in a great variety of sizes and even in different shapes.  You will hear some women say that they prefer silicone implants because they feel and act like real breast tissue (which is to say they have the spring of a natural breast.)  Others like the fact that the silicone implant is already filled when it is inserted, whereas the saline implant generally gets filled with saline solution during the augmentation procedure.  The women who prefer saline point out that saline quantity can be adjusted over time; it can be expanded as the skin around the new implant stretches to accommodate it; or it can be reduced for women who don’t like the firmer feel of the saline implant.  However, a highly experienced surgeon will be able to fill saline implants in such a way that the most natural consistency possible is afforded to the patient.  Also, in many instances implants can be placed behind the chest muscle, so that real breast tissue is at the forefront and springiness is not an issue.  The saline implant often requires a smaller incision, though a skilled physician will be able to manipulate even a pre-filled saline implant or silicone implant in such a way as to fit it into the smallest incision possible.  The secret, as always, comes down to finding the best possible plastic surgeons for the job.

One thing to know is that drooping or sagging breasts are not corrected by implants.  In fact, increasing breast volume can make drooping or sagging worse.  If you are interested in increasing volume as well as correcting slump, you will want to combine a breast lift with augmentation.

Millions of women worldwide have undergone breast augmentation for a variety of reasons over the years.  Some want to enhance their proportions.  Others want their outer characteristics to better reflect who they know themselves to be on the inside.  Others want to seize the opportunity to set back the clock.  The psychological value of breast augmentation cannot be underestimated.  If it’s right for you, you are not alone, and this is the year to do it.