Silicone vs. Saline Breast Implants
Indianapolis, Indiana
Breast augmentation is surgery to enlarge and improve the shape of the breasts. Women who are not fully satisfied with the current size and shape of their breasts often seek out breast enlargement surgery.
In 1992, silicone gel implant use was restricted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but in November 2006, silicone gel breast implants were approved for all women age 22 and over. It was originally thought that the silicone gel breast implants posed serious health risks such as autoimmune disorders and connective tissue disease, but those concerns have not been supported in medical studies of the silicone implant.
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Saline Breast Implant
Saline-filled breast implants have been the more common implant used for many years. Saline-filled implants are constructed of a tough, semi-permeable silicone elastomer shell with a single valve on the front (anterior) surface of the implant. The saline-filled implants come in smooth and textured surface and round or contoured shapes. Contoured shapes are also referred to as anatomical, teardrop, and biodimensional shapes.
Most saline breast implants are single lumen and are filled at the time of surgery. There are no prefilled saline implants with FDA approval at this time. Should these implants rupture, the body will absorb the harmless saline.
Ruptures in breast implants can happen, and although breast implants are made to be strong and stable, there are instances where they can break and the saline filler may leak and circulate throughout the body. If a rupture would occur, a saline breast would simply deflate, and the saline held within the breast implant would harmlessly absorb within the body.
This "safety feature" is just one of the many reasons why saline-filled implants have been the popular choice for so long. Saline breast implants are extremely versatile; they vary in terms of shell surface, volume, shell thickness, profile shape, and ability to expand. Saline-filled implants are certainly a popular choice to fix disproportion between breasts or to gain proportion within your body.
Silicone Breast Implant
Silicone gel implants' outer shell is similar to that of the saline-filled implant in that it is made of solid silicone material; however, silicone breast implants are filled with silicone gel, which is a semi-solid material. In silicone gel implants, the surface may be smooth or textured (multiple fine bumps on the surface of the implant). There is some evidence that textured implants have a lower incidence of scar formation around them, but since a textured implant adheres to the surrounding skin, there may be visible rippling (wrinkling) of the skin. A textured implant also requires a larger incision due to the increased difficulty of sliding the implants through the surgical opening.
The silicone gel implant is usually inserted through an incision in the crease under the breast or just above it. The incision may be 3-6cm in length. An incision at or above the fold is often hidden by the slight droop of the breast and not seen unless someone is looking up under the breast. Silicone breast implants can also be inserted through an incision in the armpit, but this is much more difficult and more difficult insertions may cause damage to the implants.
Silicone gel implants have been known to leak through the shell. Rupture of an implant may be related to the length of time it has been in the body. Rupture may also be caused by force or traumas, such as a blow to the chest or a jolt from a car accident. Additional surgery may be required to repair or remove a ruptured breast implant.
Deciding to have breast augmentation surgery is a serious matter and one that needs to be discussed thoroughly with Dr. Linderman. If you are considering breast implants and you live in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, please contact Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of Indiana today to schedule your initial consultation.
Dr. Linderman is proud to announce the Free consultation for all breast augmentations special!
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
of Indiana
12188-A North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46032
toll free: 1-800-678-9909
phone: 317-848-5400