Posted on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2005
NewBeauty.com

All About Implants

Content courtesy of NewBeauty
http://www.newbeauty.com/

There is one thing that all breast implants have in common. Whether they're used to enhance breast size and shape through breast augmentation in conjunction with a breast lift or to create the breast mound in breast reconstruction-they are hotly debated medical devices.

Breast implants that are approved by the FDA are biocompatible--they are made of materials that have been researched and deemed safe for placement inside the human body. Implants have a smooth or textured silicone shell and the shell shape may be round or contoured. The varying implant shapes and sizes available allow each woman seeking breast augmentation surgery to obtain optimal long-term results.

Inside Tip: If you are receiving breast implants, the brand and type of implant you receive should be defined. Following treatment, you should be given a serial number and a warranty card from the manufacturer for the implants placed. This is the only type of warranty (although limited) you will ever receive with any cosmetic procedure.

Cohesive Silicone

One newer type of silicone implant currently in FDA trials is filled with cohesive silicone, which is a more solid form of silicone and is therefore unlikely to migrate should the implant leak or rupture. Among other advantages, these also come in a greater variety of shapes that will match each patient's individual needs. In relation to possible risk, these form-stable cohesive gel devices, like any implants, could develop capsular contracture or other similar implant problems. In addition, these newer cohesive silicone implants are somewhat heavier and more dense than saline or other types of silicone implants. You may have heard them referred to as "gummy bear" implants, but don't be fooled by the novel name-unlike the candy that can be pulled and stretched, the form-stable cohesive gel implants maintain their shape once inside the body.

Saline Implants

Saline (sterile salt water) filled implants can be prefilled to a specific size or filled at the time of placement, which has the advantage of allowing smaller incisions to insert the implant and minor size adjustments during placement. If a saline-filled implant leaks or ruptures, it's readily noticeable because breast volume will diminish rapidly. The saline is completely absorbed by the body and naturally eliminated. Saline implants can feel firmer than natural breast tissue, particularly if they are filled to shell capacity.

Silicone Implants

Earlier this year, an FDA advisory rendered conditional approval for two types of silicone implants as an option for women seeking first-time breast augmentation. Formal approval of the FDA is still pending. Today's silicone implants vary significantly from the earlier, more controversial silicone-gel-filled implants that implant manufacturers voluntarily took off the market for augmentation in the early 1990s. The concern at that time was the possibility that leaking or migrating silicone gel contributed to autoimmune diseases. However, to date, not one major medical study among the hundreds that have been performed worldwide has concluded that there is a link between silicone- or saline-filled breast implants and any form of disease.

For a lifetime?

Breast implants are not lifetime devices: They have the potential to leak or rupture, and they do not change as a woman's body ages over time. There is no telling how long your implants will maintain their function and appearance, which is why it's imperative to maintain an ongoing professional relationship with your plastic surgeon. It is important to follow up with your doctor on the first anniversary of your implant placement, even if you have no concerns. Thereafter, you should have your breasts annually evaluated by your plastic surgeon or the doctor who performs your routine breast health exam and mammogram screenings. There are many options should your implants need to be replaced or if you choose to replace them.