Saline Filled Breast Implants - What is the Correct Choice for Me

There are many options in breast augmentation and there will never be one correct choice that is correct for every woman. By careful consideration of the options combined with a thorough examination a potential breast augmentation patient can be assured of making the right choices.

When it comes to breast augmentation, it is important to consider not only the various techniques but also have choices of materials used to construct the implant. The shell or outer envelope of a saline filled breast implants is composed of the rubber form of silicone. The filling material is saline in the same consistency as body fluids. The qualities of a satisfactory implant for breast augmentation, whether gel or saline filled are that the implant should remain soft and natural looking with minimal ability to feel the implant through the skin. An implant should only minimally interfere with a breast mammagram and be durable enough to withstand normal wear and tear.

For anyone woman trying to decide between a gel filled and saline filled implant there are many important things to consider such as:

• A saline filled implant can be inserted through a smaller incision, typically a gel filled implant requires a 5 – 6 cm incision while a saline filled implant needs only an incision length of 3 ½ cm.

• Neither a gel or saline filled implant is considered a permanent device. These are man made devices and some will eventually fail under normal use. When a saline filled implant leaks it only leaks saline. This saline is slowly absorbed by the body. There is no health risk with a rupture. For a woman who has health concerns with implants a saline filled implant is a viable alternative.

• The new styled gel filled implants, available since 1999, are filled with a cohesive gel. This gel acts like a solid but feels like a gel. A rupture of a gel filled implant may be very difficult to determine without the use of a MRI scan.

• There is always the possibility of a woman not being able to breast feed after any breast augmentation operation. Careful consideration should be made to the technique used and the location to maintain breast feeding as a possibility if this is important to the woman. There can be no guarantees as to the ability to breast feed after a breast augmentation. Many studies have shown that 7 – 10% of women who have never had a breast procedure cannot breast feed.

• Soft tissue coverage is very important. The more soft tissue over the implant the better the result when using both gel and saline filled implants. It is however of ultimate concern when using a saline filled implant. If the tissue, skin, fat and breast tissue, is thin then it is likely that a saline filled implant will be easily felt. This is particularly noticeable in the lower outer quadrant if the implant is placed only under the pectoralis major muscle. When an implant is placed under this muscle there is no muscle in the lower outer quadrant. This leaves a weak spot and the implant tends to migrate in this direction causing an implant drift. There are other factors involved including the shape of the existing breast, width of the breast bone and slope of the chest. In a woman that has a chest with a very angulated rib cage the implants will tend to drift laterally. One consideration is to place the implant under a second muscle, the serratus anterior. The addition of this muscle coverage will help make the implant less palpable laterally and act as a block slowing or potentially preventing this lateral displacement of the implant.

• There are no absolutes or guarantees in breast augmentation surgery. It is important to select a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and skilled in all techniques of breast augmentation. It is by reviewing the options that an individualized operative plan can be instituted.

• Mammograms are an important screening and diagnostic test for all women. During a mammogram a woman with implants will be instructed to perform a displacement of the implant to improve the coverage of the exam. Any woman interested in breast augmentation and over the age of 35 should consider a pre-operative mammogram.

A breast augmentation is a reliable operation that when performed correctly will meet all expectations. Be certain to discuss all of your concerns with your plastic surgeon. It is important to know what shapes you like and what shapes you do not like. During a thorough exam many aspects of your breasts will be evaluated including the base width, size, shape, location of the nipple and thickness of the existing breast tissue. It is only after these considerations will specific recommendations be made.

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Comments

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 at 5:49 AM, by Susane
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