Saline vs. Silicone Breast Implants
The decision to have breast implants and a breast augmentation surgery is a very important one. You should not enter into any type of cosmetic surgery lightly. There are pros and cons of each type of implant that could be used during your procedure, and you will have to make the decision between saline vs. silicone breast implants.
Some doctors feel as though silicone implants have a more natural look that cannot be duplicated with saline. However, there are some issues with silicone implants that you should consider as well. Ruptures in silicone implants are more difficult to detect and when it is detected, it is more difficult to repair. Saline implants are less likely to rupture and when they do, the doctor may find it easier to repair them without removing the implant.
Saline Implants
The saline implant that the doctor will use has a shell made of silicone rubber. It is inflated to the correct size with a saline solution. There is also a valve on the implant that the surgeon can seal during the surgery.
When you choose a saline implant, there are a couple of different choices. You can choose a fixed volume implant that contains the total amount of saline at the time of implantation. The other type that you can choose is called an adjustable volume implant. This is not filled to the full capacity and allows the doctor to readjust the volume later.
Saline implants are FDA approved for use in the cosmetic procedure.
Silicone Implants
Silicone implants also have a silicone rubber shell that is the same as saline implants, however there are some differences. The shell is filled with a fixed volume of silicone gel. The implant will have a patch on the implant that covers the port.
There is a wide degree of variation in the silicone implants that you can have implanted. There are differences in the outer shell that can be smooth or textured, the shape and the volume of the implant can vary as well. These implants are not adjustable after surgery, so it is important that you choose the right silicone implant before your surgery.
There has been some controversy surrounding the use of silicone breast implants. During the early part of the nineties, there were reports that silicone breast implants were responsible for health problems in women who had the implant surgery. However, the implants have been researched and there is no evidence that the silicone breast implants ever caused any health issues in these women. While the implants were banned for a time, there has never been any problem with the silicone implants that were used in the past.
Today, silicone implants have been FDA approved once again and during the time that they were off the market, they underwent a significant design change. Today’s silicone implants are textured to avoid movement and slipping after implantation.
Discuss any concerns and issues that you have with your doctor on the use of silicone gel breast implants. The doctor will provide you with more information on their safety for breast augmentation surgery.
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