For many years there seemed no question saline implants were safer than silicone implants for breast augmentation surgery. Today however, researchers have worked to develop safe silicone implants that many feel work as well if not better than saline implants.
If you plan to enhance your breasts by having surgery, one decision you will have to make is whether to use silicone or saline implants. Keep in mind some doctors only perform one or the other. This article will help you decide what type of implant you may prefer.
Silicone Implants
For many years silicone implants were the only implants used for breast surgery. Questions about the safety of silicone implants arose however, during the 1990s, when several lawsuits sprung up against the people making silicone implants.
The FDA decided to remove these implants from the market until more research revealed whether silicone implants were safe. Today the FDA is now allowing doctors to use silicone implants again, having determined silicone implants of today are much safer than the ones used in the past.
There are some limitations still imposed by the FDA. For example, only women over age 22 can select silicone breast implants. Younger women must use saline implants.
Silicone implants are often preferred because according to many, they provide a more natural feel and appearance. Newer gel filled implants typically do not ripple, and doctors can place them in front of the pectoral muscle, partially behind or fully behind the pectoral muscle.
Worries about the connection of silicone to autoimmune and other diseases are greatly reduced given recent studies that suggest little if any link exists between silicone implants and these disorders. Remember, it is up to you to research and decide which implants are beast for you.
Saline Implants for Breast Augmentation Surgery
Saline implants have existed for some time and are often considered safe. One key benefit of saline implants is the salt solution used to fill them is relatively harmless. If an implant ruptures accidentally, one risk of surgery, the saline solution will dissolve within the body.
There are however, some disadvantages. Many people feel saline implants do not produce as lifelike an appearance as silicone implants. Saline implants are also more likely to create unpleasant aesthetic effects in women with little breast tissue. For example, women with very small breasts or no breasts before surgery are more likely to experience rippling. This occurs when a woman moves or bends over. Sometimes the implant may appear to "ripple" like waves of water might.
Choosing the Right Implant
A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon can help you decide what type of implant is best given your body type, medical history and preferences. Many women who receive breast implants for reconstructive purposes do better with silicone than saline implants.
Make sure your doctor shows you examples of how the two types of implants look when placed in the body. If you do decide to choose silicone implants, you should make sure your doctor is well-versed in performing surgery on patients using silicone implants. Surgery for silicone breast implants is slightly different than surgery for saline implants, so it is important your doctor knows what he or she is doing. If you have any doubts, get a second opinion before deciding to go with one vs. the other.