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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – There are two types of breast implants currently available in the United States: silicone and saline. Silicone implants are filled with silicone gel, while saline implants are a silicone shell filled with saline. Silicone implants were temporarily banned in the United States over fears that they increased the risk for certain disorders. While silicone implants as well as saline have since been proven safe, there is still a great deal of confusion among consumers and many women still shy away from silicone.
Silicone Implants and Safety Concerns
Silicone implants were first used in 1962. In the early 1980s, their popularity surged, along with accounts from people who believed there was a link between ruptured silicone implants and an increased risk for immune disorders like arthritis and lupus. Some women claimed their symptoms went away once the implants were removed, and some even filed lawsuits.
In 1992, the FDA restricted the use of silicone implants except for women having breast reconstruction following mastectomy, and their safety was studied extensively. For 14 years, women had no choice but to use saline implants. In 2006, the FDA eventually determined that there was absolutely no connection between silicone implants and any disease, and the implants were once again made available to women undergoing breast augmentation.
Are Saline or Silicone Implants Safer?
Research conducted over decades shows that there is no significant difference in the safety of silicone and saline implants, although each does offer specific concerns and advantages.
Both implants pose a risk of rupture, which many be due to a fall, surgical mistake or some other instance. A saline implant rupture is very easy to notice, as the breast will change shape quickly as saline leaks. Many women feel more comfortable with saline because it is only harmless saltwater that the body absorbs.
A silicone implant rupture can be harder to notice, as the leaking silicone remains in the body. It is possible for this silicone to spread away from the breast into lymph nodes, although studies have not found a leak between leaked silicone and an increased risk for disease or harm. If the implant ruptures, a surgeon will need to remove it as well as any loose silicone in the body. The only way to detect a ruptured silicone implant is through an MRI, and the FDA recommends women with silicone implants receive an MRI every two years.
Aside from safety concerns, there are other differences between the two options. Most women and plastic surgeons feel that silicone implants produce a more natural appearance and feel by mimicking real breast tissue. Saline implants do not feel as realistic, and they are more likely to cause visible rippling along the sides of the breasts.
Saline implants are also filled after they are placed in the breast, which means a much smaller incision is required compared to saline implants, which come pre-filled. Saline implants may be adjusted in volume after surgery by removing or adding saline through a syringe. The only way to change the size of silicone implants is by surgically removing and replacing the implant.
Dr. David Holcomb is a facial plastic surgeon who is double board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. He practices in Sarasota at Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Holcomb has more than 22 years of experience as a plastic surgeon and specializes in a range of surgical and non-invasive procedures.
Dr. David Holcomb
Holcomb – Kreithen Plastic Surgery and MedSpa
1 S. School Ave, Ste 800
Sarasota, FL 34237
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