Is Breast Augmentation with Implants Safe? Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery solution acknowledged for its safety and effectiveness and is sought after by many women. Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery solution that is offered to enhance the breasts by adding more volume and contouring them. The procedure is acknowledged for its safety and effectiveness and is sought after by many women. Like any other surgery, it is important to find an experienced, trained and skilled plastic surgeon to perform this procedure. The plastic surgery center should also be a reliable one, preferably AAAASF accredited. FDA-approved Saline and Silicone Gel Implants Typically, two types of implants are used for augmenting the breasts – saline implants and silicone gel implants. These are FDA approved. The saline implants are filled with saline or sterilized salt water while the silicone implants are filled with silicone gel. Research done on both types of implants has shown no significant differences in the safety of silicone and saline implants. However, each type of implant does have its own pros and cons. Both saline and silicone implants may rupture. This is a possibility. Ruptures may be caused by a fall, surgical error and in very rare cases by the pressure exerted during a mammogram. With saline implants, rupture can be easily identified. This is because the breast would change shape over the days as the saline leaks out. In a saline implant, since only salt water is leaking out, it is easily absorbed into the body. However, with silicone implants ruptures can prove more risky. First of all, the rupture is not easily noticeable. If the implant breaks, the silicone gel may spread outside and stay in the body without being absorbed. Usually, your doctor would recommend removing the implant and any loose silicone gel. A ruptured silicone implant can only be detected through an MRI, and therefore women with silicone implants are required to go for an MRI 3 years after the augmentation and once every two years after that. Speaking of aesthetic results, many women and plastic surgeons prefer the look and feel of silicone gel implants because these are closer to real breast tissue. The problem with saline implants is that they may cause rippling of the skin. However, saline implants do have an advantage over silicone implants. These are filled after the implantation and therefore they need only a smaller incision than that required for silicone implants. Silicone implants come pre-filled and need a bigger incision. Saline implants are flexible because they can be adjusted after surgery. Increasing or decreasing the size of the implants is possible without surgery. The surgeon could use a syringe to add or remove the required amount of saline. This is not possible with silicone gel implants. Platinum present in silicone breast implants is considered a risk by some people, but FDA studies have not found that it causes risk in breast implants.
Eligibility for Breast Augmentation Using Breast Implants Both types of breast implants are popular among women desiring a better breast contour. Eligibility is important when considering this surgery. Both types of implants are allowed for women of any age if they need the implant for reconstruction of the breasts. For breast augmentation though, saline implants are approved for women age 18 and older, and silicone gel implants are approved for women who are 22 and older. This is because according to the FDA, the risks are different for the two types of breast implants with regard to the rupture possible and the increased risk for silicone implants. Your plastic surgeon can determine which type of implant suits you the most. To decide on the right choice of breast implant for breast augmentation, factors taken into consideration include your body type, the current size of your breasts and the amount of augmentation required.