Keeping Abreast Of Saline Vs. Silicone Implants

If you are in the market for breast augmentation or enhancement you will be given a choice of saline or silicone implants. Back in the early 1990's this was a choice as well but then a number of lawsuits were placed against silicon manufacturers due to leakage and possible relationships between them and autoimmune diseases. The silicon implants were banned by the FDA pending further investigation and only saline implants were available.

Only in clinical studies was silicone implants used in breast surgeries. After much testing, the FDA re-approved the use of silicone implants in breast cosmetic surgery with a caveat that they only be placed in women older than 22 years of age. The latest tests showed that silicone is not irrevocably tied to autoimmune diseases and other health ailments, although some sources still believe it is true.

Advantages and disadvantages of silicone and saline

Saline's main advantage in implants is the fact that if they every ruptured, the saline would be easily absorbed by the body with little problems, although the shell would still have to be removed. Saline does have a disadvantage in that they do not always retain a pleasing shape and may develop ripples. In women who have little skin to cover the implant, these imperfections might be readily visible.

The latest silicone implants look and feel quite natural regardless of their position in the body. Some are placed totally under the chest and pectoral muscles in a complete submuscular surgical move. A partial submuscular option may be chosen which places the implant only partially under the muscles. A subglandular insertion involves placing the silicone implant under the breast tissue and glands but above the chest muscles.

Since the ban has been lifted by the FDA, more and more women are choosing silicone implants again because of their natural look and feel. And because there have been no definitive results linking silicone to different ailments like connective tissue disease, women feel more confident in them.

Be sure to thoroughly discuss your implant options with your cosmetic surgeon. As the ban was only recently lifted by the FDA on silicone, you may be hard pressed to find a surgeon that has in-depth experience in them, if they are indeed what you want. If you are unsure of whether you want to go with saline or silicone, find a surgeon that has vast experience in both so they can effectively run through the pros and cons with you and give you their honest opinions on the results of other patients.

Check out the before and after photos of other breast implant patients. Find a person who has a similar build and body type as you so you have an idea of what the results will look like for you. Gather as much information as you can and ask for references from the surgeon if necessary. You want to feel secure in your choice of saline versus silicone and the only way to do that is arm yourself with information.