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Saline and
Silicone Breast Implants
There are two types of
breast implants: saline and
silicone.
Saline-filled implants are
silicone shells filled with
sterile salt water (saline).
Silicone-filled implants are
silicone shells filled with
a plastic gel (silicone).
Although many women say that
silicone implants feel more
like real breasts than
saline, they pose more of a
risk if they leak.
In 1992, the FDA halted the
sale of silicone implants
because of safety concerns.
In 2006, after reviewing
more research, the FDA
started allowing certain
silicone breast implants
back on the market.
Costs
How much breast implants
cost depends on the
location, doctor, and type
of implant used.
Typically, the surgery
ranges from $5,000 to
$10,000. Because it is a
cosmetic procedure, health
insurance usually doesn't
cover breast augmentation.
How the Breast Implant
Procedure Is Done
Because breasts can continue
to develop until a woman
reaches her late teens or
early 20s, the FDA requires
that women be at least 18
years old to get breast
augmentation with
saline-filled implants and
at least 22 years old to
receive silicone implants.
When picking your surgeon,
look for one who has a lot
of experience. You may be
less likely to have
complications later on if
you choose a surgeon who has
had at least five years of
surgical training and at
least two years' experience
in plastic surgery.
Before your breast implant
procedure, you will meet
with your surgeon for a
medical evaluation. You can
talk about what you want and
get feedback from the
doctor. Your surgeon may ask
you to stop taking certain
medications a few days or
weeks before your surgery.
You can get breast
augmentation done as an
outpatient procedure, or you
may stay overnight in the
hospital.
The procedure takes one to
two hours. You will likely
be given general anesthesia,
during which you will be
"asleep" and pain-free.
The surgeon will make a cut
under your breasts, under
your arms, or around your
nipples, depending on your
body, the type of implant,
and how much enlargement is
being done.
The surgeon will put the
breast implant into a pocket
above or below your chest
muscle. After the implant is
in place, the surgeon will
close the cuts with sutures
or surgical tape.
Recovery After Breast
Implantation
Your breasts will be covered
with gauze after the
surgery. You may have
drainage tubes, which will
be removed in a few days.
You may need to wear a
surgical bra as you heal.
You'll need to take it easy
for a few days after your
breast augmentation surgery.
For instance, you shouldn't
do any heavy lifting for up
to six weeks after getting
your implants.
Over-the-counter pain
relievers such as
acetaminophen may help
relieve discomfort. Your
doctor may also prescribe
pain medication for you.
You will probably have some
swelling in the area where
the surgery was done. Over
time, the swelling should
ease and the scars will
fade.
Possible Complications
Although it is a cosmetic
procedure, breast implant
surgery can have risks, such
as:
• Breast pain
•Changes in sensation in the
nipple and breast
•Scar tissue forming and
hardening in the area around
the implant
•Scarring
•Bleeding
•Infection
•Problems with the size or
shape of the implants (for
example, the breasts may not
be symmetrical)
It is also possible for
implants to rupture and
leak. If saline implants
rupture, the saline will be
safely absorbed by the body.
A silicone leak may stay
inside the implant shell or
leak outside of the shell.
When a saline implant
ruptures, it will deflate.
But silicone breast implants
may cause no obvious
symptoms when they rupture.
This is called silent
rupture. |
