Because each implant has unique characteristics, each comes with its own rates of potential risks. Learning about the different types of implants and what you’re willing to risk in regard to breast implant safety is a crucial step to take before selecting breast implants. If you already have implants, but want a breast revision, the best thing to do is ask yourself what you like and don’t like about your current implants, and take this opportunity to give yourself an upgrade. Choose an implant that gives you the look and feel you want and the peace of mind you need.
“Over time, breast implants can change shape or size, and the overlying breast tissue can also change, creating an appearance or feel to the breast that is less desirable than the original result. Also, many breast implants have a lifetime warranty on the actual implant device, but after ten years the costs associated with having surgery to replace the implants are no longer covered. Because of this, many women will elect to replace or update their breast implants at or around the 10-year time frame.” – https://www.plasticsurgery.org
Breast Implant Safety
All breast implants have their advantages and disadvantages, but some things, like your health and safety are not worth risking. The type of breast implant safety concerns that come up the most are issues of implant rupture and capsular contracture. These risks aren’t very common, but they do happen. The FDA has recently been studying complications related primarily to the safety of silicone implants. Certain types of silicone gel breast implants that have textured surfaces have been shown to be associated with a rare form of lymphoma, and as a result have been removed from the market in many countries. This may be a reason for some women to choose a breast implant revision switching from a textured implant to a smooth-surfaced one, where there has been no known case of lymphoma association.
Safety of Silicone Implants vs. Saline Implants
Even though silicone gel implants are a popular choice among women who want natural looking and feeling implants, they tend to come with higher breast implant safety risks than other implants. In the majority of cases where there is a negative response, it involves the silicone gel coming into contact with tissue either through rupture or seeping through the shell. It does appear that some women may be reacting to the implant shell itself, which could occur with saline filled implants as well. The benefit of saline filled implants, including the latest in implant technology, the IDEAL IMPLANT® Structured Breast Implant, is that they will noticeably and instantly deflate in the case of implant rupture, allowing women to seek revision right away. With silicone gel implants, silent rupture is the norm. This means that a woman could go months, even years, without realizing that her implant has ruptured, creating more complications in the future.
As in the case of any medical device, the safety of silicone implants will always have an unknown factor. Every body is different and responds differently to different types of implants. Fortunately, women have options. If they don’t like their current implants, they can get a breast implant revision to switch out their implants or they can get them removed altogether. Saline filled implants provide women with peace of mind through instant rupture detection and the safety of saline solution.
About Dr. Colgrove
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Colgrove has been providing breast augmentation satisfaction for over 32 years, and seen many situations. He and his staff at Vinings Surgery Center now offer the Vectra 3D simulation during patient consultations. This allows you to see how each breast implant option would look on you using 3D images. He also is distinguished as an IDEAL IMPLANT Premier Surgeon, and recognizes the advantageous differences this new implant provides.
“The IDEAL IMPLANT offers the advantages of feeling more natural than the typical saline implant and feels a little bit more like the silicone implants without the drawbacks of silent rupture…On the IDEAL IMPLANT, if you need to change that out, you typically just remove the implant and put a new one in if the patient so desires. But, you don’t have to go through the process of cleaning up silicone gel. It’s a sterile saline that’s there and is easily absorbed by the patient. Most of the time it’s gonna be nothing there but the implant, which is easily removed.” – Dr. Robert Colgrove
Researching breast implant safety in Atlanta? Contact Dr. Colgrove to discuss your options. Simply call 770-995-9000, or visit Dr. Colgrove’s office located at 1900 The Exchange SE Bldg 300, Suite 300 Atlanta, Georgia 30339. Contact Dr. Colgrove’s office for a no-obligation consultation today.
For more information about treatments and procedures by Board Certified Atlanta Plastic Surgeon, Robert A. Colgrove, Jr., M.D. at Vinings Surgery Center please visit us at www.colgrove.com
Vinings Surgery Center is taking patients from Greater Atlanta Georgia, Buckhead, Marietta, Roswell, Dunwoody and surrounding areas.