Not all breast implants are created equal, especially in regards to the substances with which they are filled. However, one common trait is that all breast implants have a solid silicone shell or bag which houses the implant. If you are considering breast augmentation, it is important that you understand the difference between each type of implant. Honolulu’s best plastic surgeon will be able to answer all of your questions regarding breast surgery.

The two types of available breast implants include saline breast implants and silicone breast implants, with cohesive gel implants currently still only available in limited clinical testing. Let us take a look at all three types.

Saline Breast Implants
Saline implants are the most popular of the three kinds. The implant is composed of an exterior sack that is made of solid silicone. Inside the sack, there is a sterile saline solution that is similar to the salt-water solution that is used for intravenous fluids. Saline is one of the safer forms of breast implants because if an implant leaks, the liquid will be absorbed by the body and will not do any harm. Another positive aspect of saline breast implants is that the risk of infection is very low. Infection is estimated to be in the area of one to two percent.

Saline breast implants are also a good choice because the fluid is placed into the implant after it has been put into the breast, which means a small incision is made, as opposed to a larger one. This also means that the volume of the implants can be adjusted accordingly by the plastic surgeon after they are inserted into the patient’s breasts. This makes it less likely for breast asymmetry to be a concern.

There are two main disadvantages to saline breast implants. First, because of the high liquid content, there is a greater potential for rippling to occur. Secondly, saline implants do not always feel natural to touch. However, the ones placed underneath the muscle tissue and breasts are more natural.

Silicone Breast Implants
Many women choose to get silicone breast implants because they feel that these implants mimic the look of real breasts more than the other types do. As the name implies, silicone breast implants are filled with a silicone gel.

The main disadvantage of these types of implants is that they can rupture easily, and when they do rupture, it is not obvious to the human eye. The silicone gel that makes up the implant remains within the breast tissue if it ruptures, and the breast does not shrink in size. Mammograms and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) need to be used in order to find out if a rupture has taken place. Although no tests have been conclusive, many people fear the use of silicone for implants because of the controversy that surrounds them. Allegations of a link to cancer have not been confirmed at this point in time.

Cohesive Gel Implants
Not yet commonly available in the United States, cohesive gel breast implants hold great promise – but they are still undergoing clinical trials. Cohesive gel implants are a type of silicone implant, but they are filled with a thicker silicone gel than are regular silicone implants. Cohesive gel implants hold their shape very well, and these types of implants are used for a patient who wants a natural full look to her breasts, as opposed to wanting to make them bigger. The gel implants are reminiscent of the candy “gummy bears.”

Often touted as shaped implants or gummy bear implants, these implants retain their original shape when they are placed in an upright position. This decreases the chance that rippling or folding of the implant shell will take place. As well, if the gel implant were to rupture, it would still maintain its natural shape.

The major disadvantage of the cohesive gel implants is that a large incision is required to insert them. The insertion is done by way of the areola, or a fold under the breast. These implants are new to the world of plastic surgery, and they are still considered investigational devices, meaning that they are only available to very select patients who are participating in clinical trials.

In addition, the use of these types of implants is limited to patients of a particular age. As well, the clinical trial patients wishing to undergo breast surgery with cohesive gel implants in must have a MRI as a follow up to the surgery in order to guarantee that there has been no silent rupture of the implants. Keep in mind that these gel implants are only available in clinical trials of breast augmentation, but they do hold potential promise for the future.

Choosing the best type of breast implant material depends upon what you are looking for in your breast augmentation surgery. Speak closely with your Honolulu plastic surgeon, who can professionally help you make the best long-term decision for both your appearance and your health.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/plastic-surg...45329.html

About the Author: Dr. Shirley Rizzo is a plastic surgeon from Honolulu and has decades of trail-blazing expertise in Hawaii plastic surgery.

There are variety of implant types: silicone gel-filled, saline-filled, silicone/saline combination, PVP-Hydrogel, and plant oil. There are round implants and anatomic implants. The anatomic type of implant may also be described as a teardrop or tapered implant. The rounded implant gives a fuller upper chest and cleavage. The tapered implant is sometimes suggested for thinner individuals because it may result in a more natural looking upper chest. The outer surface of the implant may be either textured or smooth. Although conclusive evidence does not exist, textured implants may help reduce the adverse effect of capsule formation around the implant.

There are also variations within the surgical procedures used to insert them. The relative value of implant types is debated amongst plastic surgeons and other medical authorities who study the possible adverse reactions to implants. Breast implants have the same basic type of outer envelope made of a solid, rubber-like form of silicone called an elastomer. Implants come in many sizes; the size used depends on the amount of augmentation desired. The volume of the filling contained within the outer envelope may range from 200cc to 400cc, to even larger. A fluid ounce equals approximately 30cc.

Silicone gel-filled implants

These implants consist of an elastomer envelope pre-filled (before surgery) with a clear, sticky, thick jelly-like form of silicone that closely approximates the consistency of breast tissue. Before the 1992 FDA ruling that virtually banned the use of silicone implants because of serious questions about patients' health, this was the most common type of implant used. Much of the controversy surrounding implants is related to the possible adverse effects when the silicone gel leaks, bleeds, or ruptures through the elastomer envelope. Silicone gel-filled implants, contrary to what many believe, were not taken off the U.S. market. These implants were reclassified at the time of the implant controversy, and now are only available (in the U.S.) in an FDA approved study of gel implants under the care of an approved investigator. There are relatively few surgeons in the country who have been authorized as an investigator in this FDA study. Individuals seeking first time breast enlargement do not qualify for the study. There is no reduction in cost for those who participate in the study. Silicone gel-filled implants are still readily available and regularly used by plastic and gender-reassignment surgeons throughout the world.

Saline-filled implants

These implants contain saline, a sterile salt water. The implant is surgically inserted while empty and is filled after it is put in place, which allows for some adjustment in size. According to some, the major drawback of saline implants is that they do not feel or look as natural as gel implants. This is especially true in those who don't have much breast tissue to cover the implant. Some women say the implant tends to wrinkle or ripple under the skin, and that the breast doesn't move or hang naturally. In addition, many plastic surgeons believe that saline implants tend to have a higher rate of leaking and deflation than silicone gel implants, which means more frequent surgery to replace them.
On the other hand, if the saline does leak into the body, it is similar to other body fluids and is absorbed without harm. Also, a smaller incision is needed because the implant is inserted in a deflated state and filled with saline after insertion.

Plant Oil-filled implants

Plant oil-filled implants have developed from the concern over health safety issues relative to the silicone gel-filled implant. These breast implants filled with a natural vegetable oil promised greater safety for women. They are available throughout the European Union but are still undergoing clinical trials in the US and Canada. The new implant, called Trilucent, contains triglyceride, an oil that has been used for 40 years as a nutrient in intravenous feeding and as a drug carrier in injections. The manufacturers of Trilucent indicate like saline, the vegetable oil can be metabolized and excreted by the body, but it is also resistant to bacterial and fungal contamination whereas saline is not. Its lubricating properties means that it should not rub the inside surface of the implant; this has been linked to leakages in conventional implants.
However, the Medical Devices Agency of the United Kingdom, on June 06, 2000, recommended that women with Trilucent breast implants, should have them removed because of health concerns. The government stressed this was a precautionary measure and there was no evidence of any serious medical problems. But tests have shown that material produced if the oil breaks down in the body could potentially cause cancer or damage to a fetus.

PVP-Hydrogel- filled implants

The biocompatible polyvinylpyrrolidon e (PVP) has a history of been used as a binding agent for tablets and as a carrier in topical applications. The water-soluble, PVP-Hydrogel has been designed to be safely excreted through the kidneys in the event of traumatic rupture. It will not be metabolized by the body. The implant manufacturer suggests improved radiolucency over silicone gel-filled or saline-filled implants, which may allow more clear visualization of the tissue during mammography.

Double lumen implants

These implants consist of two lumens, or envelopes, one inside the other. In some models, the inner envelope is pre-filled with silicone gel, and the outer envelope is filled with saline at the time of surgery. In other models, the relationship is reversed and the inner envelope is filled with saline. Some studies suggest that the double-walled model results in a softer, more natural appearance because it reduces the incidence of capsular contracture.

Coated implants

The coated implant was meant to be an improvement over the standard silicone implant, which has a smooth outer surface. The foam coating was thought to reduce incidence of capsular contracture because the texture encouraged the body tissue to grow into it. However, the foam, which was originally used in furniture upholstery, oil filters, and carburetors, was found to increase risk of infection, fragment in the body, and chemically break down and release small amounts of a substance called 2-toluenediamine (TDA), which can cause cancer in animals. These implants are no longer available.
However, many of today's implants have textured surfaces which are designed to reduce capsular contracture. Since no foam is involved they do not pose the potential risks of the foam-coated models.

When I had my breast augmentation, my Doctor suggest I use saline implants. He believed that there was no severe risk of having complications with the implant. It has been over 7 years, and I have never had a health complication from having my surgery.

Great thread and sian has posted really nice article. According to doctor research Many women choose to get silicone breast implants because they feel that these implants mimic the look of real breasts more than the other types do. As the name implies, silicone breast implants are filled with a silicone gel.