Saline or Silicone...how do I choose?
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced November 17, 2006 the approval and availability of silicone gel-filled breast implants, ending a 14-year ban on the use of silicone implants for cosmetic breast surgery. Now all women over 22 years old seeking cosmetic breast augmentation and women seeking breast reconstruction surgery will be able to select silicone breast implants. The availability of silicone gel implants will create new options for women considering breast surgery for the first time and for those who have had previous surgeries but are seeking new replacements or revision.
Each year, surgical techniques and breast implants themselves are continuously being refined, increasing the safety and reliability of the procedure. With the continued scientific research and development of proven methods, further advancements of breast implant options will be made in stride with the continuing medical education of qualified cosmetic plastic surgeons specializing in breast surgery. As time moves on, the goal will be to have more optimal results reported by patients that in turn will reduce the need for reoperation. Please visit "Find-a-Surgeon" to select a qualified surgeon in your area.
Breast implants can serve one or more of a number of purposes; breast cancer victims can use breast implants for reconstructive purposes after mastectomy, or women with asymmetrical breasts may use a single breast implant to balance the difference in size.
Following pregnancy, many women opt for breast implant surgery to correct reductions in breast size, resulting from fluctuating hormones. And of course many breast implant candidates are simply interested in creating a more flattering contour.
It is worth explaining the differences between a silicone gel-filled and a saline-filled breast implant, which is an alternative to the silicone gel implant. The outer shell of both silicone and saline implants is made of a solid silicone material. Solid silicone is widely used in implantable medical devices. In contrast, silicone gel implants are filled with silicone gel, which is a semi-solid. Saline-filled implants are filled with the same kind of salt water that is used in I.V. fluids.
