Your Breast Implant Options
When looking to achieve fuller, more voluptuous breasts, there are many things to consider. One of the decisions that needs to be made is the choice between saline and silicone breast implants. Both options can produce natural-looking enhancement to the breasts, and both are safe, according to the FDA. While you may recall an era where silicone breast implants were controversial and even unsafe, in November of 2006, silicone implants were re-approved by the FDA and have become increasingly popular for Denver breast augmentation patients.
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Pros and Cons of Saline Breast Implants
Pros:
- Requires smaller incisions than silicone implants
- Costs less than silicone
- You'll immediately know if an implant leaks
- In case of rupture, the saline is easily absorbed by the body
Cons:
- Less natural look compared to silicone implants
- Less natural feel
- Not advised for women with little breast tissue
- More possibility of popping/deflating
- In case of rupture, rapid deflation will occur
Which kind of implant lasts longer?
While both saline and silicone breast implants are long-lasting, neither choice is guaranteed to last a lifetime. Both saline and silicone implants can last between ten and twenty years and, in some cases, longer. Breast implant rupture is a rare occurrence and is less common in the initial years following breast augmentation. In the event of implant rupture, surgery will be required to replace the affected implant. No matter which type of implant you choose, you can be sure that Dr. Slenkovich will be there to monitor your health and that of your implants.
Dr. Slenkovich’s Thoughts
On Saline Implants
“I think that the silicone gel is a great implant. However, if a patient has reservations about silicone, then typically, saline is still a great option that, in most patients, gives an equivalent shape. I recommend that my Denver breast implant patients read the FDA recommendations forms and that they don’t just blindly sign it, but I personally do not have reservations about silicone. Indeed, the 1992 FDA statement that silicone implants were being pulled off the market because of safety concerns but that if a patient had an implant, they did not recommend that it be removed was very confusing to many. Either silicone was unsafe, or it wasn’t, and since they weren’t recommending removal, one had to wonder. Further, numerous reviews of all of the silicone implant studies have concluded that there is no scientifically identifiable association between silicone implants and autoimmune diseases (lupus, arthritis, MS). I feel that those claims are unsupportable, and I am completely comfortable with silicone. I would use silicone for family and on my staff (some of whom have silicone implants). I think most medical professionals would agree that silicone is great. However, the choice between silicone or saline implants is ultimately the patient’s choice.”
Breast Implant Education and Considerations
