1. Silicone Implants Make a Comeback
After a 15-year ban in the United States, the FDA ruled in 2007 that there was "no convincing evidence" that silicone implants were any more harmful to women than saline implants. For many years, women had complained of various side effects from their silicone implants, including low-grade fever, chronic pain and other autoimmune problems.
2. Consider Whether You Qualify
Breast augmentation enlarges small breasts or balances breasts of different sizes. Doctors use both silicone and saline implants for breast augmentation. Silicone implants have some distinct advantages over saline implants. They feel more natural and the latest models are more durable than those used previously. However, because of the controversy surrounding silicone implants, they are not available for all women. Patients must be at least 22-years old to have silicone implants, as breast tissue continues to develop into your early twenties. Patients also must meet any health criteria set forth by their plastic surgeon before undergoing breast augmentation.
3. Silicone Implants Don't Last Forever
Anyone considering breast augmentation should remember that revision surgery is usually necessary down the road. Expect to replace silicone implants (and saline implants) after 10 to 15 years.
4. Consider the Risk of Ruptures
If a saline implant ruptures, the breast goes flat and the body absorbs the saline (which is just salt water). It's not an ideal situation, but when a silicone implant ruptures, your body cannot absorb the silicone, which is a foreign material. When a saline implant ruptures, the effect is noticeable right away, and you must see your doctor before infection or side effects occur. When a silicone implant ruptures, it may be several weeks or months before a woman realizes it. If a plastic surgeon suspects a silicone implant has ruptured, he will order a mammogram or MRI to be certain.
5. Understand That Scientific Results Are Contradictory
For every scientific study that claims silicone implants are dangerous to women's health, there is another study stating just the opposite. One thing to consider about silicone implants is that the newer models are more durable than those made 15 years ago. This makes them less likely to leak or rupture. However, until further study is done to define the possible links between silicone implants and serious health conditions, such as cancer and other diseases, patients can opt for saline implants (which still have risks of their own) or forgo the surgery altogether. You may want to seek the opinions of several doctors about the safety of silicone implants before reaching your decision.
