The Return of Silicone Implants

On July twenty-eight 2005, the FDA ended a 13 year ban on silicone-gel Breast Implants and issued a letter of approval to Mentor Corp allowing the reintroduction of these controversial implants into the medical marketplace. This move came about as Mentor Corp. persuaded the FDA that its newer silicone implants are less dangerous and even more durable than older versions. The company will employ these implants only under the following strict safety conditions approved per FDA guidlines.

- Prospective patients must sign a consent form acknowledging that they realise the risks of a silicone breast implant including the fact that they may break and require replacement or even removal.

- Mentor is only allowed to sell Silicone Breast Implants to board-certified plastic surgeons who complete a successful practical training program to learn how to insert these implants in a way that minimizes the odds of tears and breakage.

- Mentor must make and maintain a registry to track the implant patients long term results.

- Patients must be educated about the fact that if an implant breaks, the effect of the breakage occasionally does not cause immediate symptoms. Further, patients are advised to have an MRI after five years and two years thereafter to check for breakage.

- Mentor must conduct a 10 year study to determine the percentage of breast implants that will break in that time.

- The implant study must be audited by an independent committee.

- The FDA will review the results of the Mentor breast implant program in five years to verify that the implants are performing as expected.

Based on data from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 334,052 breast augmentations were performed in the United States in 2004, mostly using salt water filled implants being sold without restriction. Consumer studies predict that if the silicone breast implants return to the market, 200,000 women will visit plastic surgeons to get them in the first year. Health concerns aside, silicone implants have a more “natural” appearance and consistency than the saline version, and are therefore preferred by consumers.

Silicone-gel breast implants were first introduced in 1962 and were banned in 1992 amid health fears. Research since then has shown no statistical correlation between silicone breast implants and cancer or even rare auto-immune diseases such as lupus. A select few women will swear that their health deteriorated from the moment they received their implants, however this is anecdotal evidence. When researchers do studies comparing a large group of women with implants to an equal-sized group without them, no difference between the 2 groups is observed in the number of women with tumors or autoimmune diseases.

The most commom problem reported is formation of excess scar tissue around the breast implant due to a foreign-body reaction. If it’s localized, it can cause traction and rippling effects in the appearance of the implant. If the scar tissue entirely encircles the implant the condition is called capsular contraction. These scars can mold the implant into an unnatural rounded shape, so that the implant patient appears to have a baseball stuck under the skin on her chest. This condition develops more frequently with smooth-walled silicone implants, though it occurs to a lesser extent with saline implants as well. Implants set behind the chest muscle have a much lower incidence of this problem. As the scar tissue tends to re-form, surgeons can every now and again break the scar tissue manually. However this is proscribed by the manufacturer, as it can break the implant and void the manufacturer’s warranty. Typically, patients with breast implant contractures require follow-up surgery.

Surprisingly , the asthma drug Accolate has proven useful in preventing and even reversing capsular contraction, though months of drug treatment may be necessary.

Other possible complications include seroma (a collection of serous fluid), hematoma (blood), synmastia (breasts that pop up to be fused in the center), bottoming out (implant slides too far down the chest), double-fold ( the implant’s outline doesn’t corresspond to the natural crease of the breast), deflation (the implant breaks), tissue necrosis (localized demise of tissue) and infection.

About the Author

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Plastic Surgery Stories – Silicone Breast Augmentation & Rhinoplasty

Silicone Implants Shape is a post from: Breast Implants Gone Wrong

Breast Implant Sizers: 7 Reasons to Try Before You Buy

Breast implant sizers are designed for women who are considering breast augmentation. The primary goal of a breast sizing system is to help you make your final breast implant size choice.

One recent study shows that over one-third of all breast augmentation revision procedures is simply to change the size of the implant alone. Since a revision procedure is a second or third surgery complete with all the costs and risks of the first procedure, doctors welcome the help of these systems.

To avoid subsequent surgeries it is important that you experiment with various breast sizes. Here is my list of the top 7 reasons to try breast implant sizers before choosing your final size choice:

1) You are spending a lot of money on breast augmentation, maybe four to five thousand dollars. The extra hundred dollars to buy a breast implant sizing system is well worth it to avoid a second or third surgery.

2) The risks of breast augmentation are comparatively minor versus some operations. Still, do your best to avoid having another surgery by using breast sizers.

3) Experience is better than guesswork. By experiencing various breast sizes before you undergo surgery, you avoid leaving your decision to pure guessing.

4) Before and after photos do not tell the whole story. A certain implant size may look good on one woman’s body, but have a completely different effect on yours. Using a sizer can help you see and feel what different breast sizes are like.

5) Various breast sizes in different clothing and activities can have an impact on your decision. The twenty minutes at a doctor’s office is important, but you should really live with different sizes before you make your final decision.

6) Your body changes throughout the month and over time. Wearing breast implant sizers over a period of time can help you decide on an appropriate size.

7) Most women who undergo subsequent surgeries come back to get a larger size. Most report that they were concerned about going “too big” the first time, but found they liked their new breasts so much they wanted to come back and make them bigger. If they had used a breast implant sizer system they may have avoided the second surgery.

If you are considering breast augmentation, try using breast implant sizers to see how you look and feel with different sizes. Wear various breast implant sizes over a period of time to experience your thoughts, emotions, and feelings about each size.

Try wearing each sizer set in your favorite clothing. Go beyond just standing in front of a mirror with different sizes. Wear them out shopping, out for a night on the town, or even at work. See how you feel and get feedback from your family and friends.

Through experience, over a couple of weeks, you will be in a better position to make a good choice the first time.

About the Author

The Purlz Breast Sizing system looks like a natural breast when worn within a bra, and can be worn over an extended period of time. Choose your breast implant size with help from the Purlz Breast Sizing System. For up to date information on breast augmentation, visit my blog at www.breastauginfo.com

Sarah’s Breast Augmentation Experience – Sukkar Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Houston

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