What about Silicone?
As you all know by now, silicone implants were recently approved by the FDA after a 14 year ban in the USA. What does that really mean for you as the patient? The implant manufacturers firmly believe that women will be lined up to either replace their existing saline implants with silicone or use silicone for first-time breast augmentation.
After the announcement was made, I expected the phone to ring off the hook with inquiries. Well, truth be told, we had only a few phone calls. Not only that, Dr. Bednar has offered silicone as an additional choice for his patients. To-date, all of them have stuck with saline.
Now, here are some facts directly from the implant manufacturer-you as the patient are left with the ultimate decision.
Unlike saline where a rupture can be easily detected through volume loss, the rupture in a silicone implant is silent. The only way to detect a rupture is through MRI-it is recommended that patients have MRI at 3 years after surgery, and then after every 2 years thereafter. The cost of the MRIs will probably exceed the initial cost of silicone breast augmentation.
When a rupture occurs with saline implants, the saline is absorbed by your body without any consequences-it's basically like IV solution. Silicone ruptures, on the other hand, may either remain within the scar tissue capsule surrounding the implant, move outside the capsule, or migrate beyond the breast.
Here are some numbers: First time augmenation reoperation rate after 4 years: 23.5% after 4 years for revisionary patients, it was 35.5%. Capsular contracture was 13.2% after first time aug. and 17% after revisionary surgery. Those are staggering numbers when compared with saline of 1-6%
Speaking of cost-the cost of the surgery is significantly higher than with saline implants. Why? Simply put, the implants are more expensive and the surgery time is longer due to the incision through the inframammary area of the breast vs. axillary approach through the armpit. Also, the scar is significantly longer and more apparent.
In addition, the patient has to do much more due dilligence -they have to tracked by the manufacturer in case of a recall of the product. There is much more paperwork at hand for both patient and practice staff.
All I am saying is that silicone is not a panacea.
After the announcement was made, I expected the phone to ring off the hook with inquiries. Well, truth be told, we had only a few phone calls. Not only that, Dr. Bednar has offered silicone as an additional choice for his patients. To-date, all of them have stuck with saline.
Now, here are some facts directly from the implant manufacturer-you as the patient are left with the ultimate decision.
Unlike saline where a rupture can be easily detected through volume loss, the rupture in a silicone implant is silent. The only way to detect a rupture is through MRI-it is recommended that patients have MRI at 3 years after surgery, and then after every 2 years thereafter. The cost of the MRIs will probably exceed the initial cost of silicone breast augmentation.
When a rupture occurs with saline implants, the saline is absorbed by your body without any consequences-it's basically like IV solution. Silicone ruptures, on the other hand, may either remain within the scar tissue capsule surrounding the implant, move outside the capsule, or migrate beyond the breast.
Here are some numbers: First time augmenation reoperation rate after 4 years: 23.5% after 4 years for revisionary patients, it was 35.5%. Capsular contracture was 13.2% after first time aug. and 17% after revisionary surgery. Those are staggering numbers when compared with saline of 1-6%
Speaking of cost-the cost of the surgery is significantly higher than with saline implants. Why? Simply put, the implants are more expensive and the surgery time is longer due to the incision through the inframammary area of the breast vs. axillary approach through the armpit. Also, the scar is significantly longer and more apparent.
In addition, the patient has to do much more due dilligence -they have to tracked by the manufacturer in case of a recall of the product. There is much more paperwork at hand for both patient and practice staff.
All I am saying is that silicone is not a panacea.
posted by Breast Info at 7:24 AM
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