Silicone Breast Implants - Common Questions and Concerns - Saline and Cohesive Gel Breast Implants

Since silicone breast implants have a history of being controversial, women often have a lot of questions and concerns when deciding if that type of implant is a suitable option for them. While what follows is by no means comprehensive, we have compiled and addressed some of the most common concerns about silicone breast implants below.

One of the most common questions women want answered is why silicone breast implants were taken off the market in the early 1990s. Due to concerns that the silicone implants were the cause of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even the development of cancer, the FDA decided it was best to not allow women to use them unless she was willing to take part in a study. Silicone breast implants became one of the most scrutinized medical products in America.

It should be known that silicone breast implants were never banned in Europe where women have not developed any diseases and feel it is a safe product. Once the research and studies provided results that shown that silicone was safe, the FDA gave approval for cosmetic surgeons to use them again.

An understandable concern when having any type of implant is what can happen if it ruptures. Unlike saline breast implants in which it is easy to tell if there is a leak, silicone implants can have an unnoticed rupture that even the doctor will not be able to determine. This is known as a silent rupture. A MRI is often recommended years following the surgery which will assist the doctor in ruling out any ruptures. However, sometimes there are symptoms that can occur from the leakage. This can be visual such as loss in shape and size of the breast, or by feeling pain, tingling, burning, or numbness. It should be noted that cohesive gel breast implants are composed of a solid silicone, which rules out any potential of rupture.

Women considering breast implants often want to know if they ever will need another surgery to replace their initial pair. No matter which type of implant it is, they are not going to last a lifetime. Most doctors recommend that silicone implants be replaced every 10 to 15 years. This needs to be done even if there are not any issues, since there may be a small rupture that does not show any signs. Sometimes the gel will leak out of the implant shell and surround the capsule that is formed around the implant. This is exposing the body to the gel, which has not shown to create problems but should be removed and replaced as soon as possible.

If you are deciding which type of breast implant is right for you it is important to do research on all that is available. Finding comparisons and the pros and cons of the various types will also give you a clear prospective of which is most suitable. Discussing implants with a plastic surgeon will also be beneficial since he or she is quite familiar with the common types.