Breast Implants: What’s Best?
Many patients come into our office for breast augmentation consultations requesting silicone gel breast implants, not knowing they have other choices. We feel that it is important to give information on both silicone and saline (salt water) implants. There is also another choice to consider now, natural breast enlargement using your own fat cells. This new technique is called fat grafting. When patients are well-informed, they are in a better position to decide on what is best for them.
Discussions with patients mainly focus on the differences between each type of implant and issues of safety should a rupture occur. Silicone implants and natural fat grafting offer the most natural feel. This particular aspect is most important for some women. However, in terms of appearance, when properly placed, saline and silicone implants, as well as fat grafting results, all yield a natural appearance. For more information on fat grafting for breast enlargement, click here.
The downside of implants is that they will eventually break. When your natural fat is used to increase breast size, this is not a problem. When a saline implant breaks, the result is that one of a woman’s breasts will “deflate” to a smaller size. The saline or salt water is naturally absorbed and passes out of her body. Silicone implants do not have this advantage and the silicone gel does not pass out of the body, as it cannot be metabolized. This makes diagnosis of a ruptured silicone implant more difficult. Ruptures are most always “silent.” For this reason, the FDA currently recommends regular MRI examinations to determine the presence of implant rupture.
As mentioned in an earlier blog, It is amazing how quickly women “forget” they have had breast enlargement surgery. They incorporate their new figure into their new body image in short order. With silicone gel implants, women are often reminded of their surgery by needing the MRI studies and the safety consideration of a possible implant rupture.
When patients receive complete information, most patients choose saline implants for their surgery. More patients are also considering the most natural option of all, a new technique called fat grating. Although fat grafting is the newest choice to be available, my patients seem pleased with this having this implant-free alternative. The main reason cited for this choice is that they will have peace of mind with their decision, and it is almost entirely based on safety. For more information on fat grafting for breast enlargement, please click here.
