Breast Implants

There are various reasons why you may choose to have breast implants but you should know a bit about them before you make your final decision. As they are a surgical procedure you should discuss with your chosen surgeon what type of breast implant is most suitable for you.

There are two main types of breast transplant – saline and silicon. Both have their benefits and drawbacks but the type most suited to you will depend on both personal preferences and individual circumstances. Both saline and silicone implants are enclosed in an elastic and firm silicone shell. This helps to prevent the rupturing of the implant. The shell’s surface can be also either textured or smooth.

Breast Implants

Saline implants

Saline implants are made from a silicone shell that is extremely strong and filled with a sterile salt water solution. They may be pre-filled or filled through the use of a valve as soon as they have been placed into your breast.

The benefits of saline implants are:

• They have been safely used for a long time.
• The saline solution resembles similar your body fluids, so it can be absorbed safely or even excreted by your body if the implant does rupture.

The drawbacks of saline implants are:

• They could rupture or even deflate earlier than other types of implants.
• They are more likely to wrinkle or fold.
• They are available only in rounded and not breast-shaped shapes.
• They might not feel quite as natural and soft as silicone implants.

Silicone Gel Implants

These implants can vary in consistency and firmness and are filled with a silicone material within a stronger silicone shell. They are filled up before insertion.

The benefits of silicone gel implants are:

• They have safely been used for a long time
• They might not wrinkle quite as easily as other of implant.
• They come in round or contoured shapes.
•  The material is an extremely soft and supple filler, allowing for natural    movement and feel.

The majority of UK silicone gel implants are textured, which can help to lower the risk of unnecessary movement, and could also evade problems, like hardening, which is due to their capsular contracture.

The type of silicone gel that is used in cohesive gel implants is far firmer than gel which is used in silicone implants. The implant is so firm and thick that even if the implant shell ruptured which is unlikely there is a higher likelihood that the gel would remain inside and not leak out into adjacent tissue.

As with other kinds of implants made from silicone gel, the cohesive gel implants do have a natural and soft feel and there is also less risk of them folding or wrinkling because of their ability to keep their shape.

Other Kinds of Implant

Some kinds of breast implants, including those filled with soya bean oil and hydrogel, are no longer permitted for use in Britain It was in the year 2000 that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made the recommendation that women should have soya bean implants removed.

Hydrogel implants also are no longer available in Britain, but women who currently have them fitted have not been told to get them removed as the risks are not great enough.

PIP Implants

In 2011, PIP implants made in France caused concern because it was discovered that industrial silicone had been used to fill them and not medical-grade fillers. Their chances of rupturing are high, too. Around 40,000 women are thought to have had these implants inserted in place for cosmetic reasons, the operations mainly being performed in private clinics. There is not sufficient evidence to advise recipients to get them removed, even though the NHS has removed some already.

In 1991, silicone implant operations which were polyurethane-coated were stopped in the UK after fears they may increase the risk of getting cancer. Research has since identified that there was only one in a million chance of this occurring and consequently in 2005 this type of implant was re-introduced.

Life Expectancy of an Implant

Breast implant recipients do not often keep in place exactly the same implants throughout their whole life and additional surgery will be a necessity at some time which would be to either replace the implant or the scar capsule which has surrounded it.

A 10-15 years life expectancy is expected for most breast implants but some last far longer without incurring any worrying problems. Typically, there are a few manufacturers that guarantee their implants for the complete life of the recipient. The NHS does not generally take responsibility for breast implant surgery of a cosmetic nature so if there are complications or rupturing occurs, it may be necessary to pay out for scans in a private clinic.

If you would like to improve your appearance through breast implant surgery then you can find a qualified and reputable UK surgeon at www.anyclinics.co.uk.