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Breast Implants New Jersey – Silicone or Saline Implants
Paramus, New Jersey Plastic Surgery Center Breast Implant Options
Breast Implant Options
Parker Center in Paramus, New Jersey
Introduction
Dr. Parker uses both saline and silicone breast implants in his breast augmentation and augmentation mastopexy patients. During the patient’s initial consultation, Dr. Parker evaluates the patient’s desires and anatomy. He then reviews implant options with the patient in order to work out a treatment plan that works for them. This includes a discussion of saline v silicone implants as well as the size and projection of the implant. Choosing the right implant size prior to surgery is very important. We have enjoyed great success doing this using our Sizing and Shaping Session system. After spending a significant amount of time with our patients pre operatively reviewing implant options and clarifying their desires with regard to implant type, patient satisfaction has been very high with both saline and silicone implants here at the Parker Center.
The Brief History of Breast Implants
Silicone is inert and its unique properties have allowed it to be used in artificial joints, catheters, pacemakers and heart valves. In 1962, plastic surgeons inserted the first silicone gel breast implant. The first saline filled implant was reported in 1965. Silicone gel implants were the predominant breast implant for many years until concerns were raised about their safety in the 1980’s. Responding to this, the FDA in 1992 issued a moratorium on silicone gel implants and they were removed from the US market.
While being banned in the US, silicone implants continued to be used extensively around the world. Breast augmentation using saline filled implants remained popular in the US during this time. Extensive studies were performed on silicone gel implants in the US. The conclusion by the 13-member committee of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science, appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services of the US government, determined the following at the end of the research:
“Evidence suggests diseases or conditions such as connective tissue diseases, cancer, neurological diseases or other systemic complaints or conditions are no more common in women with breast implants than in women without implants.”
Based on these findings and studies performed by the breast implant makers, the FDA re-approved silicone gel implants and returned them to the market in November, 2006. This FDA conclusion legitimized what most plastic surgeons already believed — that silicone has always been a safe choice. You can find more information about the particulars of breast implants and the FDA approval by clicking here.
The progressive improvements in silicone gel implants can be seen in the chart below:
Evolution of Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants |
|
|---|---|
| IMPLANT | DESCRIPTION |
| First generation (1962-1970) |
Thick, two piece shell |
| Smooth surface with Dacron fixation patches | |
| Anatomically shaped (teardrop) | |
| Viscous silicone gel | |
| Second generation (1970-1982) |
Thin, slightly permeable shell |
| Smooth surface (no Dacron patches) | |
| Round shape | |
| Less viscous silicone gel | |
| Third generation (1982-1992) |
Thick, strong low-bleed shell |
| Smooth and textured surfaces | |
| Round shape | |
| Fourth generation (1993-present) |
Thick, strong, low-bleed shell |
| Smooth and textured surfaces | |
| Round shape | |
| More viscous (cohesive) silicone gel | |
| Refined manufacturing processes | |
| Fifth generation (1993-present) |
|
| Thick, strong, low-bleed shell | |
| Smooth and textured surfaces | |
| Round and diverse anatomical shapes | |
| Enhanced cohesive and form-stable silicone gel | |
| Reprinted with permission from Maxwell GP, Baker MR: Augmentation mammaplasty: general considerations. In: Spear, SL (ed), Surgery of the Breast, 2nd ed. Baltimore, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2006. Vol 2, p 1237.) | |
The chart shows the significant improvements in silicone gel implants over time. Prior to the mid 80’s, these implants had a more liquid silicone gel on the inside and the outer shell was thinner and more prone toward leakage. Today’s implants are made with a form stable ”cohesive”gel which has the consistency of Jell-O, allowing better shape retention and minimizing silicone migration outside the implant. The outer shell is made of several layers of silicone which is significantly stronger than previous implants.
Saline filled implants, like their gel counterparts, have outer silicone shells though the inside is filled with salt water instead of silicone gel.
Pros and Cons of Silicone and Saline Implants
| Memory GelTM Silicone Breast Implants | Saline Breast Implants |
|---|---|
 |
 |
FDA Approved | FDA Approved |
| Filled with silicone gel | Filled with saltwater solution |
Saline Implants
Saline implants are delivered unfilled by the implant manufacturer to our surgical facility. The implant’s outer shell, constructed with several layers of silicone, includes a fill valve. After inserting the unfilled implant into the breast cavity, Dr. Parker fills the implant to the desired size using disposable plastic tubing. This tubing is then removed and the valve closed. Saline implants range in size from 125cc to 960cc.
Facts about saline implants:
- Cost: $625 per implant
- Feel: Saline implants feel somewhat firmer and less viscous, or gelatinous, than silicone implants. The best results with saline implants, however, can approach the best results with silicone implants.
- Volume: Saline implants are filled and adjusted on the operating table by the surgeon to a desired volume. When a pre existing asymmetry is present between two breasts, this allows the surgeon to make the breasts more equal.
- Rippling: In many patients, the lower edge of the saline implant can be felt along the bottom of the breast, particularly in thin patients. This usually cannot be seen and is not medically harmful to the patient. It can be minimized to a certain extent by “overfilling” saline implants within the prescribed guidelines by the implant maker.
- Incisions: Saline implants can be inserted through infra mammary, peri areolar and transaxillary incisions by Dr. Parker. He makes every effort to keep these incisions as short and un noticeable as possible.
Silicone Implants
Present day form stable silicone gel implants are pre filled by the implant maker with a cohesive gel material. This is less likely to lose its shape and have the silicone migrate outside the implant, but the implants cannot have their size adjusted. Silicone implants range in size from 100cc to 800cc.
Facts about silicone implants:
- Cost: $800 per implant
- Feel: Silicone gel implants feel softer and more natural than saline.
- Volume: Silicone gel implants are delivered to us pre filled and their volume is not adjustable. The differences from one size implant to the next is 25cc, which is roughly the equivalent of a shot glass, so we’re not talking about large amounts between one implant and the next size. Most patients have some degree of asymmetry between their breasts. Dr. Parker will discuss pre existing asymmetries with his patients during the consultation and work out a plan to optimize breast symmetry.
- Rippling: Silicone gel implants are less prone to rippling than saline implants. This is an advantage in thin patients.
- Incisions: Silicone implants can be inserted through inframammary and peri areolar incisions by Dr. Parker. He makes every effort to keep these incisions as short and un noticeable as possible.
Implant Manufacturers
Plastic surgeons in the US have two choices of FDA approved manufacturers for breast implants. Both companies (Mentor and Allergan) are responsible and make excellent products, but in our opinion, Mentor’s are better. Dr. Parker uses Mentor implants almost exclusively. Here’s why:
- Mentor’s implants have a lower deflation rate, which means that our patients are less likely to experience the need for secondary surgery due to deflation.
- In our experience, the outer edge (shell) of the Mentor implant is less likely to wrinkle when implanted.
- Again, due to differences in the shell, we find that Mentor implants are less palpable (less able to feel the edges) once they are implanted.
- These implants do not routinely need to be changed after a period of time, such as 10 years, unless the patient is having any difficulty with the implants. In Dr. Parker’s experience, the likelihood of having to exchange implants has decreased over time due to technologic improvements in the implants as well as our surgical techniques.
Implant Shape
Dr. Parker prefers to use smooth round implants, either saline or silicone. He feels this provides the softest and most natural looking breast. Based on an individual’s desires and anatomy, Moderate, Moderate Plus or High Profile smooth round shaped implants are inserted. These options will be discussed with patients during their consultation and again in the patient’s Sizing and Shaping Session.
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Call to Schedule an Appointment
Our caring and informed team is dedicated to helping you realize your dreams. Call us anytime to schedule a consultation with Dr. Parker and to make an appointment for your personalized breast implant sizing and shaping session.
We can be reached at 201-967-1212, or you can contact us about breast surgery online.
