Friday, March 23, 2012

Breast Implant: Knowing About The Risks Involved

What is breast implant?
Breast implant is a surgical procedure for breast enlargement. Breast-shaped sacks made of a silicone outer shell and filled with silicone gel or saline (salt water), called implants, are used.
Distinction between saline and silicone breast implants:
The saline and silicone breast implants differ in material and consistency. They both have silicone shell.
  • Saline breast implants:Saline implants are filled with saline, usually at the time of surgery. Saline implants have been criticized for feeling hard or unnatural, but improved surgical techniques like placing the implant behind the chest muscle and slightly overfilling it serves to give the complaints a rest. They are available to women age 18 and older for breast augmentation, or women of any age for breast reconstruction.

  • Silicone breast implants:Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel - a thick, sticky fluid that closely mimics the feel of human fat. Some women feel that silicone breast implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue. They are available to women age 22 and older for breast augmentation, or women of any age for breast reconstruction.
How does it look and feel like after the breast implants?
Few days after surgery, you should be up and about. After several days your dressings will be removed, and you may be instructed to wear a support bra. Your plastic surgeon will probably permit you to shower between three and seven days following surgery. Stitches will be removed in about a week. Some discoloration and swelling will occur initially, but this will disappear quickly. Most residual swelling will resolve within a month.
Risks involved:
Both silicone and saline implants carry similar risks, such as breast pain, infection, potentially permanent changes in nipple or breast sensation, implant leakage or rupture, scar tissue that distorts the shape of the breast implant, and need for an additional breast surgery.
What if an implant ruptures?
If a saline breast implant ruptures, the implant will deflate. This would cause the affected breast to change in size and shape. The leaking saline solution will be absorbed by your body without posing any health risks, but you'll probably need surgery to remove the silicone shell. A new implant can likely be inserted at the same time.
If a silicone breast surgery ruptures, you may not notice right away or ever. There's no evidence that leaking silicone gel causes serious, long-term health problems such as breast cancer or connective tissue diseases, but a ruptured silicone breast implant may eventually cause breast pain or changes in the contour or shape of the breast. If this happens, you'll need surgery to remove the ruptured implant. A new implant can likely be inserted at the same time.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends monitoring silicone breast implants with routine MRI scans every two years, starting three years after the initial implant surgery. If an MRI scan detects an implant rupture but you don't experience any signs or symptoms, it may be up to you to weigh the risks and benefits of keeping the implant or having it removed.

1 comment:

  1. Whenever we talk of breast augmentation, there is really more to be considered before you actually decide to have one done. It is essential that you know sufficient details regarding the advantages, risks, adverse effects, possible problems and their management.

    Cheers!
    Rhea

    ReplyDelete