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BREAST
AUGMENTATION
Answering all
your questions about breast
augmentation is beyond
the scope
of this site. At consultation
we will go into extensive
detail and be sure you
are thoroughly familiar
with the entire subject
so you can make a well
informed decision.
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What
about saline vs. gel? |
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Saline
implants are not new.
They were also used from
the early 1960’s,
but were used less frequently
than silicone gel implants.
The implants have a very
good long term safety
record and were the only
implants available from
1992-2002. In 2002, gel
implants became more freely
available in Canada, although
each case must be approved
by the Health Protection
Branch in Ottawa. Thi8s
situation is under review
both here and in the USA,
where the FDA continues
to request more information
regarding safety before
they approve gel implants
for general useEach implant
has advantages and disadvantages.
We will be happy to discuss
all possible options with
you at consultation, and
to do what is best for
you. |
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Do I
need to have them changed
every five years? |
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Although
saline implants can leak,
collapsing in the process,
this is very uncommon.
When leaks occur, deflation
is quite rapid, and harmless.
Removal of the implant
and replacement is generally
a simple procedure, so
periodic replacement before
leakage occurs does not
seem to be worthwhile.
The leak rate is about
4% over ten years per
implant, so your chance
of having intact saline
filled implants at ten
years is over 90%. The
manufacturers guarantee
the implants against failure,
so I suggest replacement
only if there are problems.
Gel filled implants can
also leak, but leaks are
not as obvious. Current
implant models are tougher
than those used in the
mid-1970’s through
mid 1980’s, when
early leakage was very
common. |
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Can
I fly in an airplane or
SCUBA dive? |
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Yes.
There is no change in
the pressure within the
implant at altitude or
underwater, so there is
no increased risk of rupture. |
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