The Ins and Outs of Breast Implants

The topic today is breast implants -- the surgical way to acquire the much desired look of the modern day, "perfect breast". Breast implants have been giving women a way of correcting the size and shape of their breasts since 1895, but the more modern form of implants have been around since the 1990's.

Implants today are scrutinized closely by the FDA, and monitored for safety after nearly nineteen thousand lawsuits were brought against the Dow Corning Corp. for defective and leaking products. Just as recent as 2006, the silicone type implants were allowed back on the market by the FDA as long as they agreed to the terms that the FDA would monitor their safety. Healthy women don't necessarily need breast implants, but sometimes desire them for cosmetic purposes, and with competition and demand, the prices for cosmetic augmentation and implants has lowered drastically. The average price for these procedures is now in the mere thousands, and the safety of these surgical implants has increased even more with the watchful eyes of the FDA as I mentioned. Now, not everyone is all for breast implants, as they do have their downsides. Many women still experience rupturing, when the fluid or gel inside the implants under force or wear leaves the containing walls of the implant. Even without rupturing, women can still experience breast pain, swelling, infection, and changes in sensation after these procedures. You also have to weigh in the fact of possible scarring. If a silicone implant ruptures, it can require additional surgery for the woman. Depending on the type, you may not even know if it ruptures.

The saline in saline implants, if ruptured, is absorbed by the body over time, while the silicone implants may rupture without you ever knowing. The other issue with implants is that if you ever want to get rid of them, your breasts may have permanent deformities, and can sometimes be expensive to remove. Breast implants have certainly come a long way from the means in which they were first used as solid implants. Today you can choose the material; some choose silicone for the more natural feel, and some choose saline because of their age or other medical conditions, and you can choose the size and shape of your implants. Implants today have become more safe, more cost effective, and a popular choice in women who have been forced to give up their breasts to diseases and cancer, and those who just aren't happy with the size of their breasts. Before you decide for or against breast implants; however, you need to consider both sides, and choose the best approach for you.