Currently, there are three different types of implants available in the U.S. for augmenting your breasts: saline, silicone gel, and cohesive gel. Which one do you want for your body?
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. American women want lots of cleavage with bigger, firmer breasts. Older women may be chasing after a younger, perkier appearance, while younger women want sex appeal. Or they may also want to correct a breast imbalance that will instill them with greater self-confidence. Whatever the reason, breast augmentation surgery is a safe procedure and there are several different implants available.
The saline implant has long been the standard, mostly because it is considered the safest. It is filled with a saltwater solution that is not toxic to the body. If, God forbid, a leak or rupture should occur, the body just absorbs the saline and passes it out via the urine. The saline is also smaller than other implants (because it is filled after placement in the breast) so it doesn’t need a large incision. A smaller incision means a smaller scar.
A disadvantage of the saline implant is that it doesn't have the feel or movement of a real breast. Men and women both agree that it doesn't jiggle like breast tissue does. The older production models of saline implants certainly had this defect. However, the newer models have improved dramatically in movement and "feel".
Although the silicone gel implant looks and feels more like a real breast, its primary drawback is what happens if it leaks or ruptures. Silicone gel is toxic to the body. Even worse, it is extremely difficult to detect when an implant is leaking -- even for a plastic surgeon. That is why the FDA strongly recommends women with gel implants undergo an MRI on the third anniversary of their surgery, and every other year thereafter. That means that you are not only paying for the cost of the initial surgery, but you are also paying for MRIs over the life of your implants.
There is another implant available that has all the advantages of the silicone gel implant but not the safety issue. The cohesive gel implant is called the Gummy Bear because of its similar appearance to Gummy Bear candy. It is a solid mass of gel with no liquid filler. That means you can cut an implant in half and you will only end up with two pieces. There is nothing to leak.
Unfortunately, this implant is not without its drawbacks. Like the silicone gel implant, it requires a larger incision, thereby leaving a larger scar. Also, the FDA has not approved it for use by all American women. Even though the rest of the world has used it for almost twenty years, the FDA is still studying it and it may be years before they give it their stamp of approval. If you decide the cohesive gel implant is what you desire, you will need to find a plastic surgeon who is participating in an FDA clinical trial.
If you are interested in learning more about the safety of breast implants and the latest advances in technology, than go to the person who can give you the most accurate information. Schedule an appointment with a plastic surgeon that is board-certified in breast augmentation. Most surgeons do not charge for the initial consultation, and they will educate you as to what your specific expectations can be.
Warning: this article was not written by a licensed physician and is not intended as medical advice.
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