Since 1992, silicone gel-filled implants have been available only to breast reconstruction patients and patients undergoing breast revision surgery. On November 17, 2006, the Drug Administration approved silicone breast implants suitable for deployment in the U.S. market.
Please review this information for more insights about Mentor “MemoryGel” Breast silicone gel-filled breast implants.
Your Breast Augmentation Procedure Using Silicone Implants
Safety of Silicone Implants
According to a March 2006 article in Plastic Surgery Products, no other medical device or material has undergone more extensive studies than the silicone gel breast implant. This research has not uncovered any link between gel implants and breast cancer, connective tissue disease, or joint problems. In addition, there is no conclusive evidence that silicone causes systemic diseases such as lupus or breast cancer.
According to the article, the notable difference is that silicone gel implants feel more natural and more like a human breast than a saline implant. The chief disadvantage of gel implants is that the gel may leak into the surrounding pocket if the implant ruptures. Though this material usually stays within the scar capsule that forms naturally around the implant, it could migrate out of the capsule into the breast tissue and cause small clumps of scar tissue, or granulomas, to form. There are no known cases of the gel migrating to other parts of the body.
Unlike saline implants, gel implants may cause a “silent rupture,” with no noticeable change in the breast’s appearance is noticeable. For this reason, the FDA strongly recommends women with gel implants receive long-term follow-up care, and encourages them to undergo diagnostic testing such as magnetic resonance imaging 5-6 years postoperatively, then every 2-3 years thereafter to assess the gel implant’s integrity.
It’s vital to thoroughly discuss your implant choices with your plastic surgeon. The cohesive gel breast implants used by the board-certified plastic surgeons at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg provide the soft, natural feel women desire and are available in a wide range of profiles and sizes to fit the patient’s body. Each implant has a proprietary gel that holds together uniformly and closely resembles breast tissue to the touch.
Silicone Gel Implants Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is silicone?
Silicone derives from silicon, a semi-metallic or metal-like element that in nature combines with oxygen to form silicon dioxide or silica, the most common substance on earth. When heated along with carbon at a high temperature, silica can produce silicon, and further processing can convert it into a long chemical chain, or polymer, called silicone.
Are silicone implants safe?
Scientifically performed studies reported in the medical literature have failed to show any differences between the safety of silicone-filled and saline-filled breast implants.
In what ways are silicone and saline breast implants similar?
Silicone and saline breast implants have the same silicone pouch, or shell, which is the portion of the implant that comes into direct contact with the patient.
When was the marketing of silicone gel implants approved by the FDA?
On November 17, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the marketing of silicone gel-filled breast implants for breast augmentation in women ages 22 and older and breast reconstruction in women of all ages.
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If you would like more information about your Northern Virginia options for breast implants, contact us online to request a consultation at Plastic Surgery Services of Fredericksburg. Or you can call our office at 540-371-7730 and one of our knowledgeable staff members will be happy to help you.
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