Although there are many versions of breast implants that vary in size, texture and shape, almost all breast implants are filled with a saline solution or silicone gel. Saline-filled implants and silicone gel-filled implants are both in the coating of silicone gel. Despite the presence of other types of implants with fillings such as soybean oil, these two are by far the most common types of breast implants.

The first saline-filled breast implants were manufactured in 1964 in France. The first silicone gel-filled breast implants were developed in Texas only a few years earlier. Over the years, of course, both types of breast implants have been redesigned and improved. Currently, saline breast implants are used most commonly to the silicone in the United States. This has to do with the federal health restrictions on silicone implants. In other countries where such restrictions do not exist, silicone implants are more often in favor of breast implants from saline. The first woman to receive breast implants inserted his own in 1962. Since then, thousands of women have had silicone breast implants and saline installed in their bodies.

Cosmetically, silicone gel breast implants are generally considered to be superior to saline breast implants. It is believed that silicone gel implants have a more natural look and feel. Women with very little breast tissue and those who have suffered mastectomies sometimes experience a wrinkle or Rippling effect with saline breast implants. However, women with more abundant natural breast tissue May barely notice the difference between saline breast implants and silicone breast implants.

In the 1990s, a number of medical researchers studied the relationship between silicone gel breast implants and systemic disease. Many women have claimed to have fallen ill with neurological and rheumatological problems due to their breast implants. Different studies on this and other relationships have been conducted and are conducted on an ongoing basis. However, there is still no consensus in the scientific community on this issue.

In order to err on the side of safety, many plastic surgeons work exclusively with saline-filled breast implants. Until there is conclusive evidence that silicone implants do not cause disease in patients implanted, it is likely that doctors in the United States will continue to use saline. Some women who engage in that most of the natural implants can choose to travel outside the United States to have breast augmentation surgery with silicone implants.

One of the best ways to choose the type of breast implant for your body is to consult a plastic surgeon. Once the surgeon has made some recommendations, the investigation of the manufacturers. In this way, you can learn a lot about the design and function of breast implants before going under the knife.

We are not doctors and do not provide medical advice, but I can tell you what we know on the basis of research and talking with many experts and women who have breast implants.

The best way to tell if a silicone breast implant has broken or is leaking is to have an MRI of the breast with a coil. Unfortunately MRIs are expensive, but necessary because mammography can not accurately detect a break or leak. And the tightening of mammography may cause implant rupture of a brain drain. An ultrasound may be useful but only if the radiologist is specially trained to detect implant ruptures and leaks – and there are very few. That’s why an MRI is the best strategy, although it should also be read by someone who has experience in looking for a break or leak in a silicone breast implant.

FDA scientists found that by the time women had implants for at least 10 years, at least one of them usually has broken. However, before the implants often break, sometimes even in the first year. For women with saline breast implants, an implant is clearly broken, as it typically deflates quickly. However, when silicone gel breast implants break, there are often no symptoms at all for a year or more. Years later, there are several symptoms that many women report: breast changes are minor or form, lumps or lumps may appear in or near the breast, some women complain of a burning pain, and some women experience symptoms of autoimmune disease As joint pain, memory loss, confusion, or chronic fatigue.

Many plastic surgeons believe that silicone is “perfectly safe.” But experts who have read the research agreed that a ruptured silicone gel-filled breast implants should be removed as soon as possible, especially if it is leaking. MRI can help the plastic surgeon knows that the problem are the areas for which he or she can prevent leakage during shipment. Removal of the implants before breaking means there is less chance that the silicone will leak out of the scar tissue surrounding the implant. It is important to have the procedure performed by a plastic surgeon who is very experienced in the removal of leaking silicone implants. Old or broken silicone gel breast implants should be removed “en bloc”. That means all the way up and all the scar tissue capsule that surrounds it are eliminated all together. This makes it easier to remove any that may have leaked silicone gel implants for broken, and also helps remove silicone or other chemicals that may have leaked from the silicone on the scar in the capsule.

A study conducted by Dr. Noreen Aziz from the National Cancer Institute and Dr. Frank Vasey of the University of South Florida found that most women who had rheumatological symptoms (such as joint pain) felt significantly better after get your breast implants removed and not replaced. Those who do not get their implants removed usually worsened. Those who have been removed and replaced (with silicone or saline implants), the implants did not improve.

What information should I get for my records?

If you are going to be fitted with a breast implant, there are several important items of information that should have for their personal files before his surgery.

Patient information sheet for women taking into account breast implants: You can get this from your doctor.

Label maker: a copy of the label identifies the brand of implant you receive, its size and the manufacturer’s lot number. These data should be part of their personal health records. It will be useful whether there should be problems after surgery or seek care from another health care provider.

The package insert: You should also receive a copy of the prospectus manufacturer of breast implants you will receive. Each prospectus contains important information about precautions to be taken and the risks associated with specific brand of implant. You should use this document as a basis for discussion about the surgery with your doctor, and keep it for future reference.

Informed Consent Form: This must be signed before surgery. It is also advisable before surgery to obtain a copy of your doctor’s informed consent form so you can better understand the risks involved and ask questions. This should be kept as part of its archives.

Insurance coverage: Some insurance companies reimburse patients with breast cancer for the cost of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy including the cost of breast implants. In general, insurance companies do not cover costs associated with increased breast. Many insurance companies do not cover explantation. Before the surgery, be sure to get answers in writing from your insurance company to these questions:

Will my policy cover the cost of the implant surgery, implants, anesthesia and other hospital costs? To what extent?

Is Covering the withdrawal and / or replace the implants if necessary? To what extent?

Will cover the cost of detecting or treating a complication as a result of any implants or reconstruction? To what extent?

How can a woman find out what kind of implant is?

This information should be in his medical history. You can contact the hospital or facility where he had surgery, or ask your surgeon. Women with implants who want this information should try as soon as possible, because doctors and hospitals do not maintain medical records indefinitely.

How much time of my last implants?

Implants of age at the time and may need to be replaced. Despite the fact that its implementation may take many years, you should not expect to last indefinitely.

Should I tell other doctors in the future about my implants?

Yes. Every time you give a medical history, be sure to inform the doctor who has breast implants, just as you should tell him or her about other previous surgical procedures.

What is the proper way to examine your breasts?

Like all women, those with breast implants should be regular breast self-examinations and regular reviews of their health care provider trained in the breast exam. For women with breast implants, these tests to take greater importance because it can help reveal the complications that could be due to implants. Women with implants should examine your breasts every month so they can detect changes. For women who menstruate, the best time to examine the breasts is two or three days after the menstrual period ends, when breasts are less likely to be tender or swollen. Women who no longer menstruate should examine your breasts every month at the same time.

To examine your breasts, first standing in front of a mirror and look for anything unusual, such as changes in the shape or appearance of their breasts or nipples. Then to lie on his back to allow a better examination of tissue that flattens and extends deep palpation.

With his right arm raised above his head, use the flat surface of the tip of the fingers of his left hand to feel your right breast. Move your fingers in one of three ways: in a circular motion in a clockwise fashion; into strips (like mowing the lawn), or a radiating pattern. Feel around the chest to feel any unusual lump, swelling, or mass under the skin of her right breast.

You should also feel for any lumps or swollen glands in his armpit. Follow the same procedure for the left breast, (with his right hand to examine the left breast with his left hand raised above his head).

Pay particular attention to changes in the strength, size or shape of their breasts. Being attentive to pain, tenderness, or color changes in the breast area, or any spill or unusual sensation around the nipple. Any such changes should be promptly reported to a doctor, like any other concern about their breasts.

Is it necessary to get regular mammograms?

Women with breast implants who are in an age group where routine mammograms are recommended should be sure to take these exams at recommended intervals. (Those who have had surgery for breast cancer in both breasts should ask their doctors whether mammograms are still necessary.) But women should be aware that breast implants may interfere with the detection of cancer and mammograms are not implant leaks or ruptures.

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been approved by the FDA for detecting leakage or rupture of an implant. The FDA has not been presented with data showing the effectiveness of other methods, such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CAT) scans, when used to detect rupture or leak. You should discuss the best method for detecting leaks or break with your doctor.

Is there a test for the detection of silicone in the body or to determine whether a person is sensitive to silicone?

There is no FDA approved, standard tests for the detection of silicone in the body. Determining that the silicon or silicon is present in body fluids does not indicate whether a person is sensitive to these substances or at risk for any specific disease. (Silicon is an element that is one component silicone and is one of the most abundant elements on earth. Everyone is exposed to silicone.)

Some researchers have produced reports, a test that can detect antibodies to silicone in the blood. However, the validity of the test is controversial. Even if these antibodies were detected, the significance would be unclear. Antibodies to the silicone does not necessarily indicate that the silicone is harmful, or that a person would necessarily have an adverse reaction to it. Some researchers have also produced reports, a test to detect whether a woman’s immune system is sensitive to silica, one of the constituent elements of silicone breast implants and, apparently, a product of silicone gel. The validity of this test has also been questioned, and it is unclear at this point whether the results of this test have clinical significance. The FDA has not approved for general marketing tests to determine silicone in the body, or to determine whether a woman’s immune system is sensitive to any component of silicone breast implants.

Even if simple techniques for detecting silicone is available, might not be useful in detecting a break because small amounts of silicone normally bleed from the still intact implants. In addition, since the silicone is found in many foods and other products, including medicines commonly used and cosmetics, evidence that is not easy to determine if the wine silicone implant or another source.

Some researchers have also reported that a test called the Anti-Polymer Antibody test can be used to distinguish between women with implants who have signs and symptoms of diseases ranging from mild to severe. However, the biological basis for the trial has not been established. The test has not yet been validated by additional studies and, at this time, the clinical significance of the test results remains unclear.

If a woman has her breast implants removed?

If a woman is experiencing symptoms that may be related to their implants, they should contact their doctor or surgeon to discuss the best course of action. This debate should include recognition that the results of cosmetic explantation may be unsatisfactory for some women