As a leading Sacramento breast augmentation surgeon, Dr. Donald Hause answers questions about breast implant safety all the time. He appreciates that women who want to increase the size of their breasts wish to do so in the safest way possible.
If you are thinking about getting implants, Dr. Hause is committed to providing you with safe, quality care. He only offers implants that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safety. In this post, he explains what you need to know about choosing safe, reliable implants.
Saline versus Silicone Implant Safety
One of the first decisions you will make about your implant is the type that best suits your needs. You may choose saline implants, which are made from a silicone shell filled with a sterile saltwater solution. The empty shell is placed in the breast and then filled to the preferred capacity with the saline. Should a saline implant develop a leak, the body painlessly absorbs the saline.
Your second option is silicone implants, which are made from a silicone shell pre-filled with a thick silicone gel material. Due to the nature of the silicone implant filling, the silicone material tends to stay in or near the implant capsule should a leak or rupture occur — though silicone isn’t a harmful substance.
You have a third implant option: the Ideal Implant, which is a special type of saline implant containing several chambers holding the saline. The chambers help to give the Ideal Implant a more realistic look and feel than conventional saline implants. Ideal Implants have a very low rupture rate, but in the unlikely event of a problem, the body instantly absorbs the saline.
Smooth versus Textured Implant Safety
In the past, you would have had the choice between smooth and textured implants. Textured implants have a rough surface that creates scar tissue in the breast pocket to hold the implants in place and prevent them from rotating or shifting.
However, the FDA uncovered a link between textured implants and a type of immune system cancer known as breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). Upon reviewing the FDA’s safety advisory regarding textured implants, Dr. Hause no longer offers them. (Note that the type of implant you select does not affect the risk of developing BIA-ALCL, so you can feel confident in the safety of saline, silicone, and Ideal implants.)
Dr. Hause Cares About Your Safety
Dr. Hause would be happy to discuss the safety of breast implants with you in more detail during a personal consultation. To request an appointment with him, please call or email Sacramento Aesthetic Surgery today.
