Breast augmentation is the most frequently performed plastic surgery on women. A breast implant is a sack of elastomer that is either filled with saline or silicone, and is surgically implanted into the breast tissue. Here we tackle more on the problems associated with silicon implants.
Silicone is derived from silicon, a semi-metallic or metal-like element that in nature combines with oxygen to form silicon dioxide, or silica. Beach sand, crystals and quartz are silica. Heating silica with carbon at a high temperature can produce silicon. Further processing can convert the silicon into a long chemical chain, or polymer, called silicone – which can be a liquid, gel or rubbery substance. Silicone can be found in many common household items such as polishes, suntan lotion, hand lotion, antiperspirants, soaps, processed foods and chewing gum.
Silicon Implants Are Prone To Cracking
Silicone gel implants have a silicone shell which is filled with silicone gel. Until the 90s, silicone was the dominant implant. The use of silicone covering was banned in the United States because of the second generation as it caused terrible cracks in the casing. So the silicone covering was made strong enough after which the FDA approved the silicone prosthesis in 2006.
This type of breast implant has been through a number of stages of development. The FDA for a time did not certify the use of silicone implants due to safety issues. Exhaustive research around the world has led the FDA to again allow the use of silicone implants which it again considers safe. The newer silicone implants use a more cohesive gel that is less likely to move around the body if the implant, in fact does leak. One major advantage of silicone implant is the very natural look they provide (as long as they are appropriately sized and positioned.
The disadvantages of the silicone implants are that they come pre-filled. This means the incision sites have to be larger, and the surgeon won’t be able to adjust the implants after inserting them. This means the implant can be filled anywhere in this range depending on the type of look and size the patient wants and also to gain symmetry between the breasts. With the silicones, the next size up after 450 is a 500 cc implant. So the surgeon will have less flexibility with the silicone implants. And because the implants come pre-filled, the umbilical method is not an option with the silicone implants, and the incisions in the other locations will have to be slightly larger.
Other breast implant dangers are infections and intolerance. Some women develop infections around the surgical site, and the implant must be removed in order to allow the infection to be treated. Even if an infection does not set in, some women’s bodies do not tolerate the implant very well. Plus, leaks may be difficult to detect, and it may be necessary to get routine MRI exams every few years to rule out a leak. In addition, systemic complications from breast implants refer to the potential for creating sickness of the body, specifically autoimmune diseases.
