Saline Breast Implants and Improving Technology: Is there anything new out there for breast implants

In the United States, saline breast implants are still very popular and are often the first choice for women who are seeking primary breast augmentation.  Silicone is not always the best first option for women with normal amounts of breast tissue.

Saline implants continue to improve in terms of their design and risk of complications including capsular contracture and leakage.  There are some newer studies in Europe that employ medications to decrease the risk of capsular contracture in the postoperative setting.

As for emerging technology...If you are planning saline or silicone breast augmentation, an experienced plastic surgeon should discuss the realized risks and benefits of proceeding with surgery vs. waiting five to ten years for newer advancements.

One thing that the history of breast implants reveals is that technological advances do not always pan out. We can only be sure of what we know based on the past, not on future expectations. I always tell patients that breast implant surgery is imperfect. There will always be some risk or undesirable side effect to be concerned about. Technology has improved certain things but not all and have produced some undesirable consequences.

For example, polyurethrane-covered implants, pre-filled saline implants, and soybean oil-filled implants were all once 'technological' advancements. None are currently used in the United States. Eevn textured bags and so-called anatomical implants are in the minority. You should only measure your desire for breast augmentation against the risks and side effect of currently available technology. Even if something is 'better', you will never have the assurance that it will ever pass FDA approval and come to market. If it does, it will usually takes years.

In addition, while you expect to have only one operation, history also shows that, whether you like it or not, once a patient gets breast implants, the likelihood of going through another operation, either by necessity or choice, is quite high. You will always have the opportunity to "upgrade" later. And despite all the possible risks and side effects and the constant search for improvements, the vast majority of patients (over 95%)are very satisfied with the operation and implants using currently available technology.

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