What are the risks with Silicone Implants?

The new silicone gel breast implants approved by the FDA in 2006 are much safer then those in use in the 1980s.  The new silicone gel is cohesive which means that if the implant is ruptured the gel stays in place and does not migrate outside the breast capsule.For detailed discussion of silicone gel breast implant safety please read the link below.

In order to completely understand the risks of
silicone gel implants and breast augmentation surgery you should consult a
board-certified plastic surgeon. Some of the most important risks or adverse
outcomes associated with breast implant surgery are bleeding, infection,
malposition, sensory change, rippling, capsule contracture, and implant
failure. Some of these may very depending upon the implant type and pocket location
chosen.



There are two types of silicone gel breast
implants approved by the FDA - round moderately cohesive gel implants and
anatomically shaped highly cohesive gel implants. One of these implants may
work better than the other depending upon breast shape, tissue compliance,
desired volume, desired shape, and whether a breast lift is required at the
same time as the augmentation. Round silicone gel implants can be used in any
patient. Anatomically shaped silicone gel implants work better in patients with
average-to-tight tissue compliance of the breast-skin envelope; and the primary
focus with these implants is usually shape instead of volume.



The moderately cohesive gel matrix in a round
implant has enough structure to prevent gross leakage should the implant fail.
The amount of gel that leaks outside the show will depend upon the size of the
hole and the duration of the failure. Providing the capsule is intact (which it
should be in almost all cases), the gel will remain inside the capsule. In other
words, the capsule serves a protective function and prevents the gel from
migrating into other tissues. If the capsule at some point loses its integrity,
then the moderately cohesive gel could migrate into other tissues. The highly
cohesive gel matrix of the anatomic implant has form stability. If the implant
fails, the structure of the gel does not allow for leakage. There have been no
reported cases of extracapsular gel migration with the highly cohesive anatomic
implants.



During your consultation, you will be able to
see and feel both of these implant types, and understand them better.



Best wishes. Ken Dembny

In Europe we have pretty much used silicone implants in preference to any other implant. Leaking can occur and all information is available on the FDA website. Silicone implants have improved since. The FDA data was for first generation cohesive gel implants and we are now using 5th generation cohesive gel implants. Personally I have never seen a leak of a 5th generation implant. You should consult with your PS and go through the pros and cons.