Pros and Cons of the IDEAL breast implants? Are the ideal implants more expensive than silicone?

Question

Hello, so I have some questions about the new ideal implants: 1. What are the pros and cons of ideal implants? 2. Why would anyone choose ideal implants over silicone or vice versa? 3. Are the ideal implants more expensive than silicone? 4. For people with little breast tissue, will the ideal implants still look and feel natural when they are not anatomical ("teardrop") shaped? 5. Why exactly is the silent rupture of the silicone to be dreaded when silicone was approved to be safe by the FDA?

Ellen A. Mahony, MD · Answer

Those are great questions and I refer you to my website where you can review videos discussing Ideal, blog and before and after pics.  But let's get right to the point with some answers:Pros of Ideal Implants: 1. safest implant on the market with the the lowest rate of capsular contracture and leaks. 2.  feels and looks natural as noted by every single woman in whom I have placed these implants   3.  natural and safe alternative to a chemical such as silicone  4.  IF there were a leak, your body will absorb the saline and you will detect a leak without either the need for an expensive MRI or the worry about a "silent (gel) leak" which could cause problems without your awareness 5. offers advantages of both moderate and high profile shapes  6.  maintains great upper pole volume  6.  great warranty  7.  a leak in a gel implant is a straight up easy replacement- not so with a leak in gelCons of Ideal Implants:  I've heard cost is greater than gel but this is not uniformly the case and varies from office to office.  Regardless, the difference is not significant and I might argue well worth it...considering the awesome level of safety this device provides.Why would anyone choose Ideal over Gel or Vice Versa:  Excellent question.  And I put that to the test in my practice.  Once I offered Ideal, in addition to traditional saline and gel, I laid out the pros and cons of each and let women just like you decide for themselves.  As it turns out, women believe that safety is the most important factor when it comes to medical decisions and what they choose to put  in their bodies.  As I would tell any woman, a silent leak in a gel implant is no woman's friend.  Most of those leaks show up as a capsular contracture requiring complex surgeries which thus far are not under full warranty with manufacturers.  Some surgeries need to be staged.  And, there is double the risk of another capsular contracture if you have had one. Regrettably, gel implants are not usually presented with full disclosure of all the facts.  Often the "pros" are reviewed and the "cons" are glossed over and not discussed in terms that make sense for women.  Bottom line, as my patients now ask me, "Why would any woman choose gel?!"Are Ideal more expensive than gel?  As mentioned above, they may be but it is worth shopping around on price.  And if more expensive-- they are worth it. Can any of us put a price on peace of mind??Do the Ideal still look good in slim women with minimum breast tissue?  Yes, go to my web site and look at Ideal.  We are just starting to create a page dedicated to them.  Keep in mind, there are studies done in which plastic surgeons couldn't tell the difference between patients with anatomic and round- so why worry?  All round implants assume somewhat of an anatomic shape with the help of gravity.  These look terrific in a wide range of body types.  Why is a silent leak dreaded?  It's considered silent because it's not physically obvious, NOT because it's SAFE.  That's a good question for the manufacturers.  Let me ask you this:  If you had a leak, which would you rather have in your body?  Saline or gel??  Saline is safe, our bodies absorb it.  Silicone is a foreign body.  It may be one of the better foreign bodies out there but our bodies still recognize it as an outsider.  For this reason, our bodies respond to it but trying to wall it off.  You see, although gel is "cohesive" and is not a liquid that flows out of the implant, it still rubs against your tissue.  Everytime you move or flex a chest muscle, the implant shape changes and the gel contacts your tissue. Our tissue can harden to wall off the implant (capsular contracture) which creates deformity and eventually pain.  That implant has to be removed with the capsule.  These are always bloody procedures.  And, there is risk of bleeding and impaired circulation to the remaining tissue. Not always the best situation to immediately put in another implant.  And if you put in another gel, you are at double the risk for another contracture.  Between time out of work, costs, pain, stress....it's a big deal.Over the last 4 years, I had 4 women come in with gel problems.  In the last 4 months I've had over 15.   Textured gel implants are associated with lymphoma.I think I've given you plenty to think about.  My suggestion, when talking to your surgeons, be sure to ask not just about the benefits.  Always ask about the RISKS, CONS and ALTERNATIVES.  It's our job to educate you, not tell you what to do or sell you on a highly marketed device.   As women, we deserve the best and are capable of arriving at the right decisions for ourselves- we just need the FACTS. Ladies, ask for the facts.In good health,Ellen Mahony, MD

Steven Goldman, MD · Answer

As with all implant types, there are various advantages and disadvantages of the Ideal Implant compared to traditional saline or silicone. Cost: The Ideal Implant is usually priced like round silicone implants and is therefore more expensive than traditional saline. Softness: As noted in the title, the Ideal Implant is not as soft as silicone, but does feel softer than traditional saline to most patients. Remember, there are patients who prefer the look and feel of saline, provided they have good soft tissue coverage over their implants.Leak: Like traditional saline implants, a big advantage over silicone is that leak is easily detected as deflation, and the body simply reabsorbs the saline. Silicone cannot be absorbed by the body if an implant leaks. The Ideal Implant has multiple chambers, but if the inner chambers leak, the implant does not deflate. It's leak rate is likely lower than traditional saline. So don't view the Ideal Implant as a saline implant that acts like silicone; it doesn't, but it is an excellent option for patients who are candidates for saline but want a softer result. Good luck.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

hello realme0108The Ideal Implant™ was recently FDA approved and is now being offered at our facility, Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery Newport Beach. Some women are not comfortable having silicone implants in their body and that was one of the reasons why the Ideal Implant was created. This implant gives a more natural feeling than traditional saline implants on the market. The unique structure of the Ideal Implant allows for a similar look and feel as silicone with the safety of saline. 
  
Find a board-certified plastic surgeon that has already performed procedure with this implant and discuss realistic goals and expectations. #candidate #options

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

All great questions. The ideal Implant is a new structured saline implant and the first technological change in implants in decdes. It was designed to merge the benefits of a more natural feel of gel implants with the "safety" profile and lack of "issues" related to saline implants. All implants are safe but they all have issues you should understand before choosing to get them. Thiey include issues related to cpasule contracture, rupture and the need for additional surgery. When traditional saline implants break the woman knows right away beause it is like a flat tire and very obvious. When gel implants break it is called silent because most women do not know that the implant has broken. This is because the gel does not dissolve but stays within the implant capsule. Many years ago, the gel could get outside the capsule and cause lumps and problems within the breast. While this is still possible it does not seem to occur as nearly as much. Women need to get an MRI to detect whether or not the gel implants are broken. The ideal implant has two distinct containers separated from one another by "sails" with holes. This controls the way the saline flows inside the implant and makes it feel like a gel implant. When it breaks, most likely only one container will break at the tie and the implant will get smaller but not flat. This will signal to the woman that it's time to get it checked. MRIs are not required.

Michael Zwicklbauer, MD, FACS · Answer

You have far too many questions to answer in a small area here. I will do my best. The ideal implant is a structured saline  implant.  It will tell you when it’s broken and it is filled with a natural substance, saline.  That is very different from silicone which is not a natural substance in our body. Although FDA approval of silicone came about in 2006 it certainly creates problems for patients.  When a silicone implant breaks all of the tissue inside of you which is contaminated by the silicone should be removed. This can mean granulomas or foreign body reaction masses in your breasts tissue itself. It also will mean more than likely recurrent bad scar tissue formation with whatever new implant is placed.  The ideal implant is more expensive than silicone implants. However if you just get one MRI in your lifetime than the silicone implant will in essence cost far more.  Remember the FDA recommends an MRI every other year starting the third year postoperativelay with silicone implantsThe implant can look very natural but of course only a certified plastic surgeon can help you anticipate that.  Good luck

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Pros and Cons of the IDEAL breast implants? Are the ideal implants more expensive than silicone?

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Answer: See a surgeon

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