Is it true that when an echocardiogram is needed every 5 years, that it would be best to choose saline implants over silicone?

Question

Urmen Desai, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

I haven't heard of this being true.  I recommend an in-office examination as well as a detailed discussion with a surgeon who you are comfortable with.   Finally, make sure your surgeon is a Double-Board Certified Plastic Surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS), a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).Best,Dr. DesaiBeverly Hills Institute for Aesthetic Plastic SurgeryHarvard Educated, Beverly Hills & Miami Beach TrainedDouble Board-Certified, Double Fellowship-Trained Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Andres Taleisnik, MD · Answer

It seems that other surgeons have answered your question as if you'd written electrocardiogram, not echocardiogram. Those are different procedures. Even so, I am not aware that visualization of the heart with an echocardiogram would be significantly impacted by the presence of silicone breast implants. Your best answer would likely come from the person that performs your echocardiograms.

Luis M. Rios Jr., MD · Answer

Thanks for the question.I think you might be referring to the recommendations of using MRI's every two years after silicone implant surgery. When the FDA allowed gel implants to be used for aesthetic purposes in 2006, their recommendations included the use of an MRI every 2 years to check for "silent" ruptures. This recommendation was done because gel implants stay the same size and stay soft for a period of time after rupture.In the plastic surgery community, we constantly debate the advantage of screening MRI's because there is a false positive report from MRI screening. In other words, the MRI says there is a rupture and no rupture is found at the time of surgery. For this reason, some plastic surgeons do not use MRI's routinely but only in cases that a rupture is suspected on physical exam or traumatic injury like a car accident.When saline implants rupture, they deflate and the saline is reabsorbed. No testing is needed to determine if saline implants are ruptured. Although this might make saline implants seem more appealing, remember the rupture rate for saline implants is significantly higher than gel implants.The use of saline versus gel implants is a decision to make while discussing these issues with your plastic surgeon. Gel implants are more natural feeling and rupture less often. It is easier to detect ruptures with saline implants and they may be slightly less expensive. Ultimately the decision is yours after you get all the information.The good thing is that the implant companies carry a warranty for implant ruptures. They usually replace the implants and cover a portion of the surgical cost to replace them. You will have to get the specific warranty information from your plastic surgeon.Good Luck!

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Ready 2013,ECG shouldn't be affected by the type of breast implants. The pros of silicone implants are that they look and feel more natural and ripple less. 
The pros of saline implants are that they do not require as large of an incision as silicone, less expensive, they have less incidence of capsular contracture (scarring around the implant), one can tell immediately if there is a rupture, the size can be slightly adjusted, and they can be used for women younger than 22 years of age.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

and you are considering implants, you should ask your echocardiogram tech whether they can 'see' through the implants and if one style is better than the other.  Your is a somewhat unique situation.

Is it true that when an echocardiogram is needed every 5 years, that it would be best to choose saline implants over silicone?

Answers (6)

Answer: Implant type

Answer: Implant type

Answer: When echocardiograms are needed in follow-up

Answer: When echocardiograms are needed in follow-up

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Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

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Is it true that when an echocardiogram is needed every 5 years, that it would be best to choose saline implants over silicone?

Answers (6)

Answer: Implant type

Answer: Implant type

Answer: When echocardiograms are needed in follow-up

Answer: When echocardiograms are needed in follow-up

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.