The Facts about Silicone and Saline Breast Implants

For the right candidates, breast augmentation with implants can be a wonderful, life-affirming choice. However, many women who are considering breast enlargement are hesitant to pursue surgery because of their concerns about breast implants. The following are some facts about breast implants that will help you cut through the myths. For further information about breast implants and breast enhancement, please don’t hesitate to contact cosmetic surgeon Joseph Fodero at his plastic surgery practice in New Jersey.

• Breast augmentation cost depends on many factors, but is generally a substantial investment. Silicone breast implants tend to be more expensive than saline breast implants. It is important not to select a plastic surgeon based on cost alone; choosing to undergo “discount” cosmetic surgery today can lead to your having to undergo more expensive revisional surgery in the future. You’ve seen plenty of unnatural breast augmentation results out there, right? A skilled, experienced cosmetic surgeon knows how to avoid those.
• While they were banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for several years, silicone breast implants were approved for reintroduction onto the American market in 2006 after the FDA determined that there was “no definitive evidence linking [silicone] breast implants to cancer…[or] systemic diseases.” Silicone-filled implants are susceptible to the same risks as saline implants (e.g., rupture), but are, on the whole, safe.
• Size is not the only consideration when choosing a breast implant. Implants can be round or teardrop shaped, and they can be smooth or textured. They can also be placed either under or above the pectoralis muscle. Each of these elements has its own advantages and disadvantages, which your plastic surgeon can explain to you in detail.

It’s very important that you ask many questions of your potential plastic surgeon, as Dr. Fodero encourages breast augmentation patients at his New Jersey cosmetic surgery practice to do. Especially important is to request before-and-after photos of a surgeon’s actual breast enlargement patients, including patients who have undergone breast lift in combination with breast augmentation. Past results may not be an indicator of the results you can expect, but they will give you an idea of the surgeon’s aesthetic eye and surgical skills.