by Terrye Tebbetts
There is so much information and data that really needs to be explored before a patient chooses a breast implant. All breast implants of every shape, size, filler, projection, shell type and manufacturer have their own set of pros and cons. It would take another book to truly analyze it all for you. But, I think one very important distinction needs to be addressed here. It is very simple – and yet, I hear it every day from patients.
On the surface, when one thinks about safety, one will usually jump to and ally with the most “natural” choice or substance. In the case of breast implants, that would be a saline implant. Saline – salt water – what could be safer? After all, it is just water, right? And if that implant were to leak, your body would just absorb the water with no harm done – - certainly not like that scary silicone implant that could silently rupture and cause you all kinds of problems like you have heard about on TV.
Oh contraire ladies – here’s the deal – yes, if a saline breast implant leaks, your body simply absorbs it. However, a if it leaks, then you have a flat tire and it has to be replaced. That means MORE surgery, MORE anesthesia, MORE expense and MORE risk. Saline implants come to the surgeon empty and must be filled at the time of surgery – that means they have to have a valve. Valves fail over time. Saline is also, as we stated before, just water – which is a very thin solution and more likely to diffuse through the breast implant shell over time.
In Dr. Tebbetts’ experience and review of the currently available implant data, silicone breast implants are likely to last you 3 – 5 times longer than a saline breast implant.
So if you decide to chose a saline breast implant, please chose it based on something else other than you think it is safer because it is just salt water. More operations and more money spent, does not sound safer to me!
About the Author: Terrye Tebbetts is one of the most knowledgeable women in the world about breast implants, with 27 years of experience educating patients and 11 years as a patient herself. For more information about breast implants or breast augmentation Dallas surgeons, please visit www.thebestbreast.com.