Breast implants are medical devices and over time, like all medical devices, are subject to fatigue. Over time, the development of a capsular contracture around a breast implant can cause folds in the shell of a saline implant. Repeated creasing in the fold of a saline implant can cause the shell to fatigue and allow the saline to leak.
The leak of saline into the body is not harmful to the patient, but is nonetheless, psycholocially distressing. These patients have been coming to our office with an increasing frequency and request the removal of their saline implants for silicone implants. Often patients who have a deflation of their saline implants have had their devices for over 8-10 years.
These patients who have undergone removal and replacement of their saline implants for silicone gel implants are starting to tell their friends how happy they are with the improvement in the shape and feel of their breasts. As a result, I am seeing an increase in the number of patients who present to the office requesting their saline implants to be exchanged for silicone implants.
Brian P. Dickinson, M.D.
www.drbriandickinson.com
Showing posts with label Silicone Breast Implants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Silicone Breast Implants. Show all posts
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Breast Implants. Saline Implant Valve Failure with Capsular Contracture
I am seeing more and more women in consultation in my office with deflation of their saline breast implants. In fact, twice this month we had women who presented with the development of pain around their breast implant with an associated distortion of the breast shape secondary to breast implant valve failure.
It has been my experience that the development of a capsular contracture around the breast implant changes not only the shape of the breast implant capsule complex, but may incorporate around the valve of the saline implant (as shown in the image above).
Either continued contraction of the breast capsule resulting in a change in the surface area to volume ratio and/or ingrowth of the capsule to the valve disrupts the valve and allows the saline to extravasate. These women often present with continued pain and the apparent deflation of the implant can be distressing to the patient.
In these cases I recommend that women undergo removal and replacement of their breast implants and capsulectomy. Many women are opting now to exchange their saline implants for silicone gel breast implants.After these surgeries, patients are very happy with the new contour of their implants and their pain is often markedly improved.
Brian P. Dickinson, M.D.
www.drbriandickinson.com
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