My previous blog will championed the cause of silicone gel implants. Now, let’s talk about the virtues of saline.

 Saline implants hit the market in 1992 when the silicone moratorium began. Today women are choosing saline implants about 50% of the time.

 The advantages of saline implants are cost, adjustability, mammography related issues, and dealing with leakage.

 Implants are less expensive than silicone gel by about a $1000. This is simply how they are priced by the manufacturers, Allergan and Mentor.

 Because we fill saline implants in the OR, we are able to adjust volumes more specifically than silicone to better serve those patients with asymmetry.

 Mammograms are easier for the Radiologist to interpret when an implant is under the muscle. Silicone implants typically go on top of the muscle and saline below, making mammograms easier to read when a sub-muscular saline is used.

 Finally, if a saline leaks, you get a “flat tire”. It’s not hard to make the diagnosis. With silicone implants, the gel doesn’t absorb so we have to rely on an MRI to make the diagnosis.

 Saline and Silicone are both good implants but each has its’ Pros and Cons.

 Lee Corbett, MD

http://www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com

502.721.0330