Article by Jill Cassidy
Saline breast implants were first manufactured by Arion in France in the mid-1960s. Over the years they have improved dramatically in design. Saline implants (actually saline-filled implants) are the most commonly used implants in the United States for breast augmentation procedures.
Saline implants are actually silicone shells that are filled with a saline solution (salt water). Enhancements in silicone have made these much safer than the original designs. One significant improvement to the design of these implants is that they are inserted empty. The fact that the silicone shell is implanted prior to it being filled means there is a much smaller incision used in the procedure.
Once the implant is in place it is filled with the solution. The implant can be above or below the pectoral muscle, your plastic surgeon will discuss which procedure he or she is going to do and why. All breast augmentation procedures have some limitations based on the physiology of the patient.
Some women prefer silicone implants over saline breast implants because of some complications known about saline breast implants, including:• Rippling of implant• Wrinkling of implant• Visually noticeable• More obvious to the touch
Though there have been improvements in silicone implants, the fear of leaking and puncturing leads most women to choose the saline breast implants over the silicone breast implants. It is important for you to speak with your plastic surgeon about the differences between the two including both the pros and the cons. After you have been provided with all of the information on the various types of implants available you can make an educated decision on which type of implant is best for you.
Breast augmentation has become one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States, with almost 350,000 breast enlargement surgeries performed in 2007, according the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Interested in undergoing a breast enhancement procedure? Find out the average price of breast augmentation to determine if this procedure is right for you.
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