Breast Implant Details

BREAST IMPLANT CHOICES

There are currently three implant options available to Dr. Van Natta’s patients for augmentation, Silicone Gel, Cohesive Silicone Gel and Saline. All implants are encased in a silicone rubber shell which may be either smooth or textured. Implants come in a variety of shapes, primarily round or anatomic, and may have varying degrees of projection. At your consultation, Dr Van Natta and his staff will help guide your selection of the best implant to match your tissues for a natural appearing longterm result. No implant can be considered a “forever” device. As a general rule, silicone gel implants tend to last longer than saline implants. Cohesive gel implants currently have the best track record for longevity, but they too may need to be replaced eventually.

SILICONE GEL

Silicone Gel implants were re-approved by the FDA in December of 2006 and offer a safe, natural feeling and acting implant choice for most women. The concerns about safety have been satisfied through repeated medical studies which show there is no increased risk of autoimmune or other conditions related to silicone gel implants. For more information regarding silicone gel safety we recommend you go to: www.breastimplantsafety.org and www.breastimplantanswers.com. Allergan provides a 10 year warranty on their gel implants in the case of failure which includes replacement of both implants if desired and provide up to $3500 in cost offset to cover expenses

COHESIVE GEL  

Cohesive Gel implants are chemically the same as regular Silicone Gel except that they have been cured for a longer period of time in the manufacturing process resulting in a form-stable device that does not ripple as much as the standard gel implants. This firmer texture has led to the nickname: “gummy bear” implants. These are currently available through clinical studies only but should hopefully be approved by the FDA very soon. These implants are currently only available in anatomic shapes. Dr. Van Natta has co-written the original article on the U.S. experience with this implant and is one of the leading investigators for Allergan, the maker of these implants.

SALINE    

Saline implants are salt water filled devices that are more prone to “rippling” than Silicone Gel implants. They are an alternative to those wishing to avoid silicone gel. Currently they are used in less than 3% of Dr. Van Natta’s cases. The palpability of these implants tends to become more pronounced over time. The rupture rates for saline devices has consistently been higher than either silicone gel or cohesive gel.