What Are the Dangers of Saline Breast Implants?
Saline breast implants are medical devices made of a soft silicone shell filled with saline water that are inserted to enhance the size of breasts. Though saline breast implants are usually considered a safer alternative to silicone implants, they still carry some dangers that should be weighed prior to making the decision to go along with breast implant surgery.
Rupture or Deflation
Both silicone and saline breast implants risk the chance of rupturing or deflating, but saline breast implant ruptures can be detected much sooner than ruptures of silicone breast implants. While the exact cause of rupturing and deflation are not known, it could be caused by capsular contracture, overfilling or underfilling the implants, too much handling during surgery, damage from surgical instruments, or it may be simply caused by aging of the implant itself.
Capsular Contraction
Capsular contraction occurs when the fibrous capsule that surrounds the breast implant thickens and/or tightens, causing hardness and distortion of the shape of the breast implant. Although capsular contraction can occur at any time, it will usually occur within a few months after breast implant surgery. It is estimated that 15-20 percent of women who undergo breast augmentation surgery will experience capsular contraction.
Infection
Breast implants carry the risk of two different possible types of infection. The first type of infection occurs within the first week after the surgery. Symptoms include generally feeling unwell, fever, or redness in the breast implant area that looks similar to a sunburn. The second type occurs over time, with no initial symptoms. The breasts may become red and the skin will get really thin and the implant itself may break through the skin. In either type of infection, removal of the breast implant will be necessary.
Changes in Nipple and/or Breast Sensitivity
After saline breast implants have been inserted, there is a chance that changes could occur in nipple and/or breast sensitivity. This means that they could either become more sensitive, less sensitive, or possibly not have any feeling at all, which will not be able to be reversed.
Excessive Bleeding
Most of the bleeding that occurs during a breast implant surgery is easily controlled; however, excessive bleeding can occur during surgery and even after the surgery. If excessive bleeding occurs after the surgery, it's likely that surgery will be conducted again in order to drain the blood.
Tags: breast implant, after surgery, breast implant surgery, implant surgery, saline breast, breast implants
