Saline breast implants have a silicone shell filled with a water and salt solution. Unlike silicone implants, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved saline for cosmetic use in women 18 and older. These are the most common implants for women in the United States.
Cosmetic Complications
Breast implants do not last a lifetime with a single operation. The implants may change in shape over time and can become asymmetrical. A study done by Mentor Corporation, a manufacturer of breast implants, found that three years after surgery, about one-fifth of women with saline implants had a wrinkled look to their breasts, which cannot be undone. Despite 73 percent of women reporting at least one side effect in the first five years, most remained happy with their implants.
Rupture and Deflation
If saline implants are ruptured, the saline solution will leak from the implants, causing the breast to look deflated. The solution itself is safe to the body. The leak may occur slowly, causing detection to take some time. Most implants will rupture or simply deflate in the course of a lifetime, according to the FDA. Surgery will be necessary to remove and replace the original implant.
Other Problems
Women may also experience a loss of nipple sensation or the inability to produce milk for breast feeding. According to the Mentor study, about 5 percent of women experienced nipple pain and about 5 percent experienced breast pain in the first three years. Some may also have infections from surgery or develop painful scar tissue.
Implants and Medical Conditions
Survivors of breast cancer are more likely to need replacement surgery in the first three years after receiving saline implants. Thirty-nine percent of these women needed additional surgery versus about 20 percent of other women. Women who are pregnant or have malignant tumors in the breast will not be able to receive breast implants.
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