Are All Breast Implants Safe?

Whether you’re dissatisfied with your breast size and shape most of your life or you’re unhappy with how your breasts have changed over the years, breast augmentation offers an effective solution for changing the look and feel of your breasts through the placement of implants.

Like most cosmetic surgeries, risks come with getting breast implants. So, if you’re considering breast augmentation, you may wonder how safe the procedure (and the implants) is. 

At Ayewah Aesthetics in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York, board-certified cosmetic surgeon Martha Ayewah, DO, leads our team in the safe and expert performance of breast augmentation surgery. 

In this month’s blog, we review the different types of breast implants and the safety of each. 

Types of breast implants

There are two types of breast implants that we offer at Ayewah Aesthetics: saline implants and silicone implants. While both implants consist of silicone shells, the contents of the shells differ.

Saline implants are breast implants that are put into your breasts while the silicone shells are still empty. Once placed, they’re filled with a saline (salt water) solution until they reach the desired fullness. 

Because the implants get filled to custom size, additional incisions need to access the implants after being placed surgically. While this can affect recovery, it can also be advantageous because the implant size can be increased or decreased even after surgery if you want to tweak your results. 

Silicone implants are implants that contain silicone and come in predetermined sizes. Many women and even surgeons prefer silicone implants because they have a similar feel to natural breast tissue. 

The safety and risks of breast implants

It’s important to understand that both silicone and saline implants are considered safe options for breast augmentation. With that in mind, it’s also vital to know that there are risks associated with the procedure, just like any other major surgery. 

With both types of implants, there is a chance that the silicone shells could rupture. If you get saline implants, it’s apparent if they rupture because your breast tissue changes very quickly as the saltwater leaks out. However, your body can easily absorb the solution, so it poses no risk to your health. 

When a silicone implant ruptures, it’s called a silent rupture because you most likely won’t notice if it happens. Your body won’t get rid of the silicone, so it stays in your body and spreads to your lymph nodes. For this reason, if you get silicone implants, you need to have imaging tests every few years to ensure the implants are still intact. 

Other risks that come with getting implants include loss of sensation in your breasts and nipples, permanent breast tissue changes, and the need for repeat surgeries if the implants fail for any reason. 

Is breast augmentation right for you?

Deciding to undergo breast augmentation is a major one, so don’t take it lightly. Because of that, our team would love to sit down with you and discuss your goals to ensure this cosmetic procedure is the right one for you. With that in mind, we also want you to know that the vast majority of women who undergo breast augmentation are satisfied with their results. 

Schedule your breast augmentation consultation by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.