Implant - What to choose?

krisvell · 03-08-2010, 12:59 PM

I am getting close to putting in a permanent implant and was looking for advice. My surgeon leans toward silicone; says they are very real looking. Someone I know choose silicone and was very unhappy because she said her stomach stuck farther than her boob. She's a size 2 at best and very trim. She went back and swaped them out for saline and is happier. There's pros/cons to both and am looking for some real world feedback that anyone may be willing to share.
Thank you,

Kris...

naturaleigh · 03-08-2010, 01:34 PM

Hi Kris,

I was having a hard time deciding too!! I choose saline so if there was ever a leak, it would not leak a foreign substance. With clothes on, no one knows that my left breast is not real.

My stomach sticks out alot more too, but it is because I am now bigger in the stomach than on top!! I also had a reduction.

Good luck with whichever you choose!! I think you will be happy with whatever you decide.

ammebarb · 03-08-2010, 04:10 PM

Hi Kris. I had my reconstruction twenty five years ago, and used a saline filled implant. I really kind of expected to have to have it replaced by now, but so far, it's been fine. I chose saline because of the possibility of leakage----and did have an acquaintance have her implant rupture. Hers was also saline and made no particular problem. She had it swapped in a one day surgery. Wishing you the very best as you make your choice.

Barb A.

flynny · 03-08-2010, 06:17 PM

I am very small breasted and both doctors told me saline was a better choice. I think they were right. I am very happy with the decision and I got them in, in August 2009. Whatever you decide just make sure you know all the facts before hand and stick with it!

Good luck!

WolverineFan · 03-08-2010, 07:32 PM

Kris...

I had a single mastectomy and went with the saline implant based upon my plastic surgeon's advise. He said he could better match the other breast with a saline because the amount of saline in it can be adjusted in smaller increments than the silicone. He said that had I had a double, he would have recommended the silicone. Crazy thing is my body rejected the saline (he thinks a drain tube when they swapped out the expander with the implant may have helped), so on the 18th, I'm going back in to swap the saline with the silicone. He's putting a drain tube in this time, so I hope that does the trick!! You might want to talk to your dr about that (the need for a drain tube). My understanding is that it isn't normally needed when the implant goes in, but I had it for five weeks when I had my mastectomy, so depending on how your body handled fluid may be a deciding factor.

Good luck!

krisvell · 03-09-2010, 04:50 PM

Thank you all for sharing. I now think I'm leaning toward the saline. Hearing real stories really helps.

Note to Hayley: My husband (Conn. native) is a die hard Michigan fan. He loves your handle name..

Kris...

WolverineFan · 03-09-2010, 07:27 PM

Kris...I was born and raised in Michigan, but went to school at the University of Oklahoma (didn't have my area of study at U of M). You can take the girl out of Michigan, but you can't take the Wolverine out of the girl!! I bleed BLUE!!!

Good luck and keep us posted!

harrie · 03-09-2010, 11:03 PM

After my bilateral DIEP, my plastic surgeon said silicone would be better for me. So I went with that rather then saline.

Westcoastgirl · 03-10-2010, 04:33 PM

If you go into visit your plastic surgeon ask him to show you an example of each implant. You will see that the silicone feels more "real" if you are trying to match up and I have been told the textured saline implants tend to ripple when they adhere to the chest wall and it can be seen under the skin, not so the silicone. The old silicone implants could indeed leak but if your plastic surgeon shows you an opened example of the new "gummy bear" type of silicone implant they use today you will see that it cannot leak out of its container as it stays together just like a gummy bear. MRI can show if any implant is compromised and it sounds like in the states an MRI is one of your screening tests anyhow. If you have a good plastic surgeon they are usually better at knowing what we need than we are, although mine was pushing me to go bigger than I wanted. My figuring is the smaller they are then the less perfection or imperfection is obvious and the less upsetting it will be for my body. Good luck.

krisvell · 03-10-2010, 05:37 PM

Westcoastgirl;

Thank you for the info on silicone -gummy bears. I will definetly ask to see/feel the implants. The leakage risk doesn't sound as great.
Kris...