What Is The Difference Between Saline And Silicone Breast Implants?

Saline breast implants are filled with a saline solution which is comprised of sterilized water with added salt. Silicone implants were banned in the United States between the years of 1992 and 2006, which is when the use of saline implants for breast augmentation procedures became much more widespread in the medical industry. Silicone implants are filled with silicone gel that is cohesive and sticks together. The silicone implant as said to look and feel more like natural breast tissue than saline implants. However, the amount of silicone exposure is higher.

What Happens When Breast Implants Rupture?

When a silicone breast implant ruptures, it can leak silicone into the body. The gel will sometimes stay near the implant, but it may spread further. Oftentimes, the leaked silicone will be absorbed by the body and migrate away from its original location in the breast. In some circumstances, it is impossible to remove the silicone from the other areas of the body.

How Often Do Breast Implants Leak?

It is estimated that about 50 percent of silicone implants will rupture within 10 years, just over 70 percent will rupture within 15 years, and about 92 percent will break open by 20 years. Just about all silicone breast implants develop “gel bleed,” which means that the silicone will pass through a non-ruptured and intact implant shell.

Can Silicone Get Into Breast Milk?

Medical professionals have not been able to say for sure if silicone transfers from the breast implant to breast milk during the process of breastfeeding. However, platinum, which is a byproduct of silicone implant manufacturing, has been detected before in breast milk. It is also very possible that silicone is contaminated with low amounts of dozens of other heavy metals and substances that can potentially leak into breast milk.

Can Silicone Breast Implants Cause Birth Defects?

To date, there is not enough information or research to determine whether silicone implants cause birth defects or not. The FDA requested that manufacturers conduct studies surrounding this question in 2006. However, the studies were poorly designed and executed, and therefore the results did not aid in answering if silicone breast implants contribute to birth defects.

For more information on Saline And Silicone Breast Implants, a free initial consultation is your best next step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (800) 529-6268 today.

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