Posts Tagged ‘silicone’

The Safety Of Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Numerous studies have been conducted to see if the anecdotal claims of women about their silicone implants were verifiable by scientific evidence. These studies have found localized risks associated with all breast implants, but no conclusive evidence to support the claims against implant manufacturers as noted above. Many studies conducted by the Institute of Medicine and other experts have found no connection between implants and the diseases claimed by so many women.

The FDA has conducted a study where they conclude that extra capsular silicone (from a ruptured implant) can be associated with fibromyalgia. The study relied on a survey of 344 women who filled out surveys asking about their symptoms. Women who reported they had the symptoms were then checked to see if their implants had ruptured. Based on the women reporting symptoms and having ruptured implants, the study assumed a connection.

Unfortunately, that is how the plaintiffs prevailed in numerous lawsuits, with no evidence of a cause and effect, just a demonstration of coincidence. More recent studies have also found that women with implants are more likely to commit suicide and more likely to have certain brain cancers. These women might also be more likely to skydive, ride mechanical bulls and bark at the moon but none of the studies showed a cause and effect, just coincidence. Studies have found no link between implants and breast cancer, other than the fact that implants can interfere with detection because of interference with mammography.

Prior to the FDA approval on November 17, 2006, silicone gel breast implants were not available for general use and?women could only obtain silicone breast implants as part of an FDA-sanctioned study such as the Silicone Adjunct Study which is now closed.

As of November 17, 2006, women aged 22 and over qualify for the silicone gel breast implants manufactured by Mentor Corp. and Inamed. Not all silicone gel breast implants made by these manufacturers have been approved. According to Mentor’s website, eligibility is as follows: Mentor MemoryGel Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants are indicated for females for the following uses:

Breast augmentation for women at least 22 years old. Breast augmentation includes primary breast augmentation to increase the breast size, as well as revision surgery to correct or improve the result of a primary breast augmentation surgery.

Breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction includes primary reconstruction to replace breast tissue that has been removed due to cancer or trauma or that has failed to develop properly due to a severe breast abnormality. Breast reconstruction also includes revision surgery to correct or improve the result of a primary breast reconstruction surgery.

Mentor’s silicone gel-filled breast implants, referred to as MemoryGel products, come in a variety of profiles and sizes. Mentor’s Lumera and Becker gel implants were not approved at this time. Get specific details on the available implant sizes, shapes, etc. in our manufacturer’s section

The current name “gummy bear” is given by many patients and doctors to implants that are “form-stable”. This means that they are so cohesive, that they are more a solid than a liquid. These form-stable implants have the purpose of making a longer lasting implant that maintains a more attractive and predictable shape. As such, the gel is less liquid-like and more solid-like than even today’s other cohesive silicone gel implants.

Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust, comprising around 28% of it. It is not found in its elemental form but occurs mainly as oxides and silicates. In contrast to carbon, silicon-silicon bonds are uncommon. Natural silicon-carbon bonds are extremely rare but they can be created synthetically.

Silica is a three dimensional network of silicon dioxide, most commonly encountered as sand. Silica exists in crystalline and amorphous forms. Silica is chemically resistant at ordinary temperatures but can undergo a variety of transformations at high temperatures (greater than 500CC) and pressures. The industrial production of amorphous silica requires temperatures of 500CC and much higher temperatures are required to produce crystalline silica.

The prolonged inhalation of crystalline silica dust is associated with silicosis. Amorphous silica is much less pathogenic than crystalline forms.

Conversion of amorphous to crystalline silica cannot occur at body temperature. High purity amorphous silica is used as a reinforcing agent to increase the tear resistance of silicone rubbers used in medical devices and implants.

Silicones are synthetic polymers and are not therefore found naturally. They have a linear, repeating silicon-oxygen backbone akin to silica. However, organic groups attached directly to the silicon atoms by carbon-silicon bonds prevent formation of the three-dimensional network found in silica.

These types of compound are also known as polyorganosiloxanes. Certain organic groups can be used to link two or more of these silicon-oxygen backbones and the nature and extent of this crosslinking enables a wide variety of products to be manufactured. The most important materials used in medical implants are fluids, gels and rubbers (elastomers) whose physical and chemical properties include, amongst others, a high degree of chemical inertness, thermal stability and resistance to oxidation.

Silicone fluids (oils) are usually linear chains of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) which have a wide range of chain lengths and molecular masses. Cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes also occur and are important intermediates in the manufacture of the linear chain fluids. They are virtually insoluble in water.

Silicone gels have lightly cross-linked polysiloxane networks, swollen with PDMS fluid to produce a cohesive mass. The PDMS fluid is not chemically bound to the crosslinked network but is retained only by physical means, as water is in a sponge, and there is a tendency for the fluid to “bleed”. The degree of cross-linking and amount of fluid affects the physical properties of the gel and the rate at which fluid “bleeds” from it. Once suitably cross-linked, silicone gels retain their form without external containment.

Silicone elastomers are extensively cross-linked and contain little free PDMS fluid. The barrier coating of breast implant shells is a special silicone elastomer which is selected specifically to minimise migration of PDMS from the implants. The tensile strength and tear resistance of silicone elastomers may be increased by addition of amorphous silica which is usually pre-treated with organosilicon compounds to enable it to be tightly incorporated into the polymer network.

Has there been death do to silicone breast implants?

I am planning to get silicone breast implants, 270 cc and 300cc. I am a bit scared because of all the things i have haerd about silicone. Has anyone had silicone rupture? if so, How soon before first operation. And does anyone know the average percentage of implant rupture?. Has there been any death due to implants ?

Plastic Surgery Stories – Silicone Breast Augmentation & Rhinoplasty

beverlyhillsplasticsurgery.com Share my experience from initial consult to final result as I have both breast augmentation and rhinoplasty surgeries at the same time. Breast Augmentation – a surgical procedure performed in order to increase the size and alter the shape of a woman’s…

Silicone Breast Augmentation B cup to a D cup & Rhinoplasty Nose Job

beverlyhillsplasticsurgery.com From Beverly Hills Los Angeles plastic surgeon. Plastic surgery by Dr. David Kim. Follow my experience as I undergo a combo procedure of rhinoplasty to reduce the wideness of my nose and Breast Augmentation to enlarge the size of my breasts from a B cup…

Cosmetic Surgery Documentary – Breast Augmentation with Silicone Implants in Beverly Hills

beverlyhillsplasticsurgery.com This is a cosmetic surgery documentary on my experience having breast augmentation with silicone Implants. The surgery was performed by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. David E. Kim. See me before and after my operation as I go from an A cup to a full C cup. Also known as breast augmentation or augmentation mammoplasty, breast enlargement can help women who are unhappy with the size or shape of their breasts. For many women, breast size is an important part of feeling good, desirable and normal. Having a breast augmentation can greatly improve self-esteem in these cases. Video Produced by Spore Medical http

Breast Augmentation with Silicone Gel Implants Detroit Michigan Dr. Youn

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Tony Youn performs a breast augmentation using Mentor Memory gel implants on a segment with Fox 2 Detroit. For more info, visit www.dryoun.com

How old to get silicone breast implants in canada?

How old do you have to be to get silicone breast implants in Canada? I know for saline its 18 but I don’t know about silicone. Serious answers without judgement only, Please!

Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants, Silicone vs. Saline – Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ron Soltero

Plastic Surgeon Dr. Ron Soltero introduces you to the Cosmetic Surgery Procedure of Breast Augmentation with silicone implants and saline implants, he talks here about differences between the two implants and qualifications that you must request to your Plastic Surgeon for breast enhancement surgeries, like the Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ASPS). Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Soltero also shows images of each kind of breast implants used for breast enlargement and compare them in camera. San Diego California. more info about Breast Augmentation with implants at www.solteromd.com.

Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Silicone Gel Breast Implants are FDA approved.

For years even the mention of silicone breast implants caused women everywhere to cringe. Many women may still remember when the FDA pulled silicone breast implants off the market because of their tendency to rupture. Now, after more than a decade, the FDA has APPROVED the use of gel filled silicone implants.

The FDA’s reasons for studying the new high strength gel silicone breast implants was purely for reasons of safety. Plastic surgeons like silicone gel implants, not only because they are safe, but because silicone breast enhancements feel and look completely natural. Dr. Pousti has been involved with two studies for Mentor Silicone Implants and Inamed Silicone Implants for the past 10 years and therefore has experience with using these silicone gel implants on many patients. These studies were in place to give the FDA the additional data they require before they would approve silicone breast implants for general use. Women who qualified for participation in these studies had to meet the following criteria:

• You are a mastectomy patient and are undergoing reconstructive surgery.

• You are having revisionary surgery and already have saline implants.

• You are having a breast lift (mastopexy), in addition to breast augmentation.

• You have a chest wall deformity (pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, possibly scoliosis).

At this time, you do not need to meet the above criteria.

After rigorous scientific review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of silicone gel-filled breast implants made by two companies for breast reconstruction in women of all ages and breast augmentation in women ages 22 and older. The products are made by Allergan Corp. (Formerly Inamed Corp.) and Mentor Corporation. Mentor Corp.’s silicone gel implants are called the MemoryGel Breast implants.

In the past decade, many independent studies have been performed to examine whether silicone gel-filled breast implants are associated with connective tissue disease or any cancers. These studies have concluded that there is no convincing evidence that breast implants are associated with either of these diseases.

Now that the products have been determined to be safe, the FDA will continue to monitor them by requiring each company to follow about 40,000 women for 10 years after receiving the breast implants. This is normal practice for the FDA so that they will be able to answer important questions that could only be answered once the product is in broader use. The post-approval studies will be closely monitored by the FDA.

If you would like to discuss your options regarding using silicone gel-filled breast implants, it is required that you schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who has been approved to perform silicone breast enhancements with these implants. Dr. Pousti is one such plastic surgeon.

Silicone gel breast implants are pre-filled, unlike the saline implants that are filled once they are placed under the muscle of the patient. Surgeons order them in the requested size and they cannot be changed. Plastic surgeons have to make longer incisions in most cases to place a silicone gel filled breast implant than a saline filled breast implant, all other things being equal.

Silicone Breast Enhancement Procedures

The surgical technique used for silicone gel implants will be discussed with you when you meet with Dr. Pousti. Silicone breast enhancement procedures take approximately two hours. Silicone gel implants are pre-filled and so the incision may be a little longer than those of saline filled implants. The pocket is made for the implant just as for the saline implant—with Dr. Pousti’s fingers so that the risk of severing nerves is decreased. During your consultation at our La Jolla, San Diego or Temecula/Murrieta office and after a thorough examination, Dr. Pousti will discuss every detail of your silicone breast enhancement, including the exact size and type of silicone breast implants he will use and their relative advantages. Silicone breast enhancements are performed on an outpatient basis at our surgical center in San Diego under general anesthesia.

What to Expect After Silicone Breast Enhancement Procedures

Rest in bed is the order of the day, along with plenty of fluids and no aggravation. During the first week, a brassiere will be fitted and you will be permitted to shower, perhaps as quickly as two to three days post-op. Initially, the breasts will appear to be slightly higher than normal and swollen. Over three to six weeks the implant will descend to a more natural position. Also, the chest will feel somewhat sore for the first few days. This should abate very quickly, and by the end of the first week you should be very comfortable.

http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com/ Plastic Surgery San Diego

Silicone Vs Saline Breast Implants Surgery!

There has been a constant increase in number of women going for plastic surgery. Breast implant surgery can helpenhance the size and shape of the breasts. With improvement in surgical methods and breast-implant technology, thebreast implant surgery procedure has become more refined. The advancement in the field of medical science has simplified the procedure of surgery.

Breast implants may come in different sizes and shapes. The type of breast implant that you choose for surgery should be based on your desired change in profile and cleavage. Factors include positioning, surface texture, shape, personal anatomy and other considerations. Learn more about your choices when selecting breast implants.

Saline breast implants are considered to be more beneficial because if ruptured, the saline can be easily dissolved by
the body. The only disadvantage is that saline implants are more likely to show ripples through the skin. Saline breast implants are filled with a saltwater solution similar to the fluid that makes up most of the human body. The saline breast implant is inflated with a saline (salt water) solution through a valve.

Silicone breast implants are made up of a special gel-like substance that look and feel more natural than saline implants or other alternatives. They are a preferred choice for breast augmentation and reconstruction procedure.

Women, who are unhappy with the size of their breasts, decide to get breast implants. However, before undergoing
the surgery, you should pay attention to various aspects. Numerous surgeons offer breast implants surgery. Seeking
expert advice can help you make a sound choice.

One can also consult a breast implant surgeon who will help you decide if it worth going in for the surgery. The surgeon will take into account your general well being, the effect the implants will have on accurate mammograms and breast self-exams, breast feeding, and of course the change in appearance. You should not suffer at a later stage of your life. The common risks associated with breast implant surgery may be obstructed mammography, breast feeding issues, infection, and possible implant leakage.

Silicone breast implants removal is done under general anesthesia or IV sedation. An incision is made either around the areola or under the fold of the breast. Later, the capsule around the implant is cut into and the implant is carefully removed. If the implant is silicone-filled, it is inspected for any signs of damage before removal. In case the implant is filled with saline, the surgeon may choose to deflate the implant to help removal. The old implants are then replaced with new ones. The scar tissue (capsule) that was around the implant may also be removed (if the implant is not going to be replaced.