some more FAQ's? can any one please answer these things..its urjent.

[bullman]

1. Can saline (saltwater) filled implants harden?
2. What are the differences between smooth and textured mammary implants?
3. What are the differences between round and contoured (anatomical) mammary implants?
4. What is the expected product life of the implant? How long do breast implants last?
5. I have heard that mammary implant manufacturers have implant "warranties", is this true?
6. Is it true the replacement of implants is fairly minor?
7. I have heard that the silicone shell of a saline implant can cause silicone toxicity or silicosis, is this true?
8. I have heard of fungus growing in the saline of a saline filled implant, is this true and can it cause an infection?
9. What are my implant choices? What about Soy, Hydrogel, and Cohesive Silicone?
10. Well what about Silicone Gel-filled implants? Are they safe? Why aren't they legal* in the United States?
11. How many cc's make a cup size?
12. How much can implants be overfilled?
13. Which is better - McGhan or Mentor?
14. What are Expandable Implants?
15. My surgeon has offered me silicone and I meet none of the criteria, is this illegal?
15. Can I get Cohesive Silicone implants if I meet the criteria?
16. Will the implant burst when I get my next mammogram?
17. What size should I choose? How do I know which is best for me?
18. What are the Mentor High Profiles/3000 Series?
19. Do breasts with implants experience sagging over time?


thanks in advanced.

[shetal]

1. Can saline (saltwater) filled implants harden?

The hardening that can occur is due to excess scar tissue formation and contraction of that tissue around the implant. If this occurs, then another operation may be required to remove the scar tissue. This is called capsular/capsule contracture (CC). CC may also be remedied in some cases with a prescription of prednisone and repeat, manual compression by the patient.

[shetal]

2. What are the differences between smooth and textured mammary implants?

Smooth implants are manufactured with the goal of a flawless surface. There is less rippling reported with smooth implants however it is been reported that the rate of Capsular Contracture (CC). Capsular Contracture is said to be higher in patients with smooth implants. That has never been proven without a doubt, as a matter of fact it has been reported that the rate of CC is about the same with both implants.

However, the textured implant is reported to have a longer time in implant dropping resulting in implants that appear higher on the chest and unnatural. Also, the deflation rate is a small percentage higher due to the slight imperfections purposely made on the implant surface during manufacture. It has been also reported that the body's tissues, the naturally occurring scar capsule that develops, grows into the implant surface and should you ever need a replacement or desire to remove them, it is more difficult and more of your natural tissue (scar) will be removed. Although, the safety reports are basically the same for both surface types, smooth implants are more commonly used.

[shetal]

3. What are the differences between round and contoured (anatomical) mammary implants?

The belief of contour (anatomical) implants being more natural looking is good in theory but in all actuality when contoured implants are utilized, in most patients the results are about the same. This is especially the case when contoured implants are placed behind the muscle as the muscle and chest wall exert force on the implant on all sides, rather equally, resulting in a more rounded appearance. Also, contoured implants have been known to invert themselves or turn themselves upside down if placed improperly. If this happens a second surgery is quite possible. However, most individuals seeking breast reconstruction opt for the contoured mammary implant.

Fact: Contoured implants are slightly higher in price, approximately $200. USD (cost) more per implant*. Round implants are the most common of choices as a rounder, more voluptuous breast is very desirable to most.

[shetal]

4. What is the expected product life of the implant? How long do breast implants last?

A 'guesstimate' for the product life is 15-20 years -- averaging at 16 years (Institute of Medicine). Implants do not need to be changed unless there is a deflation. Although one may consider changing a silicone-filled implant out after this amount or more time has passed to decrease the chances of a rupture which would necessitate a silicone gel/oil removal procedure.

There is a 2% rate of deflation in the first 10 years. Although wear and tear will be different in each individual depending upon implant surface type (textureds may rupture sooner or more often than smooths). However there are women who have had implants in over 25 years with no problems. There is no definite answer, but do expect to replace implants at last once in your life.

[shetal]

5. I have heard that mammary implant manufacturers have implant warranties, is this true?

Yes, Prosthetic mammary implant manufacturers like McGhan Medical and Mentor Corp. offer conditional guarantees with each implant. The implants are numbered by lot and each has a serial number for identification -- you should receive the implant serial number stickers with your post-operative information packet. Although some doctors keep this for their own records. If you should move or not ever feel the need to go to that particular surgeon again, you should ask for you implant serial number stickers for your personal file. Most patients are given half of the set of their ID stickers, the other half of which gets turned into the implant manufacturer with your records and social security number for warranty as well as identification purposes.

[shetal]

6. Is it true the replacement of implants is fairly minor?

For removal and replacement of smooth, saline implants, yes. The major part of the original operation is the creation of the pocket. when the replacement is needed, the pocket is still there, so all that is needed is to open the pocket, take the old implant out and put in a new one.

If it is a silicone filled implant, the removal of silicone can take quite a while if it has poured out into the pocket. Most surgeons report that replacing or otherwise removing a ruptured silicone gel/oil filled implant is quite a job to fully remove free silicone.

[shetal]

7. I have heard that the silicone shell of a saline implant can cause silicone toxicity or silicosis, is this true?

This has never been proven. This subject is very controversial at best and there are many scare tactics used by anti-breast augmentation advocates and this may be one of them. There are no certifiable cases of silicone toxicity caused directly and solely from the silicone shell or gel/oil of a prosthetic mammary implant, it is still unproven, either way. All implants (with the exception of polypropylene strings) are silicone shelled. Surgeons would not be placing breast implants in their loved ones if they thought they were a threat to one's health.

On the subject of silicosis. You may have heard a lot of anti-implant websites state that their patrons have silicosis from the silica in silicone breast implants. This is what silicosis is technically and medically...

From "Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene" (Fourth Edition): Silica
"The term silicon dioxide usually refers to amorphous silica (noncrystalline), crystallized silica such as sand (quartz), and silicates such as clay (aluminum silicate). Only the crystalline (free silica) material found in quartz, tridymite, cristobalite, and a few other non-silicate materials cause silicosis."

"Silicosis is a lung disease caused by the inhalation of free silica particulates. The risk of silicosis is present in industries and occupation where the crystalline form of the free silica particulates is found, as in foundries, glass manufacturing facilities, granite-cutting operations, and mining and tunneling sites in quartz rock."

"Pnuemoconiosis comes from the Greek word for dusty lung."

"Silicosis is caused by the crystalline, not the amorphous, form of silica. Additionally, the silica must be introduced via the inhalation route. QED. As a historical aside, it was not uncommon for women of mining areas of Carpathia to have multiple husbands (6+), since the husbands usually worked in the high silica-bearing mines of the region, rapidly developed silicosis and died young."

In conclusion this means that the amorphous silica in silicone elastomer must selectively detach itself out of its solid form and must somehow miraculously transform in a crystalline form and then incredibly travel through the chest wall and lungs and specifically plant itself on the alveoli of the lungs. Which translates into = impossible.

And for the record, sand is made from silica and if you were to inhale sand during a sandstorm in the middle of the Mojave desert, you still couldn't get silicosis. The particulate size is still too large. In fact, read below:

Robbins & Cotrans Pathologic Basis of Disease:
"It is estimated that a man may work for his entire life in an environment containing 5 x 10 to the 6th particles of quartz (silica) per cubic foot of air without developing silicosis..."

[Husky]

8. I have heard of fungus growing in the saline of a saline filled implant, is this true and can it cause an infection?

Nope, Saline is a solution which will kill most of the organisms. But they are also having expiration date. You can't use it beyond these dates.

[mybody]

8. I have heard of fungus growing in the saline of a saline filled implant, is this true and can it cause an infection?

At best this is an extremely rare occurring incident. There are no certified reports an implant removed having any cloudiness, green slime or blood floating around within it that is or ever was sustaining a fungal form. It is theorized that either contamination of the saline pre-operatively or the permeation by the body's serum (The watery portion of an animal fluid remaining after coagulation; containing protein, globulin and antibodies, etc.) post-operatively is the culprit for any cloudiness or substances other than saline being present in an intact mammary prosthesis.

Now, according to scientific fact that osmosis is a naturally occurring phenomenon where water molecules permeate through a substance regularly. By definition...

osmosis: First appeared 1867 -- 1) movement of a solvent through a semi-permeable membrane (as of a living cell) into a solution of higher solute concentration that tends to equalize the concentrations of solute on the two sides of the membrane (Merriam-Webster)

With osmosis, a water molecule in the implant will leach out through the elastomer shell as long as one water molecule from your body takes its place. The salt content will stay the same as its size is too large to pass through the elastomer. The only thing that flows in and out of the implant is fresh water. Remember, osmosis is the act of an equal exchange. The volume never changes. The molecules themselves are to be considered fresh water during the act of osmosis as the salt particle is too large to permeate. Implant filler (saline) volume has been tested with no variances in the content of an intact mammary implant after removal.

Reverse osmosis is used to get fresh water from salinated water for drinking or other forms of usage. With industrial reverse osmosis, the salt water is literally forced through a semi permeable membrane to "press" fresh water through to the other side. Yet with implants, BOTH sides contain salinated water and since the salt exchange never occurs only the fresh water is equally exchanged. In other words, you will always have the same volume of water that is constantly being refreshed and same salt content that was put in the day of implantation, as long as the implant is not defective and is whole.

It must be said that some believe that bacteria can not grow within an intact implant without oxygen and sustenance. Unfortunately, bacteria can, in fact, grow in a closed container environment living off of the emissions of decomposing bacteria and their fecal matter for quite some time. The oxygen content of the saline is not non-existent and it should be realized that the bacterium can survive on such a small amount anyway because of their size and oxygen intake requirements.

Although the bacteria can grow within an implant - it did not all of a sudden appear within an implant from intrusion from your body. Fungus, mold spore, bacteria and viruses are, in fact, too large to permeate an intact implant. The only things passing in and out if the implant are water molecules. If fungus, living or dead, is found within an implant -- it is more than likely from prior contamination of the saline at implantation.

In conclusion, there are no known certified medical reports of sicknesses solely resulting from any opportunistic viral, fungal, parasitic or bacterial pathogens growing in a contaminated mammary prosthesis.