Saline Implants

Hi,

Yes, as far as I know, saline implants have silicone shells. Please remember that the silicone used in implants today is not the runny silicone of yesterday. If cut/ruptured it is a cohesive gel that doesn’t run. The silicone used in the shell is solid, so will not run either. I hope this helps and all the best to you

Please bear in mind that silicone implants, if ruptured, don’t leak as the silicone is a cohesive gel, not liquid as they were long ago. If you are worried about any silicone in your body, from either the shell or what the implant is filled with, then implants might not be the best choice for you. Have you looked at various flap procedures

I had breast augmentation back in 1998. They were saline and placed under the muscle. They lasted for 19 years and looked just as new as the day they were put in. They felt natural.

If it wasn't for my implants, I would have missed my first BC back in 2003. I felt pain in both breasts at the time but was also going through perimenopause. My hormones were out of control. One day my left breast stopped hurting and I was in the shower and felt a lump. The size of a pea. I had a mammogram just 5 months before. It had to be performed by a special technique because I had implants. My surgeon said, if it wasn't for the implants, it would have been missed. The implants pushed it closer to the skin and when she performed the lumpectomy she didn't have to cut deep.

I hope this answers your questions in regards to the question of how many years implants need to be replaced. I don't know why the 10 year rule is even out there.

In 2017 the cancer came back in the same breast and I knew that since I had radiation that it would have to be removed. I opted for both and to have my nipples removed because it was ductal carcinoma. Since those ducts are attached to the nipples, I didn't want to take the chance of it developing on the good breast and I was advised by three BS that the chances were higher for it to occur in the good breast.

Now I have silicone and less than three years the right one has a rupture. Needs to be replaced and I don't like the idea of silicone seeping slowly into my body. I know that it takes much longer for silicone to leak out, where if it was saline, it goes flat almost immediately. Saline is the same Ph as the fluids in your body. Silicone is not recognized by your body. That is what bothers me.

I also have done months of research regarding ALCL (Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and one of the subtypes of T-cell lymphoma. An individual's risk of developing BIA-ALCL is considered to be low; however, this cancer is serious and can lead to death, especially if not treated promptly. In most patients, it is treated successfully with surgery to remove the implant and surrounding scar tissue, and in some patients, also treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.) Since I'm 65 and had two breast cancers, this concerns me. I'm not getting any younger and have been through enough with the first and the second cancer.

My PS wants to just replace the one silicone with another. He also said that with saline that I could hear swishing when I move in certain ways. They would also be firmer and not as natural feeling as the silicone but, then again I'm 65.

What ever I decide I'm still waiting for my three dimensional nipple tattooing that was scheduled for May but canceled because of Covid. Now I had to cancel my appointment that was for last week and wait three months again. It took me 8 months to get an appointment with this girl because she comes highly recommended. Maybe nipples are overrated, LOL.

Remember one thing, everybody is different. None of us go through the same exact things. My only advice for you it to keep a positive attitude and get as many doctors opinions as possible. This way you can choose what is best for you.

Good luck to you and I hope that I make the right decision for me.