SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Silicone Breast Implants

Many women prefer the softer, more natural-feel of silicone implants!

What are Silicone Breast Implants?

Silicone gel breast implants have been gaining popularity with women because of their natural look and feel. Silicone implants have a flexible silicone outer shell and are filled with a firm gel that closely mimics real breast tissue.

In recent years, major improvements have been made in the construction of silicone implants, making them safer and more durable than ever. Many of our patients have achieved excellent results with silicone gel implants.

Are silicone breast implants right for you?

Healthy patients over age 22 that have fully developed breasts are considered good potential candidates for breast augmentation with silicone implants. Silicone gel breast implants are often recommended for patients who are thin, small-breasted, or have thin skin on the chest.

Which size is right for me?

Silicone breast implants come in a range of shapes and sizes, which can accommodate the body types and personal preferences of different women. Ultimately, the best size is one that meets your preferences and matches the aesthetics of your body type. Along with size determinations, patients select an implant style that may be moderate, moderate-plus, or high profile in projection.

How are silicone implants used in breast augmentation?

Unlike saline implants that are inflated after insertion, silicone gel implants come pre-filled. This means a larger incision is required for silicone gel breast implants, which many women accept to attain the natural look they want. The surgeon makes an incision and creates a "pocket" within the breast tissue where the implant is placed and carefully positioned before the incision is closed. Silicone implants can be placed above or below the chest muscles depending on your particular desires and needs.

Are there other important considerations?

If you're considering augmentation with silicone breast implants, it's important to know the facts. During your initial consultation, we will speak to you about the advantages and disadvantages of each breast implant type and help you make the best choice.

Silicone implants were first popularized in the 1960's. Controversy in the early 1990's led to widespread fear about the possibility of silicone breast implants causing autoimmune diseases in women. Extensive studies since then have showed no evidence that silicone breast implants have any relationship to breast cancer, autoimmune disease or any other systemic illnesses in patients. Specifically, patients with breast implants have no higher incidence of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or lupus, in comparison with the general population.

The Food & Drug Administration approved the use of the third generation silicone gel implants in November of 2006 for women 22 years of age and older. These implants are not filled with liquid silicone, but rather a cohesive silicone gel. Dr. Koehler and Cuzalina were a part of the study of these implants that led to their approval for cosmetic use.

The increased safety of the cohesive gel implants led to the FDA's approval of these implants for cosmetic use. Saline implants are FDA approved for breast augmentation in women 18 years of age and older. The FDA set the age of approved use higher for silicone gel implants to ensure that a woman is emotionally mature enough and fully understands the risks of these implants.

There is no perfect breast implant and both the saline and silicone gel implants have advantages and disadvantages. The silicone gel implants feel softer and more natural, have less chance of rippling, but are more expensive and have a higher chance of developing tightening of the scar tissue around the implant known as capsule contracture.

The manufacturers of silicone gel implants (Mentor and Allergan) recommend that you get an MRI after 3 years and then every 2 years thereafter to ensure that your implants are not leaking. Insurance will likely not cover the cost for an MRI. The manufacturers also warn that your insurance carrier may increase your health premiums or decline coverage if you have silicone gel implants.

Dr. Angelo Cuzalina, an internationally recognized breast surgery expert,
performs all cosmetic breast surgery in our Waimea surgical suite under general anesthesia and on an outpatient basis.

Silicone Breast Implants are available in Hawaii through Dr. John D. Stover's Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii. Dr. Stover is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with offices in Kona, Hilo and Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Stover continually updates his knowledge, skills and practice in the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures, which has made him one of Hawaii's top-performing cosmetic surgeons.