Gel-filled implants are fast becoming a favorite among breast enhancement patients, including the patients in my East Coast plastic surgery office. Due to their consistency, a gel-filled implant gives a more life-like feeling to the breasts compared to other implants. But before you choose an implant simply for its life-like feeling, you may want to know what comes with getting this gel-filled kind.
First, gel implants are entirely safe and effective. They wouldn’t be FDA approved if they weren’t. However, it is important to know that gel implants are not the forever kind. The FDA recently released a report saying that gel implants could have the need to be replaced, or even removed, within a ten year period under certain circumstances.
As the years progress, women with gel-filled implants, especially those who have suffered from breast cancer and have undergone breast reconstruction, could develop some problems. Most specifically, gel implants can rupture, but scarring, asymmetry and infection have been known to occur as well. A rupture especially will lead to surgery.
So how do you combat this potential problem if you still want gel implants? MRIs are one the best ways of detecting a problem with your implant. Going once every two years is a must if you have gel-filled implants. If you haven’t detected any problems, but have had the implants in for a while, or close to ten years, your best option may be to simply replace them.
Like any type of surgery, there is always a risk, but by knowing the risks you’re already ahead.
Would you still consider gel-filled implants even though they eventually have to be replaced? To my readers that have them: Do you have an MRI every two years to detect problems?
To your health & beauty,
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